The Washington herald., 1912-09-26
TRADES SHOULD
Be TAUGHT BOYS
At Conference Of Catholic Charities
This Recommendation Is Made
by Speaker.
HOMELESS CHILDREN
ARE HARD TO PLACE
Few Institutional Wards Fit to
Place in Foster Homes,
Says Authority.

While speaking on The Selection oi
Children for the Foster Home William
:. Doherty, executive secretary Of the
Catholic Home Bureau. New York. said
at yesterdays meeting OF the Nationa
Conference of Catholic Charities al
Catholic University that ''the homeless:
child is no longer considered as a chat
tel" Mr.. Doherty said there is great
difficulty in getting any number OF
| available good homes in which to place
homeless or orphaned children.
The selection OF the right type OF
child is most perplexing." continued Mr.
Doherty. Before placement careful
study OF the child. its characteristics
| physical makeup and ties Of Relationship
must be made. OF one hundred children
not more than one-third are At fol
placement in foster homes. Any disposi-
| ton of dependent children which con.
templates removing them from parents
without first establishing the fact that
they are utterly worthless is inhuman
The child is a most potent argument In
the reformation of delinquent parents
| II will never do to force upon a foster
parent a child whose physical defects are
such as to demand constant attention"
| That every boy between eleven and
eighteen years should learn some trade
which will enable him to start on an
| equal footing with his fellows, was the
recommendation made by Brother
Henry. Director of the New York Cath
olic Protectory. in making an address
| on The Education Of the Dependent
| Child"
Brother Henry complained that insti-
tutions for the care of children have
been subject to much undue criticism.
Results obtained are often unsatis-
factory as in the average home" he
continued. Child nature Graves love and
sympathy. The institutional child needs
physical training. Fairgrounds are a
necessary adjunct. Higher studies are
United States history should be taught. :"
Many Papers Read.
Others who read papers yesterday in
cluded John Rea, president OF the Cen
trail and Particular Councils, st. Vincent
de Paul. Philadelphia, who made the
vice chairmans address: DIR. John A.
Horgan, out-patient physician of Fox
borough State Hospital, Roxbury. Mass.
Modern Views and Methods of Treat
ment of Inebriety;" a sister OF the In
stitute of Mission Helpers, Baltimore.
The Parish Nurse" William ]. Vavra,
assistant prosecuting attorney in the
Court of Domestic Relations, Chicago,
Our Catholic Immigrants" Miss Stella
Hamilton, board of managers of the
Christ Child Society, Omaha, Nebr., vice
chairman's address; Rev. Francis X.
wastl chaplain at the Philadelphia Hos
pital for the Sick, INDECENT. and Insane.
Philadelphia, The Problem of Deepen
dent Catholic Children in Public Institu-
tions;" Patrick A. Whitney. Commits
sioner of Corrections, New York. vice
chairmans address; Rev. James Donahoe.
city missionary of St Paul, Causes of
Delinquency" Michael Francis Doyle.
vice president Particular Council, St
Vincent de Paul Society, Philadelphia,
Treatment of Delinquent Children
A general discussion of the whole sub
ject of delinquency in children and its
treatment was led by Judge William Fl
De Lacy, of the Juvenile Court. after
which the reports of the various COM
mittees OF the conference and the con-
Guiding session of the organization was
held.
1t was announced that Right Rev. Mgr.
William T. Russell, rector of st. Pat
rick's Church. had assumed the spiritual
dictatorship of the conference, succeed
ing Right Rev. Mgr. Mcmahon. who has
retired because of the immense charity
work he heads in New York and the
consequent demand upon his time. The
conference adjourned shortly before noon
yesterday.