The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-10-05
Minnesota upon being the healthiest

Minnesota upon being the healthiest
state.
1--WE are proud of Minnesota" she
stated. 1T has the lowest rate OF
mortality" The women enthusiastic
ally applauded. Miss Lathrop then
clearly outlined the vast influence
which woman suffrage has exerted
toward making the country health
er and decreasing the death rate OF
children. She told of the rapid spread
of suffrage throughout the states, es-
pecially in the east and south, and
urged the women of Minnesota to
continue their efforts to obtain it
Humorously she reviewed the antics
of the "antis.'' =.
"Anti-suffragists, let me say with
out disrespect, remind me of hypno-
tised chicken inside a chalk line
afraid to go outside-afraid to move
We know that as soon as this hyp-
motto state is overcome the ants will
be with us. Eight million and half
of the women in the United States
are voting now, and it is coming to
u.s." ..., .... .... ......, ......
Regarding the Children. ..
eff children are well born and well
cared for it will build up good and
beautiful civilization" said Miss Lath-
rop. Mothers must be taken care OF
the babies must be taken care of. We
must have service to take care of the
children of the country and give them
the proper conditions in which they
may live and grow healthier every
day." She spoke of the federal child
law which went into effect Septem-
Der II, 1917, and the vast good it
would do This law is to be enforced
by her bureau. and Miss Grace Abbott
has been appointed director OF the
child's labor bureau.
Miss Lathrop reviewed the work
which had been done; how in order
to study the problem of infant NOR
tality the women had gone to the
birth records, and had urged birth
registration as a basis on which to
work for the preservation of the life
end the rights of children. The bureau
gives advice on the care of children,
and sends out pamphlets prepared by
an efficient mother, a Minnesota
woman, Mrs. Mary West, graduate
of the University of Minnesota, who
puts the true mothers touch and
experience into her words of advice.
She spoke of the poor wages of faith
ers of families, and how impossible
it is for them to give their children
the proper care which is often much
beyond their means. The great need
of public health nurses was dwelt up
on by Miss Lathrop, and the great
and urgent need of money to finance
nurses training schools. She urged
that every effort be made to get an
extra thousand young women to take
up the work in the training schools,
as nothing would so improve the pub
lie health, as their trained labors.
Speaking of the ever present prob
lens of the war Miss Lathrop urged
that the young women who visit can
tonments be entertained with straight
forward hospitality, and much of the
evil which generally attaches to war
times would disappear.
"In the hands of the women lies the
tremendous responsibility for the re-
construction period which will fol-
low the war;" she stated. "Under-
meath all the warning and hatred lies
the common tie of human brother
hood. The barriers of INSCRIPTIONS
monarchs and rulers cannot over
come this tie, and this is what we
must encourage into the brotherly
love of nations"
Music was very enjoyable part
of the evening program. Mrs. F. E.
Gerlach played the opening prelude
upon the pipe organ, songs were sung
by Miss Maude Barnes, and Mrs. E.
w. Owen, and Miss Kathryn Brown
Dlaved piano numbers. Speeches and
musical numbers were received with
applause by the large audience.