The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1918-09-26
CONSERVE THE CHILD

There never has been a time in
the history of this Nation, when our
attention has been so strikingly sum-
moned to the task of correcting the
physical defects of infants and young
children and conserving infant life
as at the present time. The neces-
sity for this has been revealed In
most collocal manner as the result Of
the recent draft. Thousands and
thousands of applicants for enlist
ments during the first three years of
war were rejected because Of defects
that were preventable.
If the United States is to maintain
its place among the nations of the
world, it's children must not only be
endowed with strong, healthy bod
les, but during the growing period,
their bodies must be supervised and
trained so as to escape the diseases
and deformities which are all too
common among our people. These
physical defects and deformities
should be detected early and suit
able measures instituted promptly if
the men of the rising generation are
to be free from these maladies.
1t was on behalf of this cause that
the great wave of sentiment and ac-
tivity swept the country in 1916 and
again in 1917. This was a move
ment known as "Baby Week" and
was held under the auspices of the
General Federation of Women's s
Clubs and the Children's Bureau. 1t
was nationwide in it's sphere and ex-
tended to every town, village and
hamlet in the entire country. It's
object was just what the name i'm
piled, Better Babies.' At it's gath
erings prospective mothers were
taught the lessons of personal hy-
giene and the duties she owes her
self and the community in prepara-
tion for the advent of the child.
Active mothers are instructed in the
manifold duties incumbent on them
in rearing healthy child. In addi-
tion to this, the great need of re-
cording the child's birth is brought
to their attention and this instruc-
tion is supplemented by films and
slides.
1t goes without saying that the
efforts put forth by the Federated
Clubs and those who co-operated
with them had their desired effect
The increase in the number of births
of 1917 over that of 1916 was 1,947.
At the end of 1916 the birth rate ex-
elusive of stillbirths for the state
was 18 per cent per thousand popu-
lation; at the end of 1917, the birth
rate shows FL per cent, which is a
decided increase.
One hundred thousand of the ma
tion's children are to be saved this
year and of this number, North Da-
kota has quota of IT'S to save.
The "Big Drive" will begin on April
6, which marks the first day of the
children's year. The State Council
of Defense and the State Women's s
Committees are being called upon
to be responsible for the state quota.
Let US, like France mot lose a
single baby boy or girl. We must
be misers with them, since they are
the most precious of our possess
sions; and in place of a newborn
child simply enrolled on birth
register, and forgotten in the dusty
municipal archives like list of
paid and applied taxes, it should
now be recognized as potential
American man or American woman,
who will grow up to love Democracy,
keep the arts and sciences and man
ufactures of America at continu-
GUS fiood-tide and never, never un-
der any circumstances, buy anything
made in Germany DIR. C. ]. Nc
Gurren.