The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-04-27

TNRUMV Inere nave Deen oDJeCllOlS'
~ political, economic, and per-
MI haps sentimental to giving
Uncle Sam paternalistlc
powers along many lines Of legislation
for the public need, but little objection
was raised to giving our great and
good Uncle the power through the
children's bureau to look after the in.
terests of the little ones of the country.
Julia C, Lathrop, who : r -
long time was interested in beneh- IL
cent work in great social center
in the city of Chicago, was appointed
by President Taft as chief of the chill
dren's bureau, which is an integral
part of the department Of labor. The
law relating TO the bureau Is simple
and short in its phraseOlogy, but 1t Is
all inclusive. 1t makes 1t the duty Of
the children's bureau to investigate
and report upon all matters pertaining
ITO the welfare Of children.
The children's field is broad. 1t in
cludes virtually everything which can
tend toward and promote a policy
which has for its object the securing
of good citizenship for the United
States. 1t is an old saying and the
tlippant would call it bromide, but 'as
the twig is bent the tree is inclined"
In the last report on the work of the
bureau made by Miss Lathrop the
questions are asked "Why are there
so many deaths among country babies
md country mothers?" and what
should the federal government do
about it?" Recently studies of mater
nal and child welfare have been under
taken in rural communities for the
first time. 1t is said that they are
more inclusive than the city studies
of infant mortality, and that the meth
cd of approach necessarily has been
different, although, of course, the pri-
mary purpose is identical.
The desire has been to secure
statement of the social and economic
factors which affect infant welfare. In
addition, the work is so planned as to
secure information concerning mater
nal welfare and the welfare of chill
dren under school age and to bring out
certain facts relating to all the chill
dren in the family. The cost of carry
Ing on these studies in country areas
has been much greater than in thickly
populated towns.
The children's bureau takes cogni
Zance Of the argument sometimes
brought forward against the impor-
kance Of studies in rural communities,
that the death rate of children in the
country is lower than the death rate
for city communities. There is a gen
eral belief that rural conditions are
more favorable to the health Of chill
dren than city conditions. But Miss
Lathrop asks if we can afford to rest
eontented in this belief-even If 1t ap-
pears to be confirmed by figures of the
census tables-without intensive study
of rural conditions.
1t has been shown cOnclusively by
investigation that in certain parts of
the cities of the country the death rate
among infants is very much lower than
the death rate among infants in many
of the country districts. Today state
and other public agencies are seeking
the cooperation of the children's bu-
reau and are urging rural studies.
This cooperation the United States
government believes is highly desir-
able and it will be given as rapidly as
the bureaus resources permit. ut
may well be said that such co-opera-
ton will lead to permanent local cen
tiers of maternal and child welfare and
to better local provision for all the
needs Of growing children. In any case
such rural studies as the bureau has
under way and desires to develop fur
fher cannot fail to throw some light
on the question raised in regard to the
welfare of rural children, nor can these
studies fail to aid in making clear the
imperative need of raising the level
of maternal and infant care"
A summary has just been prepared
by the childrens bureau of Miss La
throp's report as it affects the welfare
of children and mothers in the country
districts. This summary follows the
two questions which already have been
given, but which here are repeated:
"Why are there so many deaths among
country babies and country mothers?"
and "What should the federal govern
ment do about itT'
The census figures show markedly
high death rate among country women
of child-bearing age for which a large
number of preventable deaths from
maternal causes appears to be respon-
sible. 1t is estimated that more than