The Washington herald., 1909-01-27
CHAMPIONS CAUSE
OF THE CHILDREN
Continued from Page One.

Continued from Page One.
child-saving work, and especially mem
bers Of the boards OF directors OF in
stitutions. save in a temper and spirit
that recognized in the fullest degree the
good done by those men and the good
they aim TO accomplish.
Continually. as we proceed with work
for the betterment of our people We find
that agencies which were the best pos
sible agencies a decade ago, or a couple
Of decades ago, have been passed by; that
their usefulness IS greatly diminished
compared to other new agencies, and We
are not attacking good men and women
who did so much in the past, who are
engaged In trying 10 dc good along the
same old ways. when ne advocate an i'm
provement in the ways
Whenever ] come in close contact with
men and women such as these before me,
one Of the first things I have TO find
ont IS that the principles in which I cor
daily believe. because they were the
principles according TO which 7 worked
30 years ago, have been passed by
we were fho~ in the mUZzle-lOading
stage Of the fight against evil. Men and
women did mighty good work with muz-
zle-loaders. but we want to use breech-
leaders now
1t is no assault upon the captains Of
hundreds and captains Of tens who stil
naturally cling to the weapons Of their
youth when We advocate an improve
ment in the instruments with which we
strive to meet the evils IN conditions Of
to-day.
I'VE recognize 10 the fullest degree the
importance Of all that Is being done in
this field Of endeavor. All that We are
trying to do is 10 lay especial stress upon
the most important OF the different forms
Of work
Importance Of Home
Institutions have a great part 70 play.
but the most important OF all institutions
Is the home. and where We have 10 utilize
an institution as a substitute for It. il is
well 70 make the unit OF influence a. small
as possible-that is. TO adopt the sO-csIled
cottage plan so as nearly as may be. TO
reproduce the conditions that make the
home Of such inestimable value TO the
growing child.
1T IS not merely an evil. Il IS q criminal
thing 10 permit any enpioye, public or
private. IN an institution where children
are peculiarly liable 20 temptation. Pc
culiarly liable 10 have their principles
perverted. unless that employe is Of q
character concerning which We are abSo-
Iutely certain
There IS no excuse for having a man
or woman employed IN such an institu-
ton merely because there IS nothing
known against his OF her character There
should be affirmative knowledge Of the
good character Of every individual en-
ployed in any capacity around an insti-
tuition where these children are being
educated % be the citizens OF the future
The odds are heavy enough against
them any how. and we must try just
so far as in Us lies 10 minimize those
odds.
Urges Expert Study.
Y very earnestly hope that the man
ayers. the directors Of all institutions.
and societies throughout the United States.
will carefully study the recommendations
Of this body Of experts.
7 hope that this study VIII be given
alike by men in public and the men in
private life. that legislatures. public Of
fcials. phIlanthropists. will try 70 apply
these principles in their work for children
I hope they will apply not only what Is
good but shat is wise IN what you
have recommended
Just before the President made his ad-
dress. which was entirely extemPOra-
neous. an outline OF the conclusions Of
the conference was read. These points
were touched upon Home care. preven-
tive work. home finding. cottage system,
Incorporation OF philanthrOpic Institutions.
state inspection. inspection OF educational
work physical care, cooperation. unde-
sirable legislation, permanent OTgaEiZa-
ton. and the Federal children's bureau.
The speakers Of the evening. IN adGi-
ton 10 the President. We're Miss Lillian
D. Waid, member Of the National Child
Labor Committee; Nornay Williams,
president OF the Children's Village. DObbs
Ferry, y. Y, Rev. Francis Il. Gavisk
member OF the State Board OF Charities
OF Indiana; Hermann A Metz. Judge Ben
B Lindsey. and Judge Julian ". Mack.
Makes Strong Address.
Advising all charitable workers to DE
ware Of the Greeks bearing gifts and
deprecating any alliance Of insidious com
mereiaI influences with the forces OF
righteousness. Mornay Williams made q
strong address He said, in part:
The dream of false comme-cialism IS
dying; the dream OF new civic right
eousness is coming into birth. The danger
from chiId-exploitation does not cease
when you and wake UP 10 the fact. Not
a few Of the commercial interests are
seeking cooperation. and suggest that
the methods OF the so-called trust be i'm
ported into the work % the charities But
when that moment comes, you may see
the death OF all true work for children
u am convinced that the ultimate cor
ruption is in business and not IN politics
You cannot stop the exploitation OF the
weak and helpless If you are going 10
trust the wolf. The time has come when
we must say what We mean. The easiest
lire OF self deception is that which leads
men to choose as leaders those whom
the world has marked with its coarse
thumb-mark Of success. The time has
come when you have got to work the
commercialism out Of your system
The great drawback has been our
national self-conceit. We have been brag-
ging all these years. not knowing the
evils WITHIN our gates but Ifiat JIne IS
past"
Reasons for Bureau.
Miss Lillian NJ Wald gave a cOgent
statement Of the reasons why a Federal
chiIdren-s bureau IS desired. among them
the fact that Il was necessary 10 bring
home to the people Of the country an
acute realization OF the facts II IS i'm
possible to get at the full truth now.
she declared. because these are not the
proper agencies for research work
Rev. Francis H Gavisk, member Of the
state board Of charities in Indiana, said.
in part:
"Au our discords on the surface were
like the WageTian OTchestratiOns that
mount into splendid harmony. The chill
dren are the only real asset Of any na-
ton. The President has done honor 20
4. -