New-York tribune., 1919-10-19
Relation of Industrial
Standards to Child
Welfare Discussed in
~AA
Rec ent Conference
Fathers Wages
One Big Factor
Minimum Standards De-
cided on Made Official
by Revision Committee
Nsso Yorh Tribune
WASHINGTON bureau

NTANDARDS for conditions of
living besring on child welfare
were presented to the three
women representing the public at
the Presidents industrial conference
last week. These standards had been
drawn up as a result of the inter
national child welfare conference
held in Washington last spring un-
der the auspices Of the Children's
Bureau of the Department Of Labor.
They passed through the hands Of a
revision committee this fall and be-
came official.
Ida Tarbell, Lillian Wald and
Gertrude Barnum, the women men,
bers of the industrial conference,
have held q number of consulta-
tions with Julia Lathrop, chief Of
the Children's Bureau, and Mary
Anderson, chief Of the women in
industry service Of the United
States Department Of Labor, re-
garding the relation of industrial
standards to child welfare.
Standards limiting child labor,
governing wages of the fathers of
children and the work their moth
ers should do are the links binding
child welfare to the industrial con-
ference. One statement in the re-
ysed standards issued by the Chill
dren's Bureau says that "an ade-
Quate wage for the father, whole
some and pleasant housing and liv-
ing conditions and the abolition of
racial discrimination are funda-
mental to the realization of any
child welfare programme.
DR.. Hastings H. Hart, of the Rus
sell Sage Foundation, New York j;
Mrs Ira Couch Wood, of Chicago,
director of the Elizabeth McCor-
mick Memorial Fund; DR.. Owen
Lovejoy, Of the National Child La
Dor Committee, New York; DR.. H.
l. K. Shaw, of the New York State
Department of Health, and Mrs.
Helen Sumner Woodbury., of Chi
cago, were on the committee of
revision of the standards of child
welfare.
Following is a resume of the gen.
eral minimum standards presented
to the conference:
"At the general session Of the
conference regarding the economic
and social aspects Of child welfare
standards it was recognized that an
adequate wage for the father,
wholesome and pleasant housing and
living conditions and the abolition
Of racial discrimination are funda-
mental to the realization Of any
child welfare programme.
THE desire for recreation and
amusement is a normal expression
Of every child which must be con-
sidered in any programme for the
PHYSICAL and moral education OF
children. Parents and others charged
with their care should be educated
70 the Importance Of recreation
Public provision should be made fo1
wholesome play and recreation, botf
indoor and outdoor, under trainet
leadership, and especially adapted
70 different age periods.
"Commercialized amusement,
snouid be safeguarded by officia
supervisors having scientific
knowledge of recreation.
The child welfare legislation O
every state requires careful recon
s'aeration as a whole at reasonable
intervals in order that necessary re
VISION and coordination may b,
made, and that new provisions ma,
's incorporated in harmony with th
"eSt experience Of the day. II
''ates where children's laws hav
not had careful supervision AZ
"noie within recent years chile
"e'Iare committee or commisgio,
saould be created for this purpose
LAWS enacted by the several state
'""uio be in line with national ideal,
.no Uniform as far an diverse con
s'saons IN the several states permits
child welfare legislation shoult
:" framed by those who are thor
"eniy familiar with tho condition
~na needs Of children and with ad
,A"'stratiye difficulties. It shoul,
- ara'ted by competent lawyer il
'a 1orm as TO accomplish the en-
sired by child welfare experts an
consistent with existing laws"