The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1909-02-18

pendent cnlId--FavcrabIe Action
on Bill Now Pending in Congress
urged--conferene Strongly Con-
demns Custom Of Sending Children
to AInlshouses.
Washington. IL egislation, which, 1t
Is believed, Il enacted into law, viii
make an important epoch in the fu-
ture well-being of the dependent chill
dren of the nation, is recommended
in a special message by President
Roosevelt to congress, in which he
makes a strong plea in the interest
of children coming within this class.
Substantially the message was as
follows:
On January 25-26, 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 3d.
600 dependent children. There are
probably $4,000 more 1.-THE precise num-
Der never having been asceftainedl, in
private homes, either on board or in
adopted homes provided by the gener-
osity of foster parents. In addition
to these there were $4,000 children in
institutions for juvenile delinquents.
Each of these children represents
either a potential addition to the pro-
duetIYe capacity and the enlightened
citizenship of the nation, or, IL allowed
10 suffer from neglect. q 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. a-n-...
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 it except
for urgent and compelling reasons"
Surely poverty alone should not dis
rupt the home. Parents of good char
acter suffering from temporary misfor
tune, and above all. deserving. moth
ers fairly well able to work, but de-
prived of the support of the normal
breadwinner, 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, IL 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.
I transmit herewith for your infor-
nation a copy Of the conclusions
reached by the conference. of which
the following is brief summary:
/. Home Care.-Children of worthy
parents or deserving mothers should,
as rule, be kept with their parents
at home -
2. Preventive Work.-The effort
should be made 70 eradicate causes
of dependency, such as disease and
accident, and to substitute -ompensa-
ton and insurance for relief.
3. Home Finding Homeless and
neglected children. II normal, should
be cared for in families, when prac-
ticable.
T. Cottage System.-Institutio
should be on the cottage plan with
small units, as far as possible.
g. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES caring
for dependent children should be In
corporated. on approval of a suitable
state board
g. State Inspection.-The state
should inspect the work Of all agen-
cles which care for dependent chill
dren.
~ q NIB ptSNAph VI I$uuCdllOHdl HOTks--
Educational work OF institutions and
agencies caring for dependent chill
dren should be supervised by state
educational authorities.
s. Facts and Records. Complete
histories Of dependent children and
their parents, based upon personal in
vestigation and supervision, should be
recorded for guidance Of child caring
agencies.
3 Physical Care. Every needy child
should receive the best medical and
surgical attention, and be instructed
in health and hygiene
10, Co-Operation---Local childcaring
agencies should cooperate and estab.
lsh joint bureaus OF information.
IL. Undesirable Legislation Pro
hibltiye legislation against transfer OF
dependent children between states
should be repealed
l2. Permanent OFganlzation.---A per.
manent organization for work along
the lines Of these resolutions Is de-
sirabIe
4. Federal children's Bureau
Establishment OF federal childsen's
bureau Is desirable, and enactment Of
handing mn n earnestly recomrnended