Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-12-07
CHILD WELFARE
PROGRAM ADVOCATED

ligerent countries. resulting in death,
physical weakness, ignorance. untime-
ly work and delinquency, must be
warded of from the future citizens OF
the United States by patriotic effort
and sacrifice on the part o. our
civilian population" in carrying out a
reasonable child welfare program, is
set forth in the annual report of Julia
c. Lathrop, chief of the children's
bureau OF the department OF labor
Sensational reports of an alarming
rate of illegitimate births adjacent
to the great army camps and charges
OF gross immortality, were investigated
by the bureau in three different cities,
named in the charges. and in each
case pronounced groundless.
Absolutely no foundation could be
found in any one of the three towns
| for the statements made about the
girls there" says the report. ut was
a case of rumors added to rumors
|
stances of illegitimacy will result from
the camps exists, of course. I'm
| doubtedly the alertness of army and
navy officials in this country TO the
need of providing decent opportuni-
ties for social life among the mobil-
lied troops will be an important fac
tor in preventing the rise of the lille
Ultimate birth rate here.
Protection must be afforded by
proper policing, but far more by pro-
vision OF ample social opportunities,
ample hotel and boarding space OF
unquestlonable character of every wo-
man who visits a cantonment town for
any legitimate reason, suitable chap.
eronage. and competent women guides
TO meet incoming trains.
For the lack of any or all these
safeguards young men and women
cannot be held accountable. To pro-
vide them effectively is the business
of officials and of civilians no longer
young"
During the coming year, the bureau
expects 10 make countrywide study
of state provisions for the care and
protection of dependent children and
a study OF juvenile courts with re
spect to the increase 'of youthful
crime which experience in other coun
tries has taught always follows war
Studies of child welfare in the war
ring countries have shown that there
has been a decrease in both the legi
innate and illegitimate births, but thai
the decrease in the former has beer
greater. To smaller extent than In
2 Europe, the report says, the problem
OF wartime illegitimacy exists her,
, and lin making plans for government
, allowances Nor dependents of sol
dicrs) the question of support OF lille
Ultimate children OF members of tn,
military forces must be considered
The pressing essentials fthe pro
gram which the bureau considers ne
cessary 10 guard the United States
against the aftermath OF the war, are
| stated in the report as follows:
Il. Public protection of maternity
and infancy. Q.ast year $4,000 mother.
and 100000 children under five year:
fage died. Most OF the deaths wer,
prcventable).
80. Mothers care for older chill
dren. Essentials: Adequate incomes
4 family allowances for soldiers fami
lies. mothers pensions for civilians
: special provision for extraordinar,
needs, so far as required to enabl
Z mothers of older children to afford tn
home comfort and protection whicl
are the best safeguard against delin
| quency.
| "3. Enforcement of all child laho
laws and full schooling for all Chi
drcn OF school age. Standards shoul
be maintained in spite of war pres
sure.
II "i. Recreation for children an
youth. abundant, decent, protecte
from any form of exploitation"
Permanent success in reducing il
FAINT mortality can be achieved onl
in connection with the protection {
mothers, according TO the repor
which adds that Investigations by tn
bureau prove that an adequate incom
earned by the father of family |
essential. Studies made in eight cite
showed that while the mortaliC
among infants born to families havin
less than $3.50 annual income wa
1862 In each thousand births. tn
average was reduced to 1913 when tn
income ranged from $3.50 to sS49, an,
was only 6l.7 when the income wa
more than sl,O5O
Where mothers were forced TO 6,
into industry by reason of insumcion
other income. the infant death rat
was more than twice as great rs II
families where the mothers remaine'
at home. More than onefourth, o