The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-05-25
CHILD WELF Are
CO N MITTEE TO
SEE THAT BABES
Are CARED FOR
Program to Conserve Child
Life Of Nation to a
High Degree
RATE OF BIRTHS
SHOWS DECREASE
Decline in Paris Is From
1914 in 1914 to 9.8
in 1916

Washington, D. CDR. Franklin
II. Martin, chairman OF the general
medical board and member Of the ad-
visory committee of the Council Of
National Defense, in a recent state
ment issued here calls on the United
States to heed the birth rate. He
points to the chance that Americans,
in their multitudinous other relief
works, may lose sight Of the import
ance Of child welfare work and care
Of the babies who are hit severely by
the war although they have no part
in 1t.
THE child welfare committee Of
the general medical BOARD of the
Council Of National Defense at a re-
cent meeting" says DR.. Martin,
which is to conserve the child life Of
the nation to a degree never attained
before"
The Doctors statement cited the
fact that the birth rate in all Of
the waring countries has shown a
falling off and that in France it has
been especially marked, the rate in
Paris in 1914 being 1914 and in 1915
only 9.S to each 100 Of population.
According to DR.. Martin the child
welfare work done by the chiIdren's
lbureau Of the department Of labor
under the leadership of Julia c.
Lathrop before the United States
entry into the war was a wonderful
task, wonderfully done.
Field Must Be Broadened.
''But the time has come now when
the field has so broadened that Miss
Lathrop's department cannot prop
eriy care for it, the doctor goes on.
and to represent all organizations
which have for their aim the better
ing Of child life the general medical
board OF the Council Of National De-
Tense formed the child welfare COM
mittee. The Importance of the work
can be guaged by the fact that there
are 100000 deaths a year in this
country Of children under five years
Of age, not counting still births.
1.-THE taking away Of doctors and
nurses and welfare workers Of all
work leaves the babies in great need.
And the children between one and
five years are likely to be neglected
altogether unless the country is
awakened to the weight Of it's task"
Men and women noted for their
knowledge and skill in pediatE5os,
child upHft and social economics
have been chosen with great care
for the committee. Some of those
prominent in the committee are:
Miss Hannah J. Patterson. its score
tary, and resident director in Wash
ington Of the woman's committee Of
the Council Of National Defense;
DIR. Samuel Moo. Hanill, chairman
Of the committee, who is professor of
pediatrics at Philadelphia Polytechnic
and College for Graduates in Medi-
cine. director Of child welfare OF the
committee Of public safety Of
Pennsylvania and a director Of the
Society for Study and Prevention OF
Infant Mortality; Philander p. ClaL-
ton, y. s. commissioner OF educa-
ton; Owen r. Lovejoy, executive
secretary national child labor COM
mittee, and Mrs. Stanley Mccormick
Of the woman's committee. Council
Of National Defense.
To Aid Existing Agencies.
The child welfare committee is to
lay stress on cooperation with ex-
listing bodies in nation, STATE, county
and city. ....s.
'"The committee will point out, =
says DIR. Martin. ito cities, towns
on the reduction Of population and
stimulate county and local units to
study health conditions and to enlist
actively every woman in the COM
munity in improving all conditions
which influence the health and wel-
fare Of children. Competent leader
ship win be furnished wherever pos
sible for the volunteers Of the COM
munities. Birth registration win be
enforced where 1t Is lax. Greater
care will be given mothers during
the prenatal period. Mothers will be
urged to nurse their children as long
as practicable so as to lessen the
drain in the nations milk supply,
already in the precautions condition.
while steps will be urged to con-
serve milk, local health departments
and welfare workers will be instFuct-
ed to see that mothers and babies are
able to obtain at all times the neces-
sary supplies Of milk as 1t is the
most important part of the diet of
the mother and the child"
DR.. Martin himself, who is one oa
the committee, has been active in
promoting surgical, medical and
hygenio activities for the national
defense. He Is professor or gyne-
cology ina the Post-G Graduate Medical
school OF Chicago, Is surgeon to the
Post Graduate hospital here, is edi-
tor Of the journal Surgery, Gyns-
cology and Obstetrics" and an Of
ficer in the United States army meds
ical reserve corps.