The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-02-15
in A MESSAGE
| TO CONGRESS
PRECEDENT ROOSEVELT MAKES
A STRONG PLEA FoR DE-
lsF PENDENT CHILDREN.
SAYS LEGISLATION IS NEEDED
Ne Recommends the Establishment Of
Il q Federal Bureau for the Pro.
teetlon Of the Waits Of
the Nation.


Washington, Feb. 15.-Legislation
which II is believed If enacted into
law, will mark an important epoch In
the future well.being of the dependent
children OF the nation, is recommend.
ed in a special message by President
Roosevelt sent to congress to-day In
which he makes a strong plea in the
interest of children coming within
this class.
OF particular importance is the
presidents recommendation for the
establishment of a federal children's
bureau; the enactment of such legis-
lation as will bring the laws and prac-
tices In regard to the care of depen.
dent children in all federal territory
Into harmony, and certain legislation
in behalf OF dependent children in the
District of Columbia The president
believes that such Legislation is i'm.
portant, not only for the welfare of
the children Immediately concerned,
but important as setting an example
of a high standard Of child protection
by the national government to the
several states Of the Union, which
should be able to look to the nation
for leadership in such matters"
The president also transmits with
his message to congress a copy Of the
conclusions, together with the full
text OF the proceedings Of the recent
conference here on the care of de-
pendent children, in accordance with
the request of that organization. De.
claring that their conclusions "consti.
tute a wise, constructive and progress
sive program of child-caring work"
the president says that II "given full
effect by the proper agencies, existing
methods and practices in almost every
community would be profoundly and
advantageously modified"
Statistics showing the large mum
ber Of dependent children in the
country are presented by Mr.. Roose-
welt. Each of these children repre-
sents either potential addition to
the productive capacity and the en-
lightened citizenship OF the nation"
says the president. cor, If allowed to
suffer from neglect, a potential addi-
tion 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. The interests of the nation are
Involved in the welfare of this army
Of children no less than in our great
material affairs"
In urging a children's bureau, one
Of whose duties will be to investigate
and report upon all matters pertaining
20 the welfare of children and child
life, the president points out that
"the national government is the only
agency which can effectively conduct
such general Inquiries as are needed
for the benefit of all our citizens"
1T is not only discreditable TO us
as people that there is now no rec
ognized source of information upon
these subjects relating to child life"
declares the president, but In the
absence OF such information as should
be supplied by the federal government
many abuses have gone unchecked;
Tor public sentiment, with its great
corrective power, can only be aroused
by full knowledge of the facts" He
adds, that there are few things more
vital to the welfare of the nation
than accurate knowledge of the best
methods of dealing with children. par
bcularly those handicapped by ms.
fortune,
The president makes strong plea
TOR keeping the family intact and de-
clares that poverty alone should not
disrupt the home.