The log cabin Democrat., 1915-04-27
SAVE THE BABIES:
 PRESERVE CHILDREN
Chairman Health Committee 4. F.
BY MRS. c. w. GARRISON,


 Much has been done in the past dec ade to conserve the lives of babies. The government has recognized the importance of this crusade and has become sufficiently interested to es- tablish a children's bureau under the department of labor.
 This bureau is at present endeav- bring to check up the births in the various states for the purpose of de- termining the completeness of the rec ords of the vital statistics. All pre- vious work has been based on them. Had it not been for vital statistics the world would never have realized the great loss it was sustaining an- nually from the loss of so many ba- bies, and no doubt very little effort, if any, would now be exerted to pre- vent the loss.
 Is your child registered? If not it may be unable at some future time to establish its identity, or legitimacy. Many heritages are forfeited daily for lack of birth registration. Estates, insurance claims, pension claims, age of maturity, age of consent, etc, all hang in the balance of birth registra- tion. All European countries and ad vanced civilized nations have had compulsory birth and death registra- tion fo, years-except the United States. With the exception of New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and few other progressive states, there has been no adequate system of registration for any length of time. At present, Arkansas has one of the most modern vital statistics laws in the union. The bureau has been in operation just a year. Naturally many births and deaths during the first year have not been reported, but no doubt more complete reports will be forthcoming the ensuing year. This registration costs the parents absolutely nothing and costs the state or county only 25 cents and this is to pay the local registrar. The law makes 1t the duty of the physician, midwife, or person in attendance to report the death or birth to the local registrar.
 As stated above, the children's S bu- reau is now beginning checking sys- tenn in the following way: The chair- man of the health committee of the Arkansas Federation of WoInen's Clubs is made state agent with the privilege of using government franks. A committee of three is appointed in each county end then in turn ! com mittee of three is appointed in each registration district in the county to check up the births in the district Blank forms will be furnished free cy the govt rnnent and property fty This will then be checked up with the records of the local registrars and all discrepancies noted. While this is not done for the purpose of securing information against anyone, it will serve as evidence in the hands of tte state registrar who has authority to institute legal proceedings aga,nst all violators.
 It is manifestly evident fiom the work new lseils done in Conway and all over the state, that regard is had for human lives. Nothing is 8 pre-. cious as the life of little one Bet ter thousanc times that che able bodied men Of the eastern hemisohere be destroyed in war than for the ba- bies to perish.
 When Ccnvc's health week is end ed, tl.tn let avery citizen get the wis ion and make every succeeding day health cay snd keep the baautiful city clean and no cleanup campaign will be necessary in the futura