The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-02-15
PLEA FOR DEPEN-
DENT CHILDREN
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT SENT
SPECIAL MESSAGE TO CON-
GRESS TODAY ASKING FOR
LEGISLATION.
(By Associated Press. J

(By Associated Press.)
Washington, Feb. 15.-Legislation
which, it is believed if enacted into
law, will make an important epoch in
the future well-being of the depend
ent children of the nation, is recon-
mended in special message by Pres
ident 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 federal children's
bureau; the enactment of such leg
islation as will bring the laws and
practices in regard to the care of de-
pendent children in all federal terri
tory into harmony and certain legis-
lation in behalf of rependent chill
dren in the District OF Columbia
The President believes that such leg
islation is important 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 gov
eminent 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 re
| cent conferences here on the care Of
| dependent children, in accordance
with the request of that organization.
| Declaring that their conclusions
"cOnstitute wise, constructive and
progressive program of child-caring
work." the president says that if
"given full effect by the proper agen-
cies, existing methods and practices
in almost every community would be
profoundly and advantageously mod
flied"
Statistics showing the large num-
Der of dependent children in the
country are presented by Mr.. Poose-
welt Each of these children repre-
seats either a 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-
ton to the destructive forces of the
community. The ranks of criminals
and other enemies of society are re
cruited in an altogether undue pro-
portion from children bereft of their
natural homes and left without sufi-
Gent care. The interests of the ma
ton ere involved in the welfare of
this army of children no less than n
our great material affairs"
In urging a Children's Bureau, one
of whose duties will be to ir -cs1.aate
a report upon all matters pertaining
to the welfare of children anu child
Lie 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
at is not only discreditable to us
as people that there is now no rec
ognized and authoritative source of
information upon these subjects re-
lating to child life," declares the
president, "but in the absence of
such information as should be sup
piled by the federal government many
abuses have gone unchecked; for
public sentiment, with its great cor
receive 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 and dependable knowl-
edge of the best methods Of dealing
with children, particularly those
handicapped by misfortune.
The president makes strong plea
for keeping the family intact and de-
clares that poverty alone should not
disrupt the home.