The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-26
WANT NEW LAWS
TOPROTECT CHILD
Conference Asks for IN
stltution for Feeble
Mi ded.
NEGROES TALK
OF SEGREGATION
Say Real Problem Is to Have
Sanitary Housing for Race.
Teachers of Richmond Hear
Address by Miss. Garrett
on Instruction in Sex
Hygiene.

As tangible result of tina first
Child Welfare Conference ever held in
the South which closed Its sessions
last night, resolutions were adopted
calling upon the General Assembly of
Virginia. at Its next session, to enact
various measures for the good of the
children of this State The committee
on resolutions, composed of Dr. w
+. Drewry, Barton Myers and Frank
W. Duke. made its report at yester-
day mornings session. che resolutions
being adopted by unanimous vote.
!. Mnny Changes Urged.
Among the recommendations made
TO the Legislature are the following
That the Superintendent OF Public
instruction be authorized to investi-
gate and report upon the backward
! children in the public schools OF the
State; that q larger amount of money
be appropriated for the preservation
of the work of the State Board of
| Charities and Correction. and that
this boards powers be so enlarged as
| to enable 1t to protect the State
against dependent. delinquent and de-
fective persons entering the State.
who are, or may become. burdens and
public chargesi that temporary COM
mission be created charged with the
duty of studying the needs OF I'M
skilled boys and girls in the industries
and reporting upon such plans as will
better their ocationel training: that
an institution be established for the
care of the feeble minded: that the
parents OF illegitimets children be
required to provide for their support,
| and that the mothers be encouraged to
nurse their offspring; that general
system of Juvenile courts with proba-
I "
and that the cities be urged to avail
themselves Of the enabling act now
| in existence in this direction
% Hnvo Permanent Exhibit.
| In addition to these recommended
| directed the committee on exhibits to
| proceed with the work OF gathering a
! permanent exhibit on child welfare for
use al the State Fair. and It also in
vited all established agencies in Vir-
ginia for the care OF the child to be-
come affiliated with the State Confer
ence on Charities and Corrections Be-
sides. the conference extended it's
| thanks to the speakers who have given
| their aid attthis meeting. to the news
papers OF Richmond for their reports
| of the proceedings. and to the organi-
| cations which have given the use OF
halls for meeting places.
| IN net audresS on instruction In
Sex HYGIENE" Miss Laura Garrett. Of
the American Purity Alliance. handled
a difficult subject In most effective
| manner, and won praise from the mo IS /
critical. Her address was made the
feature OF the last days session. and
AL the teachers of the city were per
mitted to attend. the schools being
given half-holiday for this purpose
| by Superintendent j. A. c. Chandler.
| Therefore Miss Garrett faced an au
dience which crowded the auditorium
OF the Mechanics institute She illus
trated her methods OF Instruction by
objects and pictures
! The address OF Miss Mary Johnston
was largely along similar lines MAX
ing TOT the instruction OF the young
IN matters which have heretofore heen
| kept as secrets mi ID 80
| Coiorcd People Interested.
! The last two sessions Of the confer.
| ence were held in the First Baptist
Church (colored). and were designed
especially to secure corporation be-
tween the races for tho physical edu-
ca etonai. mental and moral betterme mt
OF Inc colored children. The result va :
satisfactory to the leaders In the con-
| ference '.s'e oi'-
by several of the speakers the recent
segregation of the races in Richmond
was made a point in the discussion
| Mrs. b. 3, Munford, who has been oh
serving recent conditions among the
negroes. expressed the conviction tina
/ me subject might have better been n.
| proached from community standpoin,
ra ther than that of race. DR.. Graham
coiored minister of Hampton, said
that the problem Of segregation wa.
not the important one-that the oues.
| non was one of providing sanitary lfv-
ing places for the negro. Similar sen
! uments were expressed by Rev. D
| webster Davis. who. in what DR.. IT
| Jesse Jones. of Tia mpton, called a mix.
! turc of wit and good sense. probably
did Il good deal toward bringing thf
races into cooperation for the good
of the colored child.
Don't Seek KnowIedse.
Or. Allen ". Freeman discussed
health conditions and told of the fear.
fnl 1avages of disease among negroes
lie was Impressed with the fac,
that while the State is In the business
/ of disseminating knowledge OF how te
keep well and how to get we'll, rarely
does a colored person apply at the
state Health Department for informa-
ton on this important matter. This
Dr. Davis wittily explained, was due to
/ the negroes dread of intruding where
he might feel he was not wanted
Fl Several colored women: active in set
Element work made talks which sur.
prised most OF the audience by thetr
| good sense and excellent expression
IT, c. Walker, of Gloucester an old
time colored man, spoke of the work OF
placing out orphan children into homes
along the lines of the work carried or
BY the white people in the Children:
Home Society OF Virginia.