The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-10
SAYS JUDGES WERE
UNFAIR TO HIS CHILD
Thomas T. Hulcher Alleges Dis
crimination In Better Babies
Contest.
PRIZE WINNERS ANNOUNCED
DR.. n. Thomas. Emmett Explains Diff
ferences In Measurements and
Weights That Caused Final De-
cision of Judges.

~ \
Discrimination againts-his child by
judges in the better babies contest
held this week at the Virginia State
Fair under the auspices OF the Rich
mond Federation OF Mothers Clubs Is
charged by Thomas T. Hulcher. of 2O14
Hanover Avenue, whose little girl.
Helen, failed to win either first or
necond prize. although having per-
feet score. In II statement last night.
the disBruntled parent said In part:
III seems that when the Judges had
s passed around and examined the little
children that had been presented, one
after another had been dropped, until
the contest core and two years. mar
rowed down to three children, one girl
and two boys. These little tots seemed
to be such perfect specimens that 1t
became most difficult matter for a
decision TO be reached. 1t was finally
decided by the Judges to resort to nm
examination such would bring out
: the least defect; but even after this
there was externally none apparent
when. as last resort, the most min
ute examination OF the mouth revealed
In one or the boys decaycd teeth, where
upon this little fellow had to be elimi-
mated from the contest.
As this left two babies remaining,
a girl and boy. 1t became matter
o. an almost impossible nature for a
decision for the first prize to be
reached. However, upon further ex-
animation II was determined to award
the first prize to the little boy. and
instead OF the little girl receiving the
second prize. the little boy who had
cayed teeth was recalled and awarded
the second prize. this I'm view of the
fact that the little girl was scored at
100 points
Now. AS the father of the little girl
who. while showing an absolutely per-
feet score. yet could not even receive
the second prize over disqualified
child. desire to know Just how the
award was arrived at, In which case
| VIII be willing to allow the public
TO Judge
PRIZE. AWARDS MADE
BEFORE LARGE CROWD
The prize awards were made yestcr-
day afternoon before large crowd
OF spectators In the arena cast of
Industrial Hall. Tho presentation ad:-
dress was made by DR. W. y. Picker.
registrar of vital statistics, State De-
partment OF Health. The winners of
the contest were:
First class. six to twelve months
Robert Eugene Jacobs, Route 1. Rich
mond, age, months; height, IS IA
inches; head measurement. is ga
inches; weight. 90 pounds. Conway
Stone Magee. oo9 South Third street.
age, months: height, 90 inches. head
measurement. 10 i-2 Inches: weight
22 J.: pounds
Third class. two to three years old
Margaret coulbourne Valentine, ais
North Harrison Street, 2 years IL
months old, height. &c l-2 inches: head
measurement, 90 1-2 Inches, weight
IS l-2 pounds Cary a. Bousman, stop
y. Westffampton, years old height,
80 inches; head measurement, u inches;
weight, 81 10 pounds.
Second class. one 20 two years old
William Howard Ellis. Jr., II months
Sat ,f.s1 l,a
80 IL Inches; head measurement.
10 l-2 inches: weight, 2; l-2 pounds
Cleveland Blackburn. u months cid.
iOs West Grace street, height. 30 =
ihches; head measurement. Il l-2
inches; weight, 20 pounds.
II was In this last class that Mr..
Hulcher hal entered his child. whosor
measurements are follows: Helen
Huicher. years old. height. 80 inches;
head measurement. 10 l-2 inchcs
weight, os pounds.
The examinations were conducted by
local physicians, who had no int, est
In the contest. and the scoring was
done by Dr. n. Thomas Emmett ply
stefan for the Richmond public schools
who was secured by The federation to
complete the work of the examining
doctors. The scores were according
to copyright charts which are used
throughout the country In such CON
tests. and we're compiled after years.
of study on the part of noted specialists.
SpeakinS of the alleged discrimi.a-
ton against the Hulcher child DR..
Emmett said last night:
was guided in my decisions by the
hgures. compiled by specialists and
charted for these contests. These
charts arc elaborate ones and show
the average measurement of child
at every stage of It's life. In decid-
Ing between two contestants, many
things must be taken into considera-
ton when both have high scores. For
Instance. in the present case:
one child, in each Of its measure
ments, Is above the average, while the
other child is slightly below the aver
age. Both arc developed in perfect
proportion, but one shows a super i
development. while the other shows a
subdevelopment. The superintendent
child naturally is in the better ply
steal condition. and i; Is this that
these contests are looking for"
Mrs w. a. burrows. president of
the Richmond Federation of Mothers
Clubs, was very much put out at the
criticism made by Mr. Hulcher
we are working for the betterment
of the child and IL is extremely un-
fortunate that any person should
scent an Interior motive in our award
ing the prize to another child We
had no interest in, any more. than
we did lin the little girl, and DIR.
Emmett was sulded by. the experience
of others In determining which one Of
the contestants was the best baby
physically. We are pleased with the
outcome of the contest, and will en-
deavor to enlarge on the work In the
future"
DR.. Plecker awarded the prizes OH
account Of the unavoidable absence
of Or. Roy K. Flanagan, Of the State
Department of Health, who was called
out of the city. In an address before
the presentation. he told of conditions
with which his department contends
in checking mortality. He highly
commended the efforts Of the fedora
ton. and advised air mothers to CO
operate with it in the betterment of
babyhood conditions.
Anne Brooke Jones, two years and
eleven months old. daughter Of l.. S.
Jones, secretary of the Board of Fire
Commissioners and fourth assistant
LII q laA- e. ..l