Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-04-13

II there is a place where the great souls
who have passed on may look back at
US I know with what rsptureS of APPROX
al that man would read the poem, you
yourself have written here. For this
building is a poem in brick and stone
that you have sung TO the immortal
memory Of Riley and to all crippled
children.
God knows we can never do enough for
them. We little realize how many little
Americans there are, doomed to lives Of
physical pain or mental anguish, be
cause some curvature of the spine some
twist of their poor bodies condemns them
AOverty. 20 helplessness, to dependence
Sfeothers. In New York City alone there
are $4,000 cripples. A census Of the Ma
tion's cripples has never been under
taken-we have shrunk from the painful
task But let US hope that the percen-
tage in New York is unusual, and that
the country as a whole has taken no such
toll Of human bodies. Let Us take hope
instead from the many splendid efforts,
such as this that warm hearts every
where are putting forth TO right these
cruel wrongs that life has visited on in
nocent children.
States and cities are now rallying to
the aid of these most pitiable of human
unfortunates- Indiana. as might b. ex-
pected, is leading in the van. Close sitter
comes New York. and Ohio. and Michi-
gan, Virginia, Massachusetts, Montana,
Missouri. Illinois, and the rest. There
IS not State now that does not. through
public or private means. pay some heed
to tSe call of these children for a happy
and uceful life This institution here,
let US be glad, is neither the first nor
the only one in the land,
Yet for a sinEularly poetic reason II
does stand out brightest Of them all
because you have glorified It with the
name Of Indiana's best beloved son. You
have dedicated it. with a fitness that is
in itself a poem, to the poet who sang,
sweetest of all, TO children. and TO all
humanity's love Of its young.
Il see now the little cripple. the same
kind of boy that Riley sang Of. lifting
his expectant O. q, 10 this place and hob
bling to it - his crutches. I see him
entering with frightened face and CRATE
ful smile this home where he will feel
safe at las Never again need he fear
losing the one tender being that he has
- care for him / see him surrounded
~ sunshine and flowers and smiles. l
- him strenSt hened IN body and taught
N mind so that life shall be beautiful
TO him. and no longer a pain. And I
see the gratitude he smiles back at you.
hear him calling you blessed. This
bJilding will De worth while If il changed
+ De life of but g single child from black
hight to bright day. But you will be
cheering thousands Of bHghted lives, in
tie name OF chiIdhood's warmest min
strel-James Whitcomb Riley. You will
be singing his songs all over again, in
deeds. not words"
Governor McCray declared the James
Al Al
Children, to he erected as a part Of In
diana University. in Indianapolis, in
connection with the city and the Robert
Long Hospitals, belongs to the State OF
Indiana. and is for every aili1S. sick, or
crippled child in the State
According to Governor McCray, the
chiIdren's hospital Is direly needed in
Indiana. Thousands Of Indiana boys and
girls are growing to maturity with club
feet, misshapen limbs. bone pressure on
tile brain OF other Affections that modern
science could easily adjust II there we're
q hospital where they could go for the
necessary one To six months for medical
attention. Mr.. McCray pointed out that
the last legislature recognized this need
for a chiIdrens hospital by ap-
pr0priating S125,OOO for the first section
which IS 10 be built this fall, and pledg-
was announced by Hugh Mex. Lsndon
of Indianapolis, president Of the James
WhitcOmb Riley Memorial Association
that 100000 viii be needed 70 erect the
hospital and the convalescence home, ac-
Coriiug to the plans which the hospital
executive committee has been working on
"a the last six months
SsPITAL SUPPORT
IS ASSURED
DR. william Lowe Bryan, president Of
Indiana University, ave-red that the
State is in reality giving the hospital
an endowment Of S5.OOO.O00, in that 1t
has provided for $4,000 4 year for the
first two years and $4,000 a year con-
tinuously thereafter to take care of the
general expense Of the hospital In sd-
ditiOn. the State Legislature has pro
rided that all the most Of maintenance
above the appropriation of 5000 OF SO
COO viii be paid by he counties of the
State in proportion to the children sent
10 the hospital by the various counties.
Dr. Bryan said that this support would
f cure in total as 5 per cent on an in
vested capital OF s3,O0O,OOO
The law under which the hospital will
be established Is modelled after the law
81 the State Of Iowa under which a
highly satisfactory children's hospital
was put in operation a few years ago
This institution. according to Governor
Warren T. McCray, who has inspected it
personally and who also has in his pos
session 4 report Of committee OF which
Dr William Lowe Bryan Of Indiana Uni
versity was chairman. is regarded as one
Of the model children's hospitals of the
country The Indiana statute takes great
benefit from the practical experiences
which have become apparent under the
operation Of the Iowa law
NEEDY CHILDREN
TO BE ATTENDED
It has been explained that under the
Law all children In the State OF Indiana
who need medical attention may be sd-
mitted, without cost to them. to the
James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Chill
dren as rapidly as facilities will admit
Tbe parents, guardians or any interested
- snd Of any child needing medical or
Furgical attention may go before the Cir
cunt judge OF his county, who has the
power 10 commit the child TO the hos
pitaI, and the hospital must admit the
child as soon as it is possible to give #
proper attention Children whose rela-
tives are able 10 pay for their care at
the hospital may do so, but this is not
compulsory.
The Riley Hospital Will be under the
control of an executive committee com
posed Of William Lowe Bryan, president
81. Indiana University; George A Ball
AeI"ie II. &. -1-----. ---2gtyn, and