Mexico Missouri message., 1909-02-18
PRESIDENT SENDS TO CONGRESS
STRONG MESSAGE ON THE
SUBJECT.
FROM REPORT OF CONFERENCE
Points Out How Closely the Interests
Of the Country Are involved In
the Welfare Of the Dependent
Child.

~ ueNeNeus u enacted lhtO Jaw VIII
make an important epoch In the future
well.being OF the dependent children
Of the nation, Is recommended In a
special message by President Roose-
welt to congress, in which he makes a
strong plea in the interest of children
coming within this class.
Substantially the message was az
follows:
On January 1895. 1909. there assem-.
BLEED in this city. on my invitation, a
conference on the care OF dependent
children. To this conference there
came from nearly every state In the
union men and women actively engag.
ed in the care Of dependent children,
and they represented all the leading
religious bodies.
The subject considered is one OF
high Importance to the well.being Of
the nation. The census bureau report.
ed in 1904 that there were in orphan.
ages and children's homes about So.
600 dependent children. There are
probably $4,000 more Cthe 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 $4,000 chill.
dren in institutions for Juvenile de.
lInquents.
Each Of these children represents
either a potential addition to the pro
ductiye capacity and the enlightened
citizenship OF the nation. or, II allowed
20 suffer from neglect. a potential ad.
dition to the destructive forces OF the
community. The ranks OF criminals
and other enemies OF society are re-
cruited In an altogether undue proper.
ton from children bereft OF their nat.
ural homes and left without sufficient
care.
The interests OF the nation are in.
volved in the welfare OF this army OF
children no less than in our great
material AFFAIRS.
The 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 II except for urgent
end 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 moth.
crs fairly well able TO work, but de-
prived Of the support OF the normal
hreadwinner. should be given such aid
as may be necessary TO enable them
TO maintain suitable homes for the
rearing Of their children. The wild.
owed or deserted mother. II good
woman. 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
natural home.
Conclusions Of Conference.
transmit herewith for your infor.
nation a copy Of the conclusions
reached by the conference, OF which
the following is a brief summary:
/. Homo Care.-Children Of worthy
parents or deserving mother should,
as q rule, be kept with their parents
NJ home.
2. Preventive Work.-The effort
should be made to eradicate causes
Of dependency, such as disease and &C.
rident, and TO substitute compensation
and Insurance for relief.
8. Home Finding.-Homeless and
neglected children, IL normal, should
be cared for in families, when prac,
tIcable.
4. Cottage System. - Institutions
should be on the cottage plan with
small units, as far as possible.
s. Observation-Disclosures caring
tor dependent children should be in
corporated, on approval of q suitable
state board.
9. State Inspection.-The stats
shOuld inspect the work OF all agen
eies which care for dependent chill
dren.
z. Inspection OF Educational Work
Educational work of institutions ant
agencies caring for dependent children
|, should be supervised by state educa
, I.ional authorities.
, s. Facts and acknowledgements,
J histories Of dependent children and
} their parents. based upon personal in
} vestigation and supervision. should b,
recorded for guidance Of child.carinl
agencies.
. .. Physical care.-Every needy chill
; should receive the best medical ana
surgical attention, and be INSTRUCTED
: in health and hygiene.
10. Co-operation.-Local chIld.car
ing agencies should cooperate ans
establish Joint bureaus OF Information
IL. Undesirable legislation -ProhI
Ditive legislation against transfer o
dependent children between states
should be repealed.
~. Permanent Organization per
nansnt organization for work along
The lines Of these resolutions is desis
able \