The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1909-02-19
PRESIDENT SENDS TO CONGRESS
STRONG MESSAGE ON THE
SUBJECT.
FROM REPORT OF CONFERENCE
Points Out How Closely the interests
Of the Country Are involved in
the Welfare Of the Dependent
Child.

is believed, IL enacted into law, will
make an important epoch in the future
%well-being of the dependent children
of the nation, is recommended in a
special message by President Roose.
welt 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 1925, 1909, there assem-.
bled in this city, OF 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 engag-
ed in the care Of dependent children,
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 49,.
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 %, 900 chill.
dren in institutions for juvenile de.
l%inquents.
Each Of these children represents
either a potential addition to the pro.
ductive capacity and the enlightened
citizenship Of the nation, or, if allowed
to suffer from neglect, a 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.
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
ers fairly we'll 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.
I transmit herewith for your infor.
nation a copy Of the conclusions
reached by the conference, of which
the following is a brief summary:
1. 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 &C.
cident, and to substitute compensation
and insurance for relief.
8. Home Fnding.-Homeless and
1 nanIanfnI akt1. 10 -@- --I
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. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 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.
cies which care for dependent chill.
dren.
Z. Inspection Of Educational Work.
Educational work of institutions and
agencies caring for dependent children
should be supervised by state educa.
tional 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.
D. Physical Care.-Every needy child
should receive the best medical and
surgical attention, and be instructed
in health and hygiene.
10. Co-Operation.-Local ~child-car
ing agencies should cooperate and
establish Joint bureaus of information
IL. Undesirable Legislation.-Prohi
bitive legislation against transfer o.
dependent children between states
should be repealed.
10. Permanent Organization--A per
manent organization for work along
the lines of these r~esolutione "a deair