The Washington times., 1914-06-15

owing to the carelessness or a stock
train not being properly cleansed
and fumigated. cholera made its ap-
pearance in Idaho. There are laws
which make this a crime, punishable
by fine.
The stockmen were so alarmed
that they wired for experts to come
from the Department of Agriculture.
and all the serum that could be
sent for vaccination was distributed.
II cost s. per head to innoculate a
hog, yet whole herds were innocu-
lated. Then the State made appro-
priations for research, and vet, il
is safe TO say, that not citizen
of our State knows the death rate
of infants in Idaho, and it is one of
the healthiest states in the Union.
/ doubt that there is a member of
Congress Up to this last session who
knew the death rate of infants in his
State. He may know now, because
he was interested in the war that
was wageo to grant an appropria-
reau TO study the serious condi-
tons that cause such a frightful
mortality in the United states of its
infants.
The National Congress of Mothers
and the National Society for the Pre-
vention of Infant Mortality are doing
more than any other agency in
Yet Congress has never voted a dol
lar to either organization to further
the work
Let US pause a moment in our mad
American rush after the golden eagle
and reason.
Statistics prove that the birth rate
has fallen off in every State in the
past two years.
Then the death rate has increased
nearly half million a year.
while not sp aIarptIst, let me
state another fnct-juvenile de-
lioquincy Is On the increase, and
the nations lack Of knowledge of
child welfare Il such that jsiIs,
reformatories, and training
schools are demanding another
half million young lives a year.
Is IL a good business proposition?
Is it not time that the nation organ
ize into a great psrenthood conven-
ton for the conservation Of its only
real asset-the children.
Is the child not OF more worth than
the animal.
Let US take for example here in
Washington. Statistics prove that
out of 100 babies annually in our
alleys 349 die.
We are all selfish. ] doubt whether
we would care, II these slum places
we're not breeding places for crime
and disease, and were not the law
of the Ruler such that, in due time,
II we do not live up to our respon-
sibility. We share the same fate as
those more unfortunate, in the loss
OF our dear ones.
am reminded Of family
OF four-father. mother. son. and
daughter. They toiled for their own
and all that that toll could provide
was given unto their own, and the
children were too precious TO play
with others and become contami-
mated. and all that came into that
household in love. education. and
finances were used to the glory and
uplift-mistaken uplift though il
Eas-for those two.
When 10. one day. Just as the beau
tiiUl daughter was in full bloom
ard the joy OF these parents lives,
she was needed elsewhere.
Darkness followed, as il always
does. and then the message came
into the mothers heart Of the needs
of that little city, and one reform
followed another due to he infiu-
eEce. And so il is. every Individual
member Of society is in debt to every
other member.
Bernard Newman. secretary ot
Philadelphia housing commission
tells the story. How he was sent
for to come TO a certain locality in
Philadelphia where a young girl had
died. II was a hovel The father Of
the child. bent with sorrow ard .hp
burden Of poverty met him. He told
him it Nas diptheria.
Mr.. Newman said: What caused