The Washington herald., 1922-06-28
D. E. and Russia.

IT he status OF the Board OF Childrens Guar
i dams of the District of Columbia furnishes
an excellent example of autocracy nursed at the
breast OF a Democratic government.
Here is group of citizens vested with extraor-
binary powers and responsible to nobody. AS the
board is now constituted. there seems nothing to
prevent its members from stepping into any citi-
zen's home, taking children despite
protests, and disposing of them according to the
dictates of their own fallible judgment.
Major Sullivan and the police department have
great deal of power in their hands. But they
must render a very strict accounting of the way
they use it. In the first place they must heed the
dictates of the District Commissioners. In the sec
ond place, the courts than likely to nulfy
any OF their acts When policeman beats up a
citizen, for instance. he is apt to find himself in
serious trouble before the police court judge
is through with the case
The District FIRE department has a great deal of
power. When they consider the act necessary for
public safety they can blow up citizens house
without asking his permission. They are entitled to
take any steps they deem necessary to prevent
spread of conflagraton loss of life. But they
always must reckon future accounting. They
know that they will lose their jobs if they extend
their authority to unnecessary extent They are
servants OF the people of Washington
But this Board of Chidren's Guardians il
seems, is not bothered with the necessity of
ing. II is as supreme and arbitrary as the Central
Soviet in Moscow. 1t is secret unjust unre-
stricted and un-Amercan a summary court mar
tial.
There is nothing to prevent this board, if it
sees Mt, from taking boys and girls out of District
of Columbia homes and sending them to Alabama
consigned to the of cotton mill as child
aborers. Doubtless they would not do such
thing. Doubtless the board is composed of excel
,ho LOVE ,,J .,I-a r.. IL
OF Jesus of Nazareth quite seriously But the people
OF Washington have no assurance that the board
will not be composed day of fagins, kidnapers
or vivisectionsts. Even with the excellent intention
OF the present members some scandalous conditions
have been uncovered and it probable that still
worse circumstances remain hidden.
District citizens properly aroused. The
District Commissioners are indignant over the high
handed tactics which have been practiced in the
community which they are the authorized
executives. The facts, in all their scandalous dark
ness, have been placed before the President of the
United States. There is every indication that this
board soon will be placed under proper restraint
1t should be obliged to account to the District
Commissioners That these gentlemen can not
exercise authority over it at once without any
phcated procedure whatsoever, merely illustrates
how bad the condition is 1t would be as we'll to
have police department authorized to send men
and women to jail for life without trial.
Congress, certainly, will not hesitate to pass the
bill about to be submitted by the Commissi oners
and drawn up by the District Congress Of Mothers
whose members have made careful investigation
of the unfortunate circumstances The Senators
and Representatives must realize that in all the
length and breadth of America there is no other
institution un-Amercan as this-fostered in the
Capital of the worlds greatest democracy We
question whether children be taken away from
homes arbitrarily even in Moscow.
President Harding has the issue squarely be-
fore him. We hope that no executive action will be
Washington except the board members has been
shocked by the disclosures. He is certain to watch
future developments closely and step in
it appears that other way remains open.
Enough has been disclosed to arouse the public
But the need of complete investigation will not be
until every child is accounted for and every
home where children EARNED out" is inspected
We know that some of these little ones live under
deporable conditions and there is every reason to
suppose that others in the same circumstances
The surprising feature of the whole investiga-
ton has been the attitude of the Board Of Chill
dren's Guardians itself
1t is useless to question how such an
niqutous condition grated onto the civic life
of the District. Somebody at sometime or other
was careless. 1t is essential only to remedy the
situation at once and take steps to prevent any
other group Of citizens obtaining such power.