Arizona republican., 1922-05-28

advertisements are only small part
of those who without any legal pro-
ceedure are passed along from one
individual to another, on and on
without any attempt to protect the
interest of the child or the foster
family, or to keep any record Of the
childs identity.
This evil has flourished especially
during the past few years since the
demand for children for adoption has
become so greater than the
supply, in fact AS in all cases of
scarcity there has been a rise in
value, SO that babies can now often
be disposed of at a considerable pro-
fit to their parents.
generation ago woman was
looked at askance who had the term
Gritty to take into her heart and home
an unknown child. Many arguments
were advanced against such a course
one favorite contention being that it
was flying in the face of Providence,
that had the Lord intended you to
have a child one would have been
sent. Many a woman carried an
aching mothers heart because she
would not dare criticism enough to
bcstow upon some other woman's
children the love she hungered to
give.
But there has been almost an
epidemic in the last few years, and
many childless home has been
gladdened by the entrance into it of
one or more children. Doubtless the
fact of we'll known people adopting
children had a great influence in
making the custom more widespread.
Also when an attractive child has
been placed in a locality other people
in that vicinity are stimulated TO
secure one,
Demand Exceeds Supply
On the other hand, there has been
a great falling off in the number of
children available for adoption. Just
what has contributed to make this
so is difficult to say, but undoubtedly
the mothers pension bill has much
to do with it. Figures show that
10000 children We're cared for in their
homes in New York state by the aid
of the mothers pension who would
otherwise have become public charg-
es. Whether the high wages of the
last few years helped to bring about
this fact is problematicaI. but all
workers agree that prohibition played
a large part in effecting this result.
Mrs. Don G. Seitz. who finds homes
for children in New York City, says
that 1t has long since ceased to be
the point to find a nome for child,
but the object is to find a child
for the home offered and pray for
the wisdom of solomon to decide
which home is best for the child in.
question. This inability of the child
placing agencies to supply the extra
ordinary demand for adortable child
rem has evidently led impatient
foster parents to turn elsewhere for
assistance. They see an advertisement
fine baby boy, six months old, good
disposition in the newspaper. and
they. rush after him. willing to pay
tidy sum and to avoid all embar-
RAISING questions concerning the
chiid's parentage before some other
eager adopter comes along and gets
him.
More often than not, they them
selves. are approached by parents
with a hard luck story and a baby
they are willing to relinquish for a
slight consideration. 1t is possible
that some of these parents dispose
of their children by such methods
only under the greatest duress or in a
spirit of noble self sacrifice. but ex-
perience has shown that this is sell
dom the case. Usually, it is the
interest of the adults alone which is
considered the welfare of the
child