The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1918-09-05

measure. The children's bureau of the
labor department. has as its goal 100.
600 baby lives saved this year. Ae
cording to reports received. foreign
mothers are as eager as the native
mothers, IL 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,
1900 strong. have. arranged TO study
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 lam
gusge and old-world superstition that
have long stood in the way of the
health of little Americans born of for
eign parents. 1t has been necessary in
many cities to employ interpreters at
the weighing and measuring centers 10
answer the questions OF mothers who
do not speak English. Classes In the
care Of baby being conducted In Sc
attic and Pittsburg are made a means
of teaching mothers TO speak and read
English.
Perhaps the most important educa-
tional measure that has been adopted
10 the provision Of public health
nurses whose function II is not only to
give care and service TO the sick but
10 advise mothers how TO keep their
children well. AS result of Chill
dren's year activities many communi-
ties have succeeded in obtaining pub
lie or private funds for public health
nursing 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 1t has drawn public COM
mendation 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: st 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. feel
sure that you, Mr.. President, as their
commander in chief, will be proud of
their unique contribution in the war
and viii use your authority to broaden
the scope of their activities as condi-
tons permit so that they may go on
10 still greater achievements"
The state councils. says Secretary
Baker, have active county, or equiya-
lent, councils Of defense under them.
while in nearly every state the organ
izatiOn Of community councils in the
school districts, bringing the govern
ment TO the people and the people to
the government, is progressing rapid
ly.
The president replied: Il 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
extending our defense organization in
to the smallest communities and by
the truly democratic character Of
national system so organized. l be-
ILeve in the soundness Of your conten-
don that In the interest Of economy
and efficiency such machinery as that
provided by the state council system
for the execution OF many kinds OF
war work should be utilized as far as
possible by federal departments and
administrations"
A recent proclamation by President
Wilson puts into effect provisions OF
the shipping act making it impossible
for foreign interests to obtain control
Of American shipping or shipyards.
Chairman Edward N. Hurley Of the
shipping board explains that the new
forv y,royfdao that during war or ma