The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1921-01-31
WELFARE BOARD
WILL AMERICANIZE
WIDOWED MOTHERS
Teaching Them American
Ideals Will Reduce Number
of Public Charges.
BOON FOREIGN BORN
Administration of Widows
Pensions Lays Foundation
for Better Citizenship.

A movement 10 Americanize
widowed mothers is to be launched
tomorrow night at O'Clock in the
City Hall by the Board Of Child We'll
fare Of New York City, which adj
ministers the Widows Pension Law.
The Board of Child Welfare is now
caring for 2l2S6 children and 1894
mothers. 1t has found that many
mothers are ignorant Of the first
rudiments of citizenship and have
not become citizens. 1t has also found
that many dependent and destitute
children, VINO, born in this country,
are excluded from the allowances be-
cause their fathers had neglected to
become citizens.
In the interest of the children as
future citizens the effort will be
made to Americanize these mothers
and aid them in becoming citizens by
teaching them American ideals and
principles and assisting them in Sc
curing full citizenship
The board at the last meeting re-
solved to divide the city into sections,
so the mothers may be put to little or
no trouble IS coming to meetings for
this purpose in school houses near
their own homes.
A Federal agent will be present at
the first meeting in City Hall. as at
. all the othsr meetings to explain the
methods Tor securing citizen papers
for those who are ready for them.
1t is of utmost Importance to ac-
quaint these mothers with American
institutions and ideals in the interest
Of children.
Sophie Irene Loeb President of the
board, in an interview to-day said:
THE value of mother love and Keep
ing the children in the homes o. their
mothers rs beyond Cavil.
The great corrective work already
accomplished in the Widows Pension
Law has clearly demonstrated the ef-
tcaCy of the ounce of prevention
rather than the pound of cure, in
looking ahead to keep at a minimum
the number Of public charges.
The economy already developed in
the work is presented in the forth
coming report of the Board Of Child
Welfare. A few interesting items,
however, l will set forth. In its pros
peCtive, constructive programme for
rchabilltating families, putting them
on their lc'l as II were, and making
them sell prospecting citizens, the
Board OF Chlld Welfare deems it Of
paramount Importance to begin this
work 10y making American mothers.
Iho mothers lnHucncc in the home
and in The nelghborhoud cannot be
estimated ana ll women, especially
dnon- the foreign porn, can be
helped INTO a thorough realization Of
American ideals, the results viii fully
JUSTIFY all the efforts made in this
direction
How lar the burdens OF the COM
munlty have already been reduced in
granting allowances to destitute chill
dren IN the homes of their mothers
is shown by recent survey of some
OF the agencies where children find
themselves when not properly cared
for, the figures of which Miss Loeb
quoted:
For one year ending June 30, in the
Nhudrru Court. out ~ approximate
~ 10000 children only II came under
probation. As against this number
2l1 children Of other widows, not re-
CciviRg allowances from the city came
board, were under probation.
At the Society for the Prevention
OF Cruelty TO Children. for one year
ending in September, out Of approx
mately 10000 OF the children cared
for under the Child Welfare Board,