Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-27

superintendent Minnesota State Public Schools.
AT a public subscription dinner in the
New Willard last night. at which were
gathered about five hundred men and
women interested. in the welfare OF the
orphan children of the country, President
Roosevelt declared that he would send to
Congress a special message urging that a
federal children's bureau be established,
the object of which would be to collect
and disseminate accurate information in
regard to chld-caring work and the needs
of children. He al o declared that he
would ask Congress to enact legislation
for the special benefit of dependent chill
dren in the District of Columbia.
The dinner was the climax to the two
days conference called by the President
to discuss advanced methods for the care
of dependent children. The President s
speech was an answer to the report Of
the conference adopted unanimously late
yesterday afternoon: and embodying the
conclusions of the delegates. Every dele
gate at the dinner last night was en-
thusiast in praise for the President.
whose short but strong speech is expected
to stir up great public interest in the
questions now confronting the nation
concerning the ninety thousand children
of the country who are dependent upon
charity and philanthropy for their up
bringing.
Homer Folks one of the three vice
chairmen of the conference. introduced
the President, after James h. West,
secretary had read a brief epitome of
the conclusions Of the conference. During
the reading the President looked at Mr.
Folks several times and said. That S
fine; that's great.
Address of the President.
OWN
1T is a great pleasure to me to come
here this evening and congratulate you
unon the amount of work that you have
done. | need hardly say that its value
is immeasurably increased because it rep
resents your unanimous judgment 1t
would be a good thing for other BONES
to remember that cfronically dVloeo
court is not a source of strength. L am
particularly please at the way in which
YOU have been able to act in harmony. at
the excellent feeling that has prevailed
Among very earnest, very jealous men
and women it is not always that one
finds the saving grace of common sense
This body stands in startling contrast
To some other most well-meanlnS ana
philanthropical bodies in having SHOWN
so much of that homely and indispensable
quality. q
II am Sorry 80 learn that there are
states which have passed such legislation
as that complained of, state mas an
entire right to prevent diseased or moral
1y defective children coming within Its
horders hut the normal child who,
through misfortune has been deprived OF
a home of his or her own, and for whom
the endeavor is to supply such nome,
that child is d source of strength, ana not
of weakness. to the state. 1t should De
the object of all good Americans. no mat
! Ter in what state they live, to see that
child put into family where the chances
are that il will grow up to be good
man or a good woman. nope that me
state legislatures will not persevere in d
course of conduct which means a REFUSAL
to do each his duty by his neishbor
Aiming for Better Things.
Now, ] do not think that it is neces-
| sary for me to say what L am ABOUT
| Ia saw. and vet on the off chance of IS
| being necessary | shall say it-that at
no time has any responsible person IN
| this meeting, or person responsible ior
| the organization of this meeting, re-
| ferred to those engaged in any form
| of child-saving work. and especially
| members of the boards of directors OF
inst 'tutions save in temper and spirit
| that recognized in the fullest degree the
/ good done by those men and the good
that. they aim to accomplish. Contln-
| ualIv. as we proceed with york for the
| bctterment of our people. we find that
agencies which we're the best possible
agencies a decade a couple of dec
AIDES or three decades ago, have been
| passed by; that their usefulness is
| greatly diminished compared to other
| new agencies. and we are not attack
| ing good men and good women who
did so much in the past. or the good
! man and good woman who are engaged
| in trying to do good along the same old
! WAYS when we advocate an Improvement
| in the ways.
whenever I come in close contact
with men and women such as these be-
| fore me- one of the first things l haze
| to find out is that the principles in
which | cordially believe. because they
were the principles according to which
| / worked thirty years ago, have been
| passed by.
Improving the Weapons.
1--WE were then in the muZZle-l loading
| stage in the fight against evil. Men and
women did mighty good work with the
n1uZzle-l leaders, but we want to use
| breech-Ioad ers now. 1t is no assault
| upon the captains of hundreds and cap
! tans of tens who still naturally cling to
| the weapons of their youth when we adj
| yocate an improvement in the instru-
ments with which we strive to work to
meet the evils in conditions of today. We
| recognize to the fullest degree the. impor-
| lance of all that is being done in this field
| of endeavor Institutions have a great
part to play, but the most important OF
| all institutions is the home: and where
we have to utilize an institution sub
| stitution for it it is well to make the
| unit of influence as small possible
! that is to adopt the So-called cottage