The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1909-02-16
in SPECIAL MESSAGE PRESIDENT
URGES CONGRESS TO ACT.
SUGGESTS NATIONAL BUREAU
President Roosevelt Believes Gen
eral Law For the Protection of
Dependent Children in All
Federal Territory.

Washington, Feb. 16. r. Legislation
which, it is believed if enacted into
law, will make an important epoch in
the future well-being of the dependent
children of the nation, is recommended
in special message by President
Roosevelt sent to Congress yesterday
in which he makes a strong plea in the
interest of children coming within this
class The message follows
On January 1926, 1909. there as
sembled in this city, on my invitation
a conference on the Care of Depen-
dent Children 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 represented ali the
leading religious bodies.
The subject considered is one of
high Importance to the well-being of
the nation. The census bureau re-
ported in 1904 that there were in or
phanages and childrens homes about
$4,000 dependent children. There are
probably 10000 more tthe precise
number never having been ascertained
in private homes, either on board or
in adopted homes provided by the
generosity of foster parents. In addi-
tion to these there were $4,000 child
rem in institutions for Juvenile delin-
quents.
Each of these children represents
either a potential addition to the pro-
ductiye capacity and the enlightened
citizenship of the nation, or, If allow
ed to suffer from neglect, a potential
addition to the destructive forces of
the community The ranks of GRIMM
ais and other enemies of society are
recuited in an altogether undue pro-
portion from children bereft of their
natural homes. and left without suiii-
cient care.
The interests of the nation are in
Volyed in the welfare of this army of
children no less than in our great ma
terial affairs
Notwithstanding a wide diversity Of
views and methods represented in the
conference, and notwithstanding the
varying legislative enactments and
policies of the state from which the
members came, the conference at the
close of its sessions. unanimously ad
opted a series of declarations express
ing the conclusions which they had
reached. These constitute wise,
constructive, and progressive program
of child-caring work If given full eff
feet by the proper agencies, existing
methods and practices in almost every
community would be profoundly and
modified
Moro cfo,ffnapf avap thup fba an1-
tents of the declarations is the fact
that they were adopted without dis
vote and with every demon
stration or hearty approval on the
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 it's legislation |
and its practice,
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 it except for
urgent and compelling reasons"
Surely poverty alone should not dis
rupt the home. Parents of good char
lcter suffering from temporary mis-
fortune. and above all deserving
fairly well able to work but
deprived of the support of the nor
nal bread winner should be given
iudh aid as may be necessary to en-
lble them to maintain homes for the
earring of their children. The wild
,wed or deserted mother, if a good
willing to work and to do her
Test should ordinarily be helped in
uch fashion as will enable her to
ring up her children herself in their
latural home. Children from unfit
ZONES and children who have no
ZONES who must be cared for by char
table agencies, should, so far as prac-
icable be cared for in families.
| transmit herewith for your infor-
nation a copy of the conclusions
cached by the conference of which
he following is a brief summary:
/. Home care.-Children of worthy
arents or deserving mothers should
s rule be kept with their parents
[ home.