The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-06-14
NOVEL VIEWS ON
SOCIAL REFORMS
Wife Deserter Should Be
Forced to Work to Sup
port His Family.

Cleveland. Ohio. June 14.-"Char-
table institution people too often for.
get the very purpose of the creation
Of the institution. and the thing runs
along rather for it's own benefit than
that of its patrons or the state" was
the charge made by II. C. Bowman
chairman of the state board of con-
troll of Kansas. before the national
conference Of charities and correc.
tion here this morning. "This hap.
pens," said Mr.. Bowman, with very
worthy people who are quite honest
and we'll meaning. 1t is simply a
lack of perspective; their very pride
in having the institution model
helps to make them forget its pur-
pose.
Very little is known about the in
stitutions of a state by the people
who own and support them" said
the speaker. "even chancellors. pres
idents, superintendents. and wardens
of the institutions know very little
about the management and facilities
of the other institutions. Each lives
In q world Of his own. in which ev-
erything pivots around him. and there
is no concerted action to accomplish
a common purpose. From the point
of view Of some executive officers
of state institutions, the orga nization
of an institution is first. the executive
officer or officers; second, the board
In charge to act as a shield or buffer
for the executive officers: third, the
governor. whom they will treat with
courtesy If he does not interfere with
their appropriations or their ideals
of running the institution; and fourth.
the people of the state who pay their
bills through taxation. The correct
organization would be the direct on.
posite."
Legalized Non.support.
The imprisonment of wife deserters
or husbands charged with non-sup-
port is simply legalized and enforced
family desertion. unless the convicted
husband is placed at hard labor and
the proceeds Of his lah~~ turned over
by the municipality or the state for
the support of his family" said Ed
win j. Cooley. probation officer of the
supreme and county courts of Buff
falo. IN an address this morning. The
speake rargued In favor Of the estab-
lishment Of courts of domestic rela-
tions as distinct from criminal courts,
and the treatment Of offenders of this
class by probationary methods rather
than commitment to jails and pris-
ons.
Such courts could and would upon
their own initiative and through the
probation officers" said Mr.. Cooley.
"get In close touch with all the
agencies of the community which
work. II it be true that these none
support and desertion problems in
volve the happiness Of the family and
the future welfare of the children.
both morally and materially. as we'll
as the economic interests Of the COM
munity a persistent effort must be
made to utilize to the full the church,
the charity ORGANIZATIONS public
agencies caring for dependent chill
dren. playground associations. settle
ments. the library. and the other
agencies in the community that can
help Sane. conservative use Of
these forces under careful direction
and supervision will hasten the time
when courts involving domestic re-
latfons will take tustifiable pride
IN the number "f families they have