The Cairo bulletin., 1909-01-26
THEME OF DISCUSSION AT CON-
FEGrNcE ON CARE or De
PENDENT CHILDREN.
OPENED BY ROOSEVELT
State Supervle on cf All institutions
And Agencies For Care Ct
Ch ldren - Pension
Mothers.

lAdSHlHStu1s Jan, Sd h' ithPotN
ance of the preservation Of the he me-
intact was the central theme around
which the discussion revolsed at the
conference on the care. of dependent
children, which was formally opened
by President Roosevelt at the White
House late today The subject under
consideration was should the break
ing of home be permitted for rear
ons Of poverty, or only for reasons or
inefficiency or immortality"
II was IT, unanimous opinion OF the
array OF notable charity workers AMI
others who tol, laft In the discussion
that the Ai.d can be best reared un-
der the influence OF the home and
that they should be removed from the
family circle only when proper super.
vision at home has become impossi
ble II also was the consensus OF
opinion that where poverty exists Il.
home, 81 aid suld CONNIE insion h0afe
home, state aid should be given,
While this subject formed the princi-
pal topic Of disussion. other questions
Of equally vital Importance to tie
child were considered
After outlining the scope CT lie
work before the conference, President
Roosevelt called Homer Folks. pFesi
dent Of the state probation commits
sionof New York TO the chair
There can be no more important
subject from a stand point Of the ma
ton than that with which you deal
said the president. because when you
take care of the children today you
are taking care or the nation tomUr.
row, and Il is incumbent upon every
one of us to do all in his or her power
children when cruel misfortune has
handicapped them at he very outset
of their lives | earnestly hope the
members Of this conference will take
a progressive stand so as TO esta-
lish the goal toward which the whole
country can work In other words, |
earnestly hope each Of you will coh-
slider. not only the interests of his
own immediate locality, but the inter
oss of the nation as a whole.
Tho president then discussed the
various conditions which the confer
ence is trying TO meet and the differ
ent types OF children who need care,
and made a number OF suggestions
covering these conditions. the trend
being that dependent children should
be provided with a home, or, when
that is not possible, in an institution
az near like home as it is possible
10 make Il. He said that while the
government can do much it cannot do
everything. and that there must al
ways be help by individuals aud asso.
Citations outside.
| Nearly all the speakers contended
for the right and duty of the state
to control all institutions and agen-
cics for the care OF dependent child
[ren, although the prior right Of par
ents was recognized. One OF the
strongest addresses was by DR. Emil
HiBch. of Chicago. who pleaded FOR
the preservation OF the family aud
held that there was glaring inconsis.
tency in the rearing of children In in.
stiuutions where all idea of family life
was obliterated, and then expect these
children 10 DO their part in a society
founded on the home and rooted IT,
the family The Or. concluded as fol
lows: In the long run. pensioning
mothers is cheaper than building aims
houses and jails and reformai0ri'
Keep the mothers al home and lons
stride Is taken ON the road leading
from pauperism and that which
causes Alcoholism and dome size
lluarChy. I should never separate
| children from heir parents OF broth
-, / ers and sisters from one anothrI
Rerever Il is possible 20 keep ih- fam
Us intact In this work Preserve
he family must be our watchNori-