The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-05
ID ASK SOL0NS ID ESTABLISH CHILD
 WELFARE BOARDS
Order of Red Men and Ala bama Congress of Moth CTS Aiming at COnser-
 vatiOn of Children

Among the first measures that will
 be introduced into the legislature when it reconvenes next week will be one pro- viding for the esta ablshment of child well fare boards in the several counties of the state said R. F. L. Mel who is at the Morris hotel Mir. Mel with ]. T.
 Letcher and s. II. Saul of Montgomery are A committee named by the great coun- ell of the Improved order of Red Men of Alabama, to urge the passage of such bill
 The Alabama Congress of Mothers"
 said MT. Nell, will heartily cooperate
 with the Red Men in the effort to bring about this worthy object. and confer
 ence will be held in Montgomery on Wednesday or Thursday of this week. be- | tween the legislative committee of the congress of which Mrs J. B. Chattfed | Is chairman, and the committee from the Red Men. At the meeting the proposed bill will be submitted and the plans de- veloped for securing favorable action by | the lawmakers. It Is not proposed to
 ask cent of appropriation from the state | in the measure to be presented. Pro-
 vision will be made for the appointment
 of a board in each county composed of
 three members named by the governor.
 two by the probate judge of each county
 and one by the mayor or chief executive
 officer of each incorporated city or town
 in each county. These boards are 10 be
 composed of both men and women. and
 to them must be made application for
 allowances for the half orphans in the
 community. orphans whether by the grim | reaper or by the ruthless desertion or the | natural protector and provider
 "Twenty-seven states have adopted simi- lar measures. known as widowed
 mothers Pension. or child welfare laws
 Through their operation the unfortunates are cared for in the home of the mother and reared under a mothers tender care and influence. sufficient funds be- ing provided to make unnecessary the going out to work by the mother leaving the little ones to grow up In the streets like weeds and later to form a large per- eentage of the inmates of iails and aims houses of the county. 1t will prevent that separa ton worse than death. of mother and sister and brother during the forma- tive stages of the young lives and 1t will give opportunity to develop useful, de- sirabe citizens instead of barnacles upon society.
 Alabama has laws, or Is considering measures, for the conservation of her streams and forests. her game and fish. her hogs and cattle, her mines and fac- tories her crops and commerce, but no thought has been given for the conserva- ton of the states one best asset--'the children of today who will become the mothers and fathers of tomorrow New
 York after exhaustive research passed such a law last March, and 1t went Into effect on July 1. The plan has proven sound in every instance, and grew out of the principle adopted by the Order of Red Men IA years ago, of caring for the
 children of deceased members in the homes of the mother or next of kin. Ala
 bama cannot afford to be behind in this progressive movement. especially one SO
 worthy and so greatly in the interest of humanity"