Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-10-08
by James i. Davis.
secretary OF Labor.

Secretary OF Labor
| Especial 10 The Times Dispatch
| WASiilNGTOS. -. G., oct. -
| Care for the nations babes. that In.
growing generation may be sturdy.
| StanCh and truly American. fiji to
curry the nation forward In its pro-
grcss toward the high Ideals funda-
! mental in inc work of the founders
| of the republic. IL the duty which
| the Department OF Labor seeks to
perform through the children's Blu
rcau.
The childrcns bureau was cstab-
| lishcd by an act OF Congress signed
! by President Taft on April 2. 1912.
! for the purpose. as stated IN the act.
! OF investigating and reporting upon
| All matters pertaining TO the welfare
| Of children and child lifc among all
| GLASSES Of our people" ANA especially
! TO "invcstlgatc the questions %. in
FAINT mortality. the birth rate. or
/ phanagc. Juvenile courts. dcacrt!on.
! dangerous occupations. accidents
and diseases OF children. employ
ment, legislation affecting children
In the several States and Terri
tories"
/ The bureau has two different con-
sttucncics to which II reports It's
findings. These are. FIRST. the
parents. more especially the mothers
as well as the groups organized IN
clubs and associations; second. the
| professional workers, experts In one
field or another OF child care. While
the individual mother wants TO know
how TO meet her o%n problems the
professional workcrs look TO the Hu-
reau FOR the results - research con-
Quoted on national seal" to help
them in the responsibility which ia
tNetis Of putting into practice Ia
! their State and local communities
the best standards az child care
The bureaus publications technical
and popular, have been distributed
since It's founding 10 the number OF
over 100000 It's printed material
FOR mothers on child car. is called
for beyond its fuuds to supply /,
answers on all subjects. total OF
$4,000 letters = year and for nearly
three years q has Teen sending into
the less accessible country regions
motorized child health station,
with doctor and nurse ana cgu!p-
/ mert TO examine the babies which
crowds Of mothers bring
bureaus Tnsk Hard.
The resources and staff Of the bu-
reau are limited. 50 iha, /, has
/ hardly been ahl. TO 30 more thuu
! make q beginning in The vast task
/
select tor study those questions and
problems Of The most practical and
general import What. for Instance.
are the effects az Industrial dcpreS-
sion upon ch!Idr.n2 when the
fathers ar. unemployed. are tho chill
drcn forced TO leave school and look
Tor work; DO the mothers Of young
children Ind omploym. TO help out
the family resources Ia what ways
is tn" family standard OF Twins
affected What special hnrdships do
the children suffer?
To obtain answers to these cues
tons, by presenting clear pictures OF
typical situations. the Children .u-
,cau has made studies OF child vel
fare IN relation To unemploymcnt in
"A Sew England and a Middle West
orm city in which unemployment has
: been serious
/ What arc the effects on children OF
agricultural work. 10 they work as
long or longer hours than they
would In factory employment? IL
their physical development affected >
! Do they receive tn. education which
hild-Iator restrictions are Intended
20 make possible; These questions
are frequently asked. and the bureau
Is engaged In n series OF rural child
labor studies, covering cotton sec
| lions IN Texas. beet growing areas
J In Michigan and Colorado, and truck
farming regions Of New Jersey. Viz
ginlh and Maryland. \ problem TO
| which thcs" studies arc calling at
tcniion ~ That OF the migratory
laborers families. for whose educa-
ton and welfare no single com
munity feels Itself Responsible
lllitcrhcy among thcm is particularly
high, but serious retardation is found
as well af.ong children Of land
owning farmers The bureaus child
labor studies began with n series on
the Employment system
as the key Ia enforcement OF laws.
and reports on several state Systems
have been made
In cooperation with the Junior
| Division Of the United States En-
pioymcnt Service the bureau is now
Investigating, in several cities where
"rocationa. guidance" has been well
| developed the conditions under
which children are directed into In
dus,rial life. and the opportunities
offered them and tn. requirements
made by various occupations
| The Juvenile court has had a rapid
| development in this country. but in
! many small towns and rural dis
tricts no special provision Is made
| Tor childrcnS cases; and in tho
/ larger cities, whore juvenile cour,
| ORGANIZATION Is more nearly adc-
uunie. there is large field FOR i'm
| proveinont and standardization OF
methods. Tho Childrcns Bureau has
| made general survey of courts
| hearing childrcn's cases. summarized
laws, and studied ten OF the leadin;,
courts, and last year joined with tho
| National Probation Association in
calling conference of judges. pro :
! baton officers. and others interest =
| 4, fpr ,irn tad n
| committee TO advise with the bureau
/ in the formulation Of standards
Roman history, social and political
economy; in fact, almost any old
! ihinR. while by Il fnM rnnmihs. - III =