The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-04-22
Father Amply Able
To Care For Children

Editor Islander: 1t having come
to my knowledge that the Washington
Childrens' Home Society. through it's
representative. Mr. ChappelI, appear
ed before the county commissioners
of this county at their recent meet
ing, for the purpose of enlisting the
county's aid TO care for my children.
l would ask you to kindly allow me
space in your valuable paper for a
few lines to clear up any misunoer-
standing that the taxpayers of this
county may have about me or nv
children. feel that the action of
the society in trying to get aid from
the county for my children has put
me in anything but a pleasant light
before the people of the county and
do not feel justified to let it pass
without word to correct the impress
sion created by the society's action.
l do not know upon what Mr.. Chap
pell based his plea for help but
know that he should not have made
the plea at all.
About two months ago Mr.. Chap
pell came to me and tried to persuade
me to let the society take my chill
dren into their custody. holding out
the jnducement that as they we're
young and motherless it would be bet
ter for them if / gave them to some
body who would adopt them, and
give them a good home and mothers
care. failed to see 1t that way and
told him so. He then reported to
Mr.. Covlngton. superintendent of
the society, and in week or two Mr..
Caappell and Mr.. CovinRton came
down here together and again insisted
that it would be better for me and the
children if gave them into the soci-
ety's care. l told them that it would
help me if they took one of them and
let me keep the other two; but this
Mr.. Covington fatty refused to DO.
He would have them all or he would
take none, and finally l con scented.
with the understanding that the soci
ETY. we're to place the two younger
children in home together. After
taking the children to Seattle, the So
ciety at once broke faith with me by
sending themg out to different homes
almost Immediately and on learning
this demanded that they return
one of them to me, which they did
and that one is now with me on the
island.
So much for the history of the
case. Now l wish to most emphati-
cally state that did not give my
children to the society because could
not support them, but because they
made me think that it would be best
for the children. l gave them to the
society with the understanding in
black and white that was to pay all
the expenses for whatever car. the so
ciety bestowed on them while in their
care or until they could be legally
adopted into homes and that l have
paid every bill they have presented
without word of protest. I never
for moment thought they would ap-
peal to the county for aid: and fur
thermore. I consider myself able to
properly provide for my children.
The taxpayers of this county need not
lose any sleep worrying over having
to provide for my children. for even
in the event of my early departure
from this world. they are provided
for and Will never become a charge to
the county. In order to keep the So
ciety from ever appealing to the coun-
ty for aid again l shall at once take
the steps necessary to have them
return the children to me as soon as
posi- BILE. Carl V. Johnson,
Roche Harbor, April Is, 1910.