Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1921-10-06

the attractive costuming made the af-
fair a delightful bit of dramatic work
In addition to this the development
of the various episodes brought home
to the audience in very vital way
1 the need of social work and the re-
suits to be attained by intelligent
community effort.
Noon LuncheOns
The luncheons on Friday and Sat
urday were made occasions for get
ting better acquainted as we'll as for
listening to some of the best speakers
on special topics. Mrs. Edith Hoyt,
Professor of Education at the State
University, and Miss Clara Roe of the
National Board of the Y w. c. A.,
spoke to the women at the Hotel Wit
ter Friday and brought out informa-
/ tion of great interest and value rela-
| tive to the work that is being done
on behalf of women and girls, both in
homes and in industry.
1
was devoted chiefly to discussion Of
work for boys. There was very
large attendance of local business
men in addition to the out of town
delegates, which made necessary the
serving of overflow luncheons in the
main dining room of the hotel Vari-
Gus phases of work with boys were
discussed by E. w. Brandenburg, state
secretary for boys work of the Y NJ
c. A, by Ralph Smith, prosecuting at
torney of Lincoln county, and by Pet
er Thompson of Stevens Point, lead
er in boy scout work. H. H. Jacobs,
Milwaukee social worker, completed
the program with few sidelights on
his work in relation to delinquent
boys.
Mrs. Witter Elected President
On Friday also Mrs. Isaac P. Wit
ter, of this city, was elected state
President of the Conference of Social
| Work to fill out the unexpired term
| of William c.. White of Milwaukee,
who had resigned. She will serve un-
til October, 1922.
Eleven of the eighteen members of
! the Executive Board of the State
| Conference were present at the meet
ing here. They were: E. W. Bran
denburg, H. H, Jacobs, Rev. NJ F.
McEvoy, Mrs. K. L. Van Wyck, and
Mrs. M. l.. Rosine, of Milwaukee;
Miss Maud Neprud, Mrs. H. S. Rich
ards, DIR. Elizabeth Woods, and pro-
fessor E. B. Gordon of Madison; Hon.
Ralph Smith of Merrill; and Mrs
| Isaac P. Witter, of Wisconsin Rapids
Friday Evenings Session
The session Friday evening was
held at Days Theater and was very
well attended. The program opened
with community singing leb by Pro-
with community singing led by Pro-
Extension. Mrs. H. S. Richards of
Madison, former president of the
State Federation of Women's Clubs,
spoke of the necessity Of the Social
Workers Conference and urged its
continuance and growth.
Perhaps the biggest and most auth
oritative address of the Conference
was given at this session by Judge A.
C. Backus of Milwaukee, whose ex-
perience and ability have long graced
the Milwaukee bench and have been
instrumental in the return of many
social and criminal offenders to the
useful stations they should occupy in
society and industry. His main
theme was the Importance of home
and family life of the right and
wholesome sort in shaping the future
life of the child and preventing crime
1.-The wave of crime and the menace
of idleness and unemployment will
never be stenlmed," he said, until
the people get closer to God"
''Too many men spend all their
time in the building of huge business
institutions and in amassing grea:
fortunes, and fail to take the first
! necessary fundamental interest in
/ the welfare of their sons" he declac-
) ed. For just this reason, the sons
of many rich men come before the ban
of justice charged with states prison
offences" was his statement.
Unemployment
Judge Backus said that the unem.
: ployment situation is serious and that
e it is almost certain to bring about ar
increase in crime this winter. FL,
n urged that every effort be put fortl
g at once to relieve this situation AT
/
h ter all that America has done to re