The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-02-15
Fact of Presidents Message Delivered
Today.

On January 1926, 1909, there as
| sembled in this city, on my invitation,
children To this conference there
came from nearly every state in the
Union men and women actively en-
gagged in the care of dependent chill
dren, and they represented all the
| leading religious bodies.
The subject considered is one of
| high Importance to the wellbeing of
/ the nation. The census bureau report
| ed in 1904 that there were in or
| phanages and chiIdren's homes about
| $4,000 dependent children. There are
proba bly, $4,000 more (the precise
number never having been ascertain
| ed in private homes, either on board
or in adopted homes provided by the
| generosity of foster parents In ad-
dition to these there were %, 200 chill
| dren in institutions for juvenile delin-
quents.
Each of these children represents
either a potential addition to the pro-
ductive capacity and the enlightened
| citizenship of the nation, or, If allow
4 ed to suffer from neglect, a potential
addition to the destructive forces of
the community. The ranks of GRIM
| inals and other enemies of society are
| recruited in an altogether undue pro-
portion from children bereft of their
natural homes and left without suff1-
cient care
The interests of the nation are in
voIved in the welfare of this army of
children no less than in our great ma
teriaI affairs.
Notwithstanding a wide diversity of
views and methods represented in the
conference. and notwithstanding the
| varying legislative enactments and
policies of the states from which the
members came, the conference, at the
close of its sessions, unanimously
adopted a series of declarations ex-
I pressing the conclusions which they
| had reached. These constitute a wise,
constructive, and progressive pro-
4 =, 4--Tw,
| given full effect by the proper agen-
| cies existing methods and practices
| in almost every community would be
profoundly and advantageously modi-
| fed.
More significant even than the con-
tents of the declarations is the fact
that they were adopted without dis
senting vote and with every demon
part of all present They constitute
| a standard of accepted opinion by
| which each community should meas
ure the adequacy Of its existing meth
DDS and to which each community
should seek to conform its legislation
and its practice.
The Keynote.
The keynote of the conference was
expressed in these words:
! Home life is the highest and finest
/ produce of civilization. Children should
not be deprived Of it except for urgent
and compelling reasons"
| Surely poverty alone should not dis
rupt the home. Parents of good char
acter suffering from temporary mis-
| fortune, and above all deserving
| mothers fairly well able to work but
/ deprived of the support of the normal
| breadwinner, should be given such aid
| to maintain suitable homes for the
rearing of their children The widow
ed or deserted mother, if a good wo-
man, willing to work and to do her
/ best, should ordinarily be helped in
such fashion as will enable her to
| bring up her children herself in their
4 natural home. Children from unfit
homes, and children who have no
| homes, who must be cared for by
| charita BILE agencies, should, so far as
| practicable, be cared for in families.
| I transmit herewith for your infor-
nation a copy or the conclusions
reached by the conference, of which
| the following is a brief summary:
1 Home care-ChiIdren of worthy par
ents or deserving mothers should. as a
rule, be kept with their parents al home.
be made to eradicate causes of dependency,
such as disease and accident and to sub
| stitute compensation and insurance for
relief.
3. Home finding.-Homeless and neglect
| ed children, if normal, should be cared for
I in families, when practicable.
| 4 Cottage system-Institutions should
be on the cottage plan with small units,
/ 5. Observation-Disclosures caring for
/ dGD6nd6nC should d,
/ on approval of suitable state board
| 6 State inspection.-The state should in
| spect the work of all agencies which care
/ for dependent children.
! Z. Inspection of educational work-Ed-
ucational work of institutions and agencies
caring for dependent children should be
1 supervised by state educational author1-
| 5. Facts and reeords-Complete histories
| of dependent children and their parents.
based upon personal Investigation and
| nf oh ri
g. Physical care.-ExeFy needy child
should receive the best medical and surgt-
| cal attention. and be instructed in health
10. Cooperation. Local chld-caring
agencies should cooperate and establish
| joint bureaus of information.
IL Undesirable Observation-Disclosures
| legislation against transfer of dependent
children between states should be re-
Dealed-
nanent organization for work along the
lines of these resolutions is desirable.
d Federal Children's Bureau--Estab-
desirable, and enactment of pending bill
| is earnestly recommended
favorfng federal children's bureau and 9TH
er legislation applying above principles to
District of Columbia and other federal
| territory
Message Was Requested.
While it is recognized that these con-
illusions can be given their fullest eff
feet only by the action of the several
states or communities concerned, or of
their charitable agencies. the conference
requested me, in section II of the con-
illusions, to send to you a message rec
ommending federal action.
There are pending in both HOUSES of
congress bills for the establishment of
chiIdren's bureau. l. e, senate bill
No. 1923 and house bill No. 2414S. These
provide for a children's bureau in the
department of the interior which shall
investigate and report upon all matters
pertaining to the welfare of children
and child life, and shall especially in
vestigate the questions of infant NOR