The Washington herald., 1912-01-20
CHILD COUNCIL
TO REMOVE EVILS
Organization Aims to Keep
Capital Youngsters on
Right Path.
JUDGE MACK AT HELM
Conditions Which Cause Delin
quency in Washington Will Be
Object of Sweeping Probe.

Definite plans for a systematic inves-
tigation of home conditions and thor
ough study of child life in the District
with the idea of removing the dangerous
evils which now constantly stare the
children OF the Capital in the face were
decided upon at a meeting yesterday
afternoon at the home Of Mrs. Murray
Crane, I5T X street northwest, of the
executive board of the Children'S Coun-
ell, the newly formed organization which
has as its object the uplift of the child
in Washington.
The council will meet probably once
every month for the purpose OF dis
cussing the results Of Investigations by
members. From these reports of condi-
tions the organization will in a short
time be in a position TO take steps to
remove existing evils which menace
chiIdlfe.
The council wishes TO keep secret for
the present the particular lines Of in
vestigation to be followed, so their work
will not be anticipated and conditions
consequently altered by promoters of OBJ
jectionable forms Of amusement and per-
sons who are responsible to some extent
for the delinquency OF children.
object of the Council.
The object of the council is not TO re-
form children after they have fallen from
the ways OF right but to prevent them
from going wrong by removing from them
evil influences. 1t is also the hope Of
the council to bring about a greater and
more effective cooperation between the
various organizations in the city inter-
ested in child life.
The membership OF the council" said
Miss Mary Swain, the field secretary OF
the organization. last night, is composed
Of representatives Of practically all the
organizations. the work Of which con-
Germs the welfare of the children in their
homes: and it is hoped that through fire.
pUent meetings and frank discussions OF
problems, each member may get new
light upon old questions. and that all
may become 50 closely affiliated that they
will eventually he working as a unit.
In this confused but energetic age we
sometimes seem like people in a tunnel
each trying to bore his separate way
through TO the light with an individual
Eimlet. The Children's Council aims to
substitute for this one great augur on
which all may work together.
Will Increase Pleasures.
An eminent ecclesiastical and social
worker in a large Western city has COM
puted that in his town the destructive
agencies affecting youth are to the con-
structive agencies as ten to one. Is this
true Of Washington? That is what the
Children's Council hopes to learn. Ifalso
hopes to help increase the number of
wholesome and innocent pleasures for
children and young people.
Its aim is not TO reform children after
they have gone wrong, but TO prevent
their going wrong. 1t believes that the
hest time to help people is while they
are children, that the best place to help
them is in their homes. and that the
hest method for helping them is through
concentrated effort
Judge Julian Mack, of the United States
'"urt Of Commerce. who is likewise pres-
ident Of the National Conference Of
Charities and Correction, is president of
the council. Mrs. Murray Crane is sec
Tetary, and the treasurer is Miss Cor
nelia Adds. Miss Swain is the field sec
Tetary. The headquarters of the organi-
zauon is in room 5l4, Metropolitan Bank
Building
"lc JnlVerslty,k y chairman of the ex-
ecutiYe commit e. Besides the officers
Of the organizaV lon, the executive com
mittee is compofed of Judge William H.
DE Lacy, of thf Juvenile Court: George
: wilson, secretary of the Board of
charities: Waltz S. UffOrd, general sec
retary Of the Associated Charities: Mrs.
J. p. S. Neigh, 81 perintendent of Neigh
horhOOd House, a B Miss Isabel Strong
of the Visiting Nuses Association