Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-07-14
CLASH IN FRANCE OVER PROP.
Err TREATMENT OF ORPHANS
ASSOCIATED Press Correspondence

(Associated Press Correspondence
Paris, June o7-Notwithstandin eff
forts to avoid any friction that would
mar the sacred union" of the French
people in wartime, sentiment, politics
and religion have developed something
of a clash over the proper treatment Of
orphans.
The fixing of a tag day" for the
collection of funds for the .Orphanage
of the Armies and the discussion of
the proposed legislation affecting the
future wars of the nations. has brought
about ill feeling in some quarters.
The Orphanage of the Armies" is one
Of the most recent of three large Or
CARNATIONS seeking to cope with the
orphan problem. Patronized by Presi-
dent Poincare. and accorded the tag
day" privilege by the minister of the
interior, to the exclusion of the other
societies, it has been given semi
official character, which drew the
antagonism of the religious elements.
Sentiment rebelled against the
CHASING Of the orphans as dependents
of the government and devout people
education of children should develop
arbitrary pressure against religious
training. Politicians. too. became sus-
picious that some of the charitable or
CARNATIONS might try to exercise a
religious influence on future citizens.
The two other organizations that
claim the right to share in the ad-
ministration of contributions for the
orphans, are The Orphans Of the
War; and The FTaternal Union of
the Children of the War" Both OF
these profess to be nom sectarian. The
former was the first in the field, and
has furnished homes for more than
thousand orphans at Etretat and Juin-
les-Pins. The relatives Of the chill
dren decide whether they shall be
brought up religiously OF not and. if
religiously. whether in the Catholic or
Protestant faith. The other organiza-
ton is endeavoring to find boys and
girls of we'll do families who will
adopt the child of some fallen hero as
a brother or sister and help it to make
its way in life without taking it away
from its own home.
In view of the fact that the differ
ent Catholic orphanages were not to
share in the proceeds from the tag
day collection. the Pope issued in
structions to the ecclesiastics in France
that the Catholics should withhold
their cooperation. Finally, deputies
from different and extremely divided
parties introduced in the Chamber
bill providing for the participation OF
the society Of the orphans Of the
War" and other organizations Of the
same character. This has forced the
new society of the "Orphanage Of the
Armies to abandon its exclusive at
titude. which was to centralize in its
own hand all the charitable efforts for
orphans of the war.
At the same time the minister Of
public instruction has introduced in the
Senate q bill to provide for orphans
pensions sufficient to meet the ma
terial wants Of the children. leaving
them in the care Of the surviving par
ent. if there is one, or the nearest rela-
tive where that disposition is possible,
and in other cases providing for their
bringing up with the least possible Of
fetal intervention. The Law provides
for special advantages for orphans of
the war in all educational establish
ments.
The organization Orphans Of the
War" is now receiving an average Of
dozen orphans every day at its head
quarters on the Quay de 'Orsay.