Evening star., 1914-04-17

Operations during the past year of
commissions and organizations for
helping the blind and for the study Of
the prevention of blindness were out
lined this morning at the conference of
Workers for the Blind in session in the
parish hall of St Johns Church. II
street and Avenue of the Presidents.
In New York the Investigations cover
every phase of the matters affecting
the blind
G. NJ Abbott secretary of the New
York commission for the blind in out
lining the work of that body, told of the
esta oiShment of Information bureaus for
the blind. Of workshops where the sight
less could be taught to use their hands
home teaching. When the work has pro-
gressed farther. ne declared. it was hoped
that a corps of home teachers for the
blind might be established.
Mr. Abbott explained that it was pro-
posed to take a census of New York
state in the matter of the causes of
blindness. He said further that the com
mission would soon start an investiga-
tion of the sale of cheap eyeglasses ~
department stores and others.
Cruelty of Idleness.
Declaring that enforced ideness was
the worst cruelty that could be inflicted
upon a blind person, +. F. Moreford of
Brooklyn. y. Y. told of the plans Of the
Brooklyn commission TO relieve this
cruelty.
The work among children in the inter-
ests Of saving their sight was discussed
by MIR. Moreford who said that the saw
ing Of the sight of Just one child meant a
saving of from S5.pD to s6.ns in money.
which would have TO be spent in special
educational facilities for such a child.
Dr., Riley. secretary of the Brooklyn
board of charities. made the prediction
that in 1913 there would be no neglected
blind in Brooklyn. This statement
brought forth a storm of applause from
the delegates at the conference.
He explained that while the Brooklyn
charity board had been looking after
the blind only short time, rapid prog
ress was being made in locating the
blind there. and aiding them in various
ways. Dr. Riley announced that Brook
lyn Was the home of a few of the most
famous blind men in the United States
and that he had not hesitated to draw
heavily upon them when the board was
outlining plans for taking care of the
blind.
Others who spoke We're W l. scandlin.
secretary of the New York Association
for the Blind; Mrs. f. r. Palmer. secre-
tary of the Ohio commission for the
blind: Miss French of the Rhode Island
Association for the Blind, A. r. Trump
OF the Delaware commission, Mrs. j. f..
Kennedy of Philadelphia and W. w.
Stamm. executive secretary of the Penn
sylvania Association for the Blind.
Seek Causes of Blindness
All of the speakers told of the work
during the year in their home states
| and cities. The main idea of all of the
associations and commissions is first to
| attempt to find the principal causes of
! blindness and then to take what steps
| are necessary to prevent an increase in
! the sightlcss by disseminating the in.
| formation collected, and also to provide
means by which the blind NAV work
and become useful.
| This afternoon. following luncheon ut
| the Gordon Hotel. where the conference
| has its headquarters. members will
visit the Congressiona. Library, where
| q personal representative OF Librarian
| Putnam will escort the party through
| the building. taking them behind the
| not usually taken. After this a tour
| of the Capitol building will be made
| and then the delegates Will 90 for an
automobile ride about tho city.
| The session tonight will be presided
| over by commissioner Herbert L. Satter-
lee OF the New York commission for
the blind Mr.. Satterlee is a son-in-law
of the late J. Perpont Morgan, and
! former assistant secretary of the navy
The topic for discussion will be Prob
lens Relating to the Employment and
| support OF the Blind"
| The conference is scheduled to conclude
its sessions early tomorrow afternoon
Gore Urges One System for Blind.
:, Eator Thomas T. Gore of Oklahoma
! presided at last nights public meeting