Potosi journal., 1909-02-17
hAT|ON'S DUTY
TO THE CHILDREN
PRESIDENT SENDS TO CONGRESS
STRONG MESSAGE ON THE
SUBJECT.
'FR0M REPORT OF CONFERENCE
Points Out How Closely the Interests
OF the Country Are involved in
the Welfare of the Dependent
Child

70 oe1ieseu, II enacted INTO law, VIII
make an important epoch in the future
~ell-beins Of the dependent children
CT the nation, is recommended in
special message by President Roose-
velt 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 25-25..1so9. 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 engar-
Cd IN the care Of dependent children.
and they represented all the leading
religious bodies.
The subject considered is Cna of
Eigh importance to the weli-being Cf
the nation. The census bureau renort-
ed i'll 1904 that there were in orphan
ages and children's homes about 3d.
900 dependent children. There are
Probably $4,000 more (the precise
number never having been ascertain
ed, in private homes. either on board
or IN adopted homes provided by the
generosity of foster parents In ad-
dition to these there were 5000 chill
dren in institutions for juvenile de-
linquents.
Each Of these children represents
either a potential addition to the pro-
ductive capacity aud the enlightened
citizenship of the nation. Or if allowed
to suffer from neglect, potential ad-
d'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 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 mis-
fortune, and above all, deserving moth
crs 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, if a 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.
l transmit herewith for your infor-
nation copy of the conclusions
reached by the conference, of which
the following is a brief summary:
l. Home Care-Children Of worthy
parents or deserving mother should
as a rule, be kept with their parents
at home.
2. Preventive Work-The effort
should be made to eradicate causes
Of dependency, such as disease and ac-
cident, and to substitute compensation
and insurance for relief.
3. Home Finding.-Homeless and
neglected children. if normal, should
be cared for in families, when prac-
ticable.
4. Cottage System. - Institutions
should be on the cottage plan with
small units, as far as possible.
S. Incorporation.-Agen caring
for dependent children should be in.
corporated, on approval of suitable
state board
6. State Inspection-The stats
should inspect the work of all agen
cies which care for dependent chill
dren.
T. Inspection of Educational Work
Educational work of institutions and
agencies caring fer dependent children
should be supervised by state educa
.ional authorities
| g. Facts and Records-Complete
histories of dependent children and
their parents, based upon personal in
vestigatien and supervision, should be
recorded for guidance of child-caring
agencies.
9. Physical Care-Every needy chile
should receive the best medical and
In health and hygiene.
10. Co-Operation.-Local child-car
ing agencies should cooperate anG
establish joint bureaus Of information
II. Undesirable egislation.-Prohi
oitive legislation against transfer ol
dependent children between states
should be repealed.
H. Permanent Organization-A per
.nanent organization for work alons
he lines of these resolutions is desir
lble.
13. Federal Children's Bureau
Establishment of a federal children's
aureau is desirable, and enactment ei
pending bill is earnestly recommended
While it is recognized that these
conclusions can be given their fullest
affect only by the action Of the severa
states or communities concerned, OF
If their charitable agencies, the con
erence requested me, in section IA o1
he conclusions, to send to you mes
sage recommending federal action.