The Washington herald., 1909-01-25

By midnight yesterday nearly 100 dele
gates and visitors TO the special confer
ence called by President Roosevelt to con-
sider the care Of dependent children had
arrived in the city and gone to headQuar-
ters, in the New Willard Hotel
Arrivals VIII continue this morning. and
by the time the reception by the Presi-
dent at the White House opens. at 2.3o
O'Clock this afternoon, the gathering will
be practically complete.
Nearly 90 specially invited delegates.
occupying important positions in chart
table, philanthroDic. and social organiza-
tons throughout the country. are ex-
pected, in addition 10 which an equal
number Of visitors from all parts Of the
United States interested in the purpose
Of the conference viii come TO the city 10
attend the open sessions.
For Dependent Children.
How much official bearing the results
OF the deliberations viii have on the con-
duct Of institutions for dependent chill
dren is not Yet known. The conference
viii be in the nature Of a clearing house
Of ideas Of those most versed in that line
Ct endeavor. and important and far-reach-
ing results may be anticipated.
One Of the early arrivals was George
W Wilder. president Of the National
Child Rescue League, of New York. It
is understood his attendance viii have
significant bearing on the business ef-
fected.
Miss Jane adams. noted phiIanthropist.
OF Hull House, Chicago. arrived in the
city. as did also Judge Ben B. Lindsey.
who came before the public eve by estab-
fishing the Juvenile Court in Denver.
Other arrivals were TheodOre Dresser
New York, editor of the Deiineator:
Thomas N. NIuiry. New York. president
Of The Society Of St Vincent de Paul Of
the United States: David F. TiHey. Bos-
ton, Of the State Board Of Charities:
IJr- Hastings : Hart. Chicago. superin-
tendent Of the Children's Home and Aid
Society Of Illinois: Charles ". BirtweH
Boston. general secretary Of the Boston
Children's Aid Society Robert ". Bing-
ham, president Of the Kentucky Chill
dren's Home Society: Father William
J White. Brooklyn. superintendent OF
the Catholic Charities. George Robinson.
New York. president Of the New York
Catholic PrOtectory; Hugh F Fox.
Plainfield y. J., president OF the State
Board Of Children'S Guardians. Rev
Francis A Foy. former chairman Of the
Catholic Children's Aid Society Of New
York, Rev Walter Reid Hunt. New York.
president OF the ChIldren's Aid and Pro
1eCtive Society Of the Oranges: Meigs
Y. Grouse. superintendent Of the Cincin-
natl Children's Home, and Booker T
Washington
Scope Of the Work.
The scope Of the work Of the confer
ence becomes evident when it is said
that there are about 10000 dependent
children in the United States Being cared
for in institutions Of every kind. from
the small private home to the great
State Institutions Il IS probable that as a
result Of this conference. or Of other con-
ferences inspired by it. a system Of regu-
latiOns viii be drawn up to which all in
stitutions VIII be required TO conform.
An informal meeting Of fifty members
OF the conference was held last night in
the New Willard. al which questions
which viii be taken Up at the sessions
were unofficially discussed.
The first gathering Of the conference
will take place this afternoon at the
White House. when President Roosevelt
viii hold a reception at 2:30 O'Clock He
viii then call the conference to order.
The report Of the committee on preIimi-
nary arrangements will be heard and the
organization effected The following top
les viii be discussed, the speakers named
opening the arguments:
Should the State inspect the work of
all chiId-caring agencies. including both
institutions and bome-inding societies.
Amos W Butler. secretary State board
OF charities. Indiana. and Hugh F. Fox.
president State board of children's guar
dians New Jersey; Should the approval
OF the State board OF charities (or other
body exercising similar power be neces-
saTy 10 the incorporation OF all child
caring agencies, and 70 an amendment
Of the charter Of an existing benevolent
corporation. If It is 10 include child
caring work, and should the care Of chill
dren BY other than incorporated agencies
be forbidden Robert W Hebberd- com
missioner OF charities. New York CITY.
and Timothy D Hurley, Visitation and
Aid Society, Illinois
Public Session Tonight.
A public session viii be held tonight at
the New Willard at o'clock More than
100 requests for tickets have already
been received. Commissioner H B. F.
MacfarIand viii open with "a word Of
greeting from the District"
The general subject Of discussion VIII
be the following questions;
Should children Of parents Of worthy
character. but suffering from temporary
misfortune, and the children Of widows
Of worthy character and reasonable eff |
cheney. be kept with their parents-aid
being given the parents TO enable them 10
maintain suitable homes for the rearing
Of the children? Should the breaking OF
home be permitted for reasons Of
poverty, or only for reasons Of inefT7- |
cheney OF immortality?
Should children, nOrn-I il mind and /
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