The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-31
By ROBERT C. BENCHLEY Assoctate Editor of "J.ife.v
Special Correspondent to The Ake-Heral
 (ConyriRht. 1921. by The AEe-Herald)

Special Correspondent to The Ake-ieral Copyright. 1e2i, by The Age-Heraid)
 New York. July 30.--(Speciai) The passage of the Shephard- Towner bill by the Senate, set ting aside funds for government tai assistance to mothers, gives new hope to those of us who are working for a national father hood bill. If the government can spend lot of money to enlighten the mothers of the nation on the care of their children, somewhere there ought to be few pennies available for teaching daddy what to do for the baby while mother is over at Mrs. Harrington's for few minutes.
 As we understand it, the Shep- hard -Towner bill, among other things, provides for community centers or clinics to which moth- CTS may come and ask what to do for Daisy's rash or when to start feeding Junior carrots. This IS a fine Idea and should have been put in practice long ago. But It is obvious that 1t is only half an idea. It Is for the establish ment of fatherhood clinics that our organization Is working.
 Would Cover Country
 Our idea is to have in every town of over 500 inhabitants, large tent, set up in somecentral location, in whish will be sta toned a government agent, male, who will have on hand a supply of safety pins. extra toys, pam phlets of instruction for home reading, and, in case of emersen- cies, an assistant who can run to the house with the father and help out.
 Then, whenever daddy is left with little Lester for the after noon, and Lester. along about 8 D m., develops locomotor ataxia or extreme rigidity in straight ening out very stiff and refus- ing to move. usually necessi- tating dragging in the end) daddy may stand him up in the corner closet, lock the door and run to the community center for advice.
 or if. just as the destracted parent gets the child tightly wrapped, it is found that all the safety pins in the house nave suddently. dropped down the crack or in the bureau, both father and child may take trip to the government office and get new paper of pins, together with perhaps a helping hand from wrapping expert.
 Fathers Helper Corps
 In those districts where 1t Is possible, 8 corps of fathers helpers might be advisable. These assistants coud go directly into the homes and, for instance, sit on the floor beside the, high chair and pick up the celiuloid swan everytime 1t is deliberately and wantonly dropped by the child.
 By suggesting the service of / these assistants We do not for minute advocate lessening Of the fathers responsibility or any diminishing of his self-respect. The self-respect of the father must be maintained at all costs and he must not be allowed to feel that the government has any intention of interfering with his duties or prerogatives as a par ent But 1t Is doubtful if any father would feel that his self respect had been lowered by all lowing some one else to pick up the cellulold swan. The father would really be taking capable care of his child.
 The government would simply act in the capacity of the swan recoverer; that and nothing else.
 Open Day and Night
 The paternity headquarters should be kept open at all times of the day and night, especially around those hours during which bottles are being given to very young children. Many times the father Is sent downstairs let us say at 2 a. in. 10 heat the bottle, and, what with trying to hold it with one hand and slip the nipple on with the other. or oftentimes simply through the machinaticns of ] witch or evil spirit, the bot tie becomes broken and the milk spilled. This is. of course, unfor- tuate, especially as it entails confession on the part of the father to the mother who Is up stairs. possibly followed by criminations and recriminations.
 Now. If q paternity center were close by. and open, the father. on the breaking of the bottle could slip on raincoat and sneak quietly over to the govern ment headquarters where | sup