The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-09-03
The work Of children's year lie prov.

The work Of children's year is prov.
ing to be IN effective Americanization
measure. The children's bureau Of the
labor department has as Its goal 100.-
600 baby lives saved this year. 'Ac-
cording to reports received, foreign
mothers are as eager as the native
mothers, II not more so. to learn all
they can about the proper care Of their
children.
The japanese women of Seattle are
asking for pamphlets on prenatal care,
the Italian women Of Wallace, Idaho,
1,600 strong. have arranged to study
a standard book on the care and feed
ing Of children, with the aid Of an in
terpreter. The foreign mothers of the
remote numbering regions of Washing
ton and of the manufacturing cities of
New England are united by the COM
mon desire to learn everything pos
sible about safeguarding the health Of
their children.
This desire Is resulting in the break
ing down Of the barriers of alien Ian
guage and old-world superstition that
have long stood in the way Of the
health Of little Americans born of for
eign parents. It has been necessary In
many cities to employ interpreters at
the weighing and measuring centers to
answer the questions of mothers who
do not speak English. Glasses in the
care Of baby being conducted in Sc
,attle and Pittsburg are made means
Iof teaching mothers to speak and read
;Nngiish.
Perhaps the most important educa-
ltional measure that has been Ldopted
10 the provision of public health
nusses whose function It 10 not only to
Sivs care and service to the sick but
to advise mothers how to keep their
children well. As a result Of Chill
drsnS year activities many commune
ties have succeeded In obtaining pub
Nc or private funds for public health
nuEsing. Wisconsin has adopted the
slogan, "A Public Health Nurse for
Every County" and in Washington
state an active campaign for, school
nurses is being carried on.
The work Of the state councils Of de-
Tense has been so valuable to the
country that it has drawn public COM
from President Wilson with
an accompanying suggestion that its
unique and widespread organization be
utilized by all government departments
and agencies SO far as practical.
Secretary Baker, chairman of the
council of national defense, which
brought the state councils into exist
ence, reported to the president: 1T Is
difficult to estimate the Importance Of
the service rendered, since our en-
trance into the war, by these state
councils, their county councils and the
multitude of workers banded together
under them, whom we estimate to
number at least one million. I feel
sure that you, Mr.. President, as their
commander in chief, will be proud of
their unique contribution in the war
and will use your authority to broaden
the scope of their activities as condi-
tons permit so that they may 60 on
to still greater achievements"
The state councils, says Secretary I
Baker, have active county, or equiva-
lent, councils of defense under them,
while in nearly every state the organ.
lzation Of community councils in the
school districts, bringing the govern
ment to the people and the people to
the government, is progressing rapid
ly. w..
The president replied: II shall be
glad to have you express to the state
councils my appreciation Of the serv-
Ice they have so usefully rendered.
am particularly struck by the value Of
our defense organization In
to the smallest communities and by
the truly democratic character Of
rational system so organized. l be-
ieve in the soundness of your conten-
ion that In the interest of economy
md efficiency such machinery as that
provided by the state council system
or the execution Of, many kinds of
var work should be utilized as far as s
possible by federal departments and
administrations"
A recent proclamation by President
wilson puts into effect provisions OF +
he shipping act making it impossible s
or foreign interests to obtain control
+ American shipping or shipyards. Z
Chairman Edward N. Hurley Of the /
hipping board explains that the new
aw provides that during war or ma ,,
lonal emergency proclaimed by the =
It is a criminal offense to )
ell, mortgage, lease or deliver an c
ship to a foreigner without
be consent of the shipping board, or
D make any agreement by which con- e
rol Of ship Is turned over to a for I
igner. The prohibition applies not
My to completed ships, but to ships =