The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-03-18
BABIES To COMPETE
FOR NATIONAL HONORS
Utah's Most Perfect Girl and
Boy to Be Chosen at
State Fair.
PRIZES FOR MOTHERS
Scientific Principles to Gov.
ern Better Baby" Con-
test at Exposition.
PRIZES FOR MOTHERS

Utah will send its best baby boy anC
ITS best baby girl to the San Francisco
exposition next year 10 compete In
contest TO decide what two babies ar'
the most perfect in all the United
States. The Utah prize babies will be
selected at contest TO he held during
the state fair Plans for the contest
are now being made by the directors OF
the Utah State Fair association and the
directors of the Utah Better Babies as
sociatioD.
According 10 present plans 500 Will
be given to the mother OF the best
baby boy between the ages of ! and 3
wears, and similar amount TO the
mother Of the best baby girl. This Is
10 defray the expenses of n trip TO San
Francisco for the national contest,
where attractive prizes viii be offered
for the best babies.
A Distinct Feature.
Al the state fair last year the first
real baby contest, under scientific prln-
ciplcs, was held. Heretofore baby con-
tests had been held, but they were
really beauty contests, and there was
no attempt at sCltHIJHC JuuEinchb. >"
amusing feature of those held at the
state fair is that they were held IN the
livestock department of the fair man
agement, and the prizes were listed un-
der livestock prizes. Last year, for the
first time, the baby contest was DIS
tiuct feature, and was conducted by
number of local people of prominence
who were interested in the better
baby movement
Of a
tional Education association here last
summer a Utah Better Baby associa-
tion was organized. Mrs. Louise Nc
Cune, DR.. Belle G.. Gemmel, Mrs. Ira
Travis, Mrs. Lille Wolstenholme and
Mrs. Seldom Clawson were among the
directors Although the society was
never completely organized, those inter
estcd in il were asked to take charge
Of the state fair baby contest by Secre-
tary Horace Ensign. who was also sec
rotary of the Better Baby association
in Utah. The contest was held in one
day of the fair, no preliminary entry
arrangement being made because OF the
late organization of the contest,
100 Babies Entered.
Miss Mary b. Fox, head of the Uni
versity of Utah kindergarten depart
ment, and William Peterson, professor
of psychology at the University. con
Quoted the psychological tests Of the
babies entered, there being about one
hundred. DR.. r. w. Ashley and DR., L.
L. Chamberlain, assisted by city nurses
furnished by DR.. Samuel &. Paul. con-
Quoted the physical examinations. The
babies were scored according TO the
rules of the National Eugenics society
Similar arrangements will be made
this year, except that the contest will
be organized earlier and conducted more
Systematically. 1t was found almost
impossible last year to give all the
babies entering a thorough examination
in the brief space of one day. For that
reason entries will be required before
the opening of the fair this year. Then
each mother entering n baby will be
given an appointment at certain hour
and day during the fair. At that time
her baby Will be examined by the
judges. An hour or more will be taken
when necessary, the Judging continuing
throughout fair week. After careful
study OF the score cards the winners
viii be announced shortly after the
close of the fair. Adequate quarters
will be provided TO conduct the ludg-
ing and scoring.
The Utah Better Baby association
will cooperate with the fair board in
conducting the contest. Secretary
Horace Ensign of the Utah Better
Baby association. and also secretary or
the fair association, has been named as
the Utah member Of the National Bet
ter Baby association board of directors.
In this capacity he will arrange for the
Utah entries IN the nationw wide contest
at San Francisco.