The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1909-02-20
SHOWS VITAL DUTY
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE ON CARE
OF DEPENDENT CHILDREN.
Interests of the Nation involved In the
Welfare Of the Little ones-Rec-
ommendatIon for the Needed
Legislation.

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. which, 1t
Is believed. II enacted into law, will
make an important epoch In the fu-
ture well-being Of the dependent chill
dren of the nation, is recommended In
special message by President Roose-
welt to congress. in which he makes
strong plea In the interest of children
coming within this class.
Substantially, the message was as
follows:
ION January 1926, 1909. there assem-
bled in this city, on my invitation,
conference on the care of dependent chill
dren. To this conference there came
from nearly every state In the union men
and women actively engaged In the care
of dependent children, and they repre-
sented all the leading religious bodies.
THE subject considered Is one of high
Importance to the well-being of the ma
ton. The census bureau reported in 1904
that there were in orphanages and chill
dren's homes about $4,000 dependent chill
dren. There are probably $4,000 more
(the precise number never having been
ascertained), in private homes. either on
board or in adopted homes provided by
the generosity of foster parents. In adj
dition to these there were $1,000 chill
dren in institutions for juvenile delin-
quents.
Each of these children represents eth
err potential addition to the productive
capacity and the enlightened citizenship
of the nation. or, IL allowed to suffer
from neglect, a potential addition to the
destructive forces of the community. The
ranks of criminals and other enemies
Of society are recruited in an altogether
undue proportion from children bereft OF
their natural homes and left without snf-
f1cient care.
"The interests of the nation are in
volved in the welfare of this army of
children no less than in our great mate
rial affairs.
'"rhe keynote of the conference was
expressed in these words:
"'Home life is the highest and finest
product of civilization. Children should
not be deprived of 1t except for urg-
ent and compelling reasons"
Urging the passage of legislation en-
abling the authorities to secure accur-
ate information concerning questions re-
lating to dependent children, the presi-
dent says:
'It is not only discreditable to us as
people that there is now no recognized
and authoritative source of information
upon these subjects relating to child life,
but in the absence of such information
| as should be supplied by the federal gov
| eminent many abuses have gone I'M
| checked: for public sentiment, with Its
| great corrective power. can only be
| aroused by full Knowledge of the facts
| In addition TO such information as the
census bureau and other existing agen-
| cies of the federal government already
| provide. there remains much to be ascer-
| tained through lines of research not now
| authorized by law: and there should be
| correlation and dissemination OF the
knowledge obtained without any dupnca-
nf of nr Interference
| Is already being done, There are few
| things more vital to the welfare of the
| nation than accurate and dependable
| knowledge OF the best methods OF deal
| Ing with children, especially with those
who are In one way or another handi-
| capped by misfortune; and in the absence
| of such knowledge each community Is
| left to work out its own problem without
being able to learn of and profit by the
| success or failure of other communities
| along the same lines of endeavor. The
| bills for the establishment OF the chill
| dren's bureau are advocated not only
| by this conference, but by large num-
| Der of national organizations that are
| disinterestedly working for the welfare
| of children, and also by philanthropic,
| educational. and religious bodies In all
| parts of the country
| The president cites the conclusions
| reached by the conference. The most i'm
| portant are recommendations that home-
! less and neglected children, II normal,
| should be cared for In families when
| practical: that institutions should be on
| the cottage plan as far as possible; the
| state to inspect work of all agencies
! which care for dependent children; re-
! peal of prohibitive legislation against
! transfer of dependent children between
| states. and the establishment of a feder-
! al chldren's bureau. Legislation cover
| ing these recommendations Is urgently
/ recommended by the president.
| : THE message continues: II further urge
that such legislation be enacted as may
be necessary in order to bring the laws
| and practices In regard to the care OF de-
pendent children In all federal territory
into harmony with the other conclusions
reached by the conference.
.'That the approval of the board o,
charities be required for the incorpora'
ton of all child-caring agencies. as wei
as amendments of the charter or any
benevolent corporation which inciude'
collaborating work. and that other thar
duly Incorporated agencies be forbidden
to engage In the care of needy children
THAT the board of charities through
its duly authorized agents, shall inspec
the work of all agents, shall inspect TN
work of all agencies which care Tor de
pendent children, whether by institution
| al or by home-finding methods, ant
whether supported by public or privat
funds. The state has always 1ealousi!
guarded the interests of children who's
parents have been able to leave then
property by requiring the appointmen
OF a guardian, under bond, accountabl
directly to the courts. even though Their
be a competent surviving parent Surel
the interests of the child who is not onl
an orphan but penniless ought to be n
less sacred than those Of the more fortu
nate orphan who inherits property.
the protection Of the government Is nee
essary in the one case 1t Is even NOR
necessary In the other. IL We are to re
auire that only Incorporated institution
shall be allowed to engage In this RI
sponsibile work. It is necessary to pre-
vide for public inspection, lest the stat
should become the unconscious partne
Of those who either from ignorance 2
inefficiency are unsuited to deal wit
the problem.
IT deem such legislation as is herei
recommended not only important for n
welfare of the children Immediately col
cerned, but important as setting an O.
L - Al ~ fxf oh