The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-22
A CHANCE FOR HELPING.


resr,t ,n a,sti1cc gain TO the Virginia Home and
Industrial School for Girls at Bon Air.
u NAV be that out Of misguided attack Will
come good.
Tho summary OF the findings OF the state
hoard Of charities reject most Of the charges
,-n,~n hrourht about the hearing, ii Is true ana
.,a detailed report. based on public hearings
nroves the untruth of unadvised character Oh All
hut one of them. but a number OF recoini"e"'
-aa,,ona are made. which should he adopted ana
which are for the benefit of the home
A. ero,vsss Of this report shows that IN tou'
.,s.ercss a clean bill is given the institution
= no mistake has been corrected; III one
-.,ou,u ara made for correction that can
=, X,ado easily. in all others the remedy Is /"
,he hands of the State solely and TOT Tue "uop
.,nr ., REORGANIZATION OF the board nioh'y
IS needed.
" ether words. the charges and criticisms
xxh.cb brought about the investigation were oaSe"
,o.n ~ knowledge of conditions and fac'S
ava eboa,ld never have been made, but the ih'e7'
tiraion which followed, though II mas SHOW" WAS
and has redounded to the credit OF the fhsiiae''
r,ep+ has shown also that improvements are
needed and that money and authority from the
,..,o,,,ro are absolute necessities for the max
ing of these improvements
rhts L. what we meant by saying that good
,,av rome from the investigation, though the
criticisms which caused 1t have been proven 10
be unjustifed. II the board of charities oaeNe'
nv public sentiment, can convince the lesiS'a
ture that It's recommendations should be aoop'eo
and the money therefor appropriated ana inc
authority asked be given, the home VIII Dc
made adequate to the needs of the state Al
though these recommendations have been printed
ue reproduce them here In order that the people
~ Virginia may have impressed upon their
eonsciousness Just what Is wanted. Those re-
ouiring action by the legislature for adoption
are:
That the school board be regularly
operated and that suitable provision sho"id
be made for the adequate vocational and
manual training OF the inmates
That "A classification of the inmates by
mentality and habits should be tentatively
made. as soon possible, and that the
inmates who are plainly feeblc-minded and
in need of permanent custodiai care should
be sent to an institution for the feeble
minded, where such an institution Is
operated.
That the matron should he given compe-
tent help 80 protect the inmates of the
home from the advances of men.
That cohabtation with an inmate of this
institution or any institution where feeble
minded women are confined, should he made
a felony at law regardless of the age or
previous unchastc lite of the girl
That This Institution Is in need OF larger
appropriations to make It's work more effec-
tive and that ii should be given these
funds by the general assembly.
That This institution should be directly
under the control of the Commonwealth,
and should be operated a State instlto-
ton
Here is a specific program, Here are specific
suggestions for Improvement of the home for
hayward girls. These things II adopted, will
mean that better care will be taken of the States
unfortunates and that the State will be spared
the expense of their support for life and Of
Inevitable criminal charges. We have heard
much Of publicity of late. We have heard much
Of turning on the light We have heard many
boasts that the interests Of the home will be
taken care Of by certain newspapers Well,
here is an opportunity for publicity. Hero Is an
opportunity fur tuTTTfug on thE Tight Here rs
opportunity to work for the interests of the
home, Let the people Of Virginia know of
the need for authority on the part Of the board
for the proper conduct OF the school and for the
need Of money for its proper growth and develop
nlent Let the legislators know. Give publicity
of the facts and not OF fancies; give publicity to
the needs of the home and not to what unin-
tcliigent and sometimes malicious critics want.
Here is chance to help the Virginia Home
and Industrial School for Girls at Bon Air.
WIN those who profess such lQye for the
Aenss. the girls. the people and the State help?
3.