Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-26

their part i'm a society founded on the
home and rooted in the family.
The cottage plan was devised to meet
the shortcomings of the preceding insti-
tutional method; but the number consti-
tuting the various cottage households Is
far in excess of the normal and poor
substitute for the privacy of the bedroom
in a natural family. Every consideration
the institutional plan. Institutions here
after should serve but one purpose. that
Of affording temporary shelter until homes
are found for those that need them. To
find well equipped guardians Is by no
means a matter Of insuperable difficulty.
In the long run. pensioning mothers Is
cheaper than building almshouses and
jails and reformatories. Keep the moth
ers at home and a long stride Is taken
on the road leading away from pauperism
and that which causes it-alcoholism and
domestic anarchy. l should never sepa-
rate children from their parents or broth
ers and sisters from one another wher.
ever it is possible to keep the family IN.
tact. In this work Preserve the family
must be our watchword."
Encouragement Of Families.
Miss Jane Adams, the great social
worker at the head of Hull House.
Chicago, declared that In America we
should encourage the natural FAMILY
rather than foster families. or sugges-
tons of families In speaking of modern
devices to minimize dependency Miss
Adams told of laws in European coun-
tries which prevented mothers from over
taxing their strength while they were
bringing up their children. She had
warm praise for the employers liability
act in force in England.
RI Rev. D. ]. Mcmahon. supervisor Of
Catholic charities of New York. asserted
that 1.-The home is the place to rear the
child and that poverty alone In the
case of worthy widow is not sufficient
reason to break up the home by sending
the child of to some institution.
The preservation of the family nome
was the subject of the remarks of David
F. TilIey of the Massachusetts state
board of charities.
Mr.. Tilley's Address.
.-one of the questions for consdera-
ton said Mr.. Tilley. is the keeping
together of worthy families where. by
reason of death. accident or temporary
lack of employment, the family is un-
able to provide the means necessary for
their maintenance. We will probably
agree that the home is the natural place
for the child. We should never en-
courage the separation OF children from
worthy parents IL it can be possibly
avoided Money expended for rent and
the buying of food, fuel and clothing is
the very best investment which can be
made if it results in saving the home.
believe that outdoor relief In a wise and
discriminating manner will tend to lessen
the number of dependents. as it helps to
keep the family intact. In the great
majority Of cases we will find that causes
exist which. when corrected. make the
family at once self-supporting. I am not
unmindful of the dangers Of indiscrinni-
nate aimsgiving, and contend that out
door relief to be successful must be ad-
ministered in wise and discriminate
manner by officers who. in addition TO
having big soul and plenty of good
common sense. are not governed by politi-
cal influences"
South Best for the Colored Man.
DIR. Booker T. Washington. president Of
Tuskegee Institute, in speaking about des-
titute colored children of the south. de-
clared that the number of dependent chill
dren among his race Is comparatively
small He said that. although there are
about y. 600 negroes in the county in Ala
bama in which he lives-Macon county
and although no discrimination is shown
against receiving colOred children at the
county institution for dependent children
he found as a result of visit made to the
place few days ago. that there was not
one colored child there, and that there
had never been many there.
The speaker declared that the best
place for the negro is in the rural dis
negro in the rural districts of the SOUTH
he asserted. ''you will not find him de-
graded creature, although he may be
totally ignorant of book learning. AS
rule the negro Is not beg"ar in any
part OF the country. seldom DO you see
q black hand held out to you asking for
aims. The negro does not often beg,
neither does he starve.
II suppose that the rule limiting tho
speakers at this meeting In their time.2
said DR. Washington. was made so that
they will shoot right aRd hit what they
shoot at There have beer. some mis-
takes in the south in that respect"
Today's proceedings Of the confer
ence will be found elsewhere in The
Star.
III Il - y