The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-16
The State Has More Right To the Child Than Its Parents

VIII solve many OF the problems oon,ront.
ing US. and particularly that OF the unit
child believe that the state should moro
IL possible for every man, mentally and
morally fit. to marry when he wants 70
Inns sounds extreme on the face OF It,
OUT 1t all goes back to the minimum or
manageable wage. We get back to 600.
nomo condition every time we make a
move. 1t Is perfectly simple Early mar.
riages would solve the greater number OF
me problems provided under our present
conditions. by the girl and her child ant
me average young workingman does not
make a marrying wage. and there is thu
thlng IN nutshell
Where wages fall below living stand.
ara we nave married women who coma
years after year to the almshouses RI ha,.s
sheir oabies, and these babies too often
are lett to the State TO care for The
younger men see this and Is tt any NON.
ger mat marriage does not appeal to them
Anotner OF my theories. which is nat
~ .a"N inter"oven with all others, Is that
me UNIT must not be allowed n h.ya
children; that It should be made p crime
AGAINST the State. as It already la against
humanity, for the mentally unfit to NOR.
petuate their kind. When we arrive a.
,n's point, then we will be on the road
10 making perfect race not physically
-. as were the Greeks. but mentally
and morally perfect
10 so easy 10 oriticise present conds
tionsi II Is another thing to offer cure
Tor the conditions we criticise. and 7 y,
happy TO be able to point to some refor.
mations that we are making IN New Tar.
sey. - A'e" 'ef'
leei that we have passed the first milo
stone In our work among our women mia
oners and the unhappy derelicts that coma
90 US we nave now country home for
.hem. we are not experimenting any
longer; We are moving forward steadiIy
ana trying to make good mothers out OF
.ne un1ortunates and good citizens out OF
all those under our charge
In time hope to have all women law
breakers sent to ue, even murderers. Wa
have thieves now. and although wa shall
nave many very bad offenders. we have mo
barred windows
our hrst efforts arc spent In MAKING
tne girls physically strong and we'll az
what use to preach to girls who are half
starved and sIok mentally and physically7
i n,1ei eney are hiied with sense Of phys
!cal comfort we try to arouse their in.
tereet In religion. After all my years Of
experience among women of al kinds an,
firmly convinced that religion ia to won.n
very vital thing. Take 1t away. and aha
is ready for temptation
Food, baths, and play. We provide
jolly outdoor amusements whenever ths
weather permits For intance, during
the recent snow we sent out sleda ma
skates for those who could use them One
or the girls, one who was sent tn ia nc y
dangerous offender, said that II was the
hrst time she had ever had q good tina
and been good that she did not know thar
girl GOULD be good and enjoy herself
we nave no apparent restrictions Our
barred we have dances, gymnastics and
games of all kinds. The girls who want
to may sleep out OF doors, for one OF nv
theories Is that fresh air cures moral a..
well as physical diseases. When the State
treats SIN az disease and not as total
sinner, and the State, too.
work? Yes, when a girl Is ready for a.
she comes to us weak and i'll. maj to
Work, but when she Is able to she ia
trained TO whatever we think she will do
best "'i' w
We shall have peasant girls fresh from
countries where they are used to manual
to US as white slaves. We shall nnt
tnem TO road making. blowing. plant.
ing They can do 1t easily, for II 10 tba
work they did at home. Really hard wort
work that tires the muscles healthpn,l--
is cure for the restlessness that led
Y.
We do not put prospective mothe-, ..
hard work; we set them making ran
clothes and try to rouse an interest n
the child that is coming In nine casas
out or ten that have come under nv care
the mother loves the child after n Ia
porn, no matter how bitter she felt ba.
fore. Ao's be-
We strive to eradicate the feeling =,
'hame-that feeling that sends the wroSpsa
girl either TO the street or to suitable
Love Kills shame. and love must ha
aroused have never known a CIR, 10
reluse to marry the man responsible for
ner trouble II he is willing to. I have
hnoWn perhaps three out OF ten men to
'efuse TO do SO. The girl regains her seIf
respect thrugh marriage The man has
never lost It. Here our one law for man
ana another for woman Is to blame
In our Clinton home farm we have got.
zen away as much as possible from Inc
institution, We raise our chickens and
garden stun. We will have flower gardens,
and what girl can help being helped when
working among flowers. We are TO have
nursery, where trees are planted and cared
or by these girls whose own souls have
grown stunted and twisted We will 90
MO berry raising extensively and everv
orm or outdoor work that women can do
NY dream 10 to have girls go out from
nat home fitted to enter the world and
o earn living wage. They will be fitted
o be expert cooks. laundresses. seam.
stresses and house servants, as we'll as to
10 the outdoor work. Domestic service
mink the solution for the mother who
wants to live straight and to provide a
nome for her baby
We shall send them into small towns
md cities, where they co. perhaps 10
lergyman's wife or into doctors home
where their history is known and the gl-l
VII be helped and her past forgotten. We
each them not to think OF the past, but
o look forward 10 the future They must