South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-04-23

The number of things which we
have been exhOrted TO save in order
to win the war are almost past
counting. So numerous are they, in
fact that some cynic has suggested
that a rubber stamp be made for
general use. reading ''- will win
the war! Don't waste it," the blank
space to be filled in according TO
the users fancy or conviction.
The latest addition to this already
imposing list, which ranges from
Liberty bonds to potato Feelings, is
certainly and far away the most
vital and worthy of ALL for it is the
lives of our children at home which
we are asked to save and protect
The L. S. children's bureau has
declared that this shall be the
"Children's Year" and has sent out
countrywide appeal TO all health
officials. state councils of defense,
state womens committees, and all
other organizations interested in
child welfare, urging them to strain
every nerve to save all the little lives
in their community which might
flicker out without prompt and ade-
quate help.
The motives and intentions behind
this latest Liberty Lives" campaign
are certainly, to say the least OF it,
no less noble and patriotic than
those of the Liberty loan and Red
Cross drives. and, like them. IT has
a definite aim and goal, 100000
lives to be saved. To bring it closer
home each state is assigned its ap-
propriate quota Of the total the
definite number of babies il is ex-
pected to save and il is most sin
cerely 70 be hoped that this drive
will Ego over the top" with the same
victorious rush as the others have
already done. The saving of life
desired is entirely feasible, and the
machinery for it's accomplishment
already in existence in numerous
scattered organizations all over the
country. 1t needs only this stirring
call. born of the stern necessities
OF war TO bring a united pull to-
gether and attain the result.
This is probably the first time in
this country that any such nation
wide, and concerted attempt has
been made in this direction. though
superb and sucCe ssful work has been
accomplished by our state and mu-
nicipal boards and commissions
along this line for many years The
/ department of health of New York
city. for instance has won an in
| ternational reputation by its splen-
| did system and organization for the
care and early upbringing of the
/ future citizen. Not only from the
! day he is born, but "A considerable
/ time beforehand, for nearly twice as
many children die in the first year
OF life as in any other and a large
share of this loss is due to lack Of
proper attention, generally through
! ignorance. before they were born.
The little stranger is met not
merely upon the threshold OF life
| but before he even reaches il by
white clad visiting nurses. and from
/ this is under the watchful eye Of
one servant OF the common good"
after another. through early child
/ hood and through the successive
years OF school life until his educa-
/ ton is completed and he is ready
TO take his place in the workaday
( world
AS a result or this unceasing care
l and attention combined with sleep
less war against conta gious diseas
and for clean milk, pure food and
} improved housing and living condi-
tons the mortality rate among chill
dren up 10 10 years has been cut
down in the most gratifying way.
averaging a reduction about one
third or more in the past six or