The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-15
Governmental Assistance in the Ca
reer of Dependent Children is
Made Subject Of Pres
ident's Appeal.
HIS REcoMMENDATloca ! !
Favors Establishment Of oS .ldren's
Bureau in Departing q II In
terror to Make 4 estl-
cations.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-Govern,
mental assistance in the career OF de.
pendent children was the appeal to
congress in a special message from the
President today. The message en-
bodies the results of the recent confer
ence on the care of dependent children
which assembled at the White House
at the Presidents invitation. He rec,
ommends the establishment of chill.
dren's bureau in the department of in.
terror to investigate the welfare or
young infant mortality, degeneracy,
employment and all matters effectins
the children of the country.
The Presidents message is as fol-
lows:
On January 1926, 1909, there assem-
bled 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 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 well-being Of
the nation. The census bureau report,
! ed in 1904 that there were in orphan.
! ages and children's homes about $4,000
dependent children. There are prob
/ ably $4,000 more (the precise number
never having been ascertained) in
private homes, either on board or in
adopted homes provided by the gener.
osity of foster parents. In addition to
! these there were 25,O0O children in in
stitutions for juvenile delinquents.
Each of these children represents
either potential addition to the pro-
ductive capacity and the enlightened
citizenship of the nation, or, if allowed
to suffer from neglect a potential ad-
dition to the destructive forces of the
4 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
lural homes and left without sufficient
care.
4 The interests of the nation are In
4 volved in the welfare OF this army OF
children no less than in our great ma
terial affairs.
Notwithstanding q wide diversity G.
views and methods represented in the
conference, and notwithstanding thf
various legislative enactments and pol
icies of the states from which the
members came, the conference, at thi
close of it's sessions, unanimously
adopted a series of declarations eX
pressing the conclusions which they
had reached These constitute wise
constructive, and progressive program
of child-caring work If given full Ell
, feet by the proper agencies, existing
methods and practices In almost ever.
community would be profoundly ant
iadvantageously modified.
, More signicant even than the con
! tents of the declarations is the FAC
that they were adopted without dis
2 senting vote and with every demon
stration of hearty approval on the par
,of all present. They constitute
standard of accepted opinion b'
which each community should measure
) the adequacy Of its existing method
and to which each community shoui'
seek to conform its legislation and III
practice.
The KEYNOTE of the conference wa
V ..,,.,-,.,d ;n thece words.
+ "Home life is the highest and fines
:, nroduct of civilization Childrel
s should not be deprived OF 1t except 10
8 urgent and compelling reasons.
9 Surely poverty alone should not diS
rupt the home. Parents OF good chai
S acter suffering from temporary mis-
fortune. and above all deserving noti
3 ers fairly well able to work but de
nriyed of the support of the norma
hreadwinner. should be given such al
las NAV be necessary to enaDle tnel
to maintain suitable homes ior III
roaring of their children. The WldoWe
$ or deserted mother, if good Womal
WILLING TO work and to do her pes
ebou1d ordinarily be helped IN sue
A foebion as will enable her to bring u
y her children herself in their mature
s home Children from unfit homes, an
6 children who have no homes WI
It must he cared for by charl'apl
d agencies, should, so far as practicapi
4 4