The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-12-27
SOCIAL WORKERS
FACE PROBLEMS
State Conference Informs
Public OF Motives
and Methods.
SOCIAL INCAPABLE

The Kenosha Service league recent
" received a letter from Aubrey
Williams, executive of the Wisconsin
Conference of Social work, which is
particularly appropriate to the needs
and problems in Kenosha. The letter
in part is as follows:
'For a number of years the people
OF Wisconsin have viewed with deer
concern the fact that practically the
entire sum spent on social incapables
in Wisconsin has been used for the
purpose of incarcerating them, and
practically nothing has been spent for
the prevention of such detectives, in
adequates and incapables. Boards OF
control have appreciated this fact.
They have realized that the policy of
making the board of control state ac-
countant and business agent for state
institutions, has made il practically
impossible for them to give tie neces-
sary time to the larger problems that
confront board charged wish the care
of state wards. Likewise it has been
realized that board operating under
such policy could do little in a large
way to reduce dependency, inadecuncF
and criminality, and thereby reduce
the taxation necessary for the main
tenance of public wards.
The board of control has done eff
fective work in supervising the ply
steal aspects of county institutions.
The sanitary condition of these has
unquestionably been improved. County
poor houses and county jails have
been benefited. Moreover it has made
some contributions indicative Of what
might be accomplished by a board free
from the deadening policy imposed up
on it by traditions and laws. Notably
among these is the work in connee-
ton with the chronic insane. men
tai survey was made which brought
to light many possible ways of reduc-
ing mental detectives in the state.
study of the necessity for mothers
pensions was made, and out of this
grew our present sterilization laws
that are being carried out SO splen-
didly at the present time. A chile
ren's bureau was established, WITH
far-reaching powers. 1t was hoped
that this division would effect an ade-
quate state organization for the giving
to dependent and neglected children
! the benefit of the most improved
methods such as individual mental anc
physical examinations, immunization
processes, and individual homes where
the children would be cherished
and loved and given equal oppor
tunities for development of their IN
dividual capacities.
The success of other states in these
and similar projects leads us to the
inevitable conclusion that by means
of such projects entered into in every
| field of inadequacy, the rapid increase
of incapables will be checked, and ;
| large number of those at present il
our state institutions will be restored
to productive citizenship thereb.
reducing the enormous taxation bur
den imposed at the present tins
upon the taxpayers.
Before any such program is possible
however, there must be created
throughout he state an informed anC
aroused public opinion which viii
support the board of control People
must first be given the facts as to the
number of inadequates in the state o.
| Wisconsin that exist, both as inmates
of state institutions and in the stats
at large. They likewise must be &C
quainted with the amount of money
necessary for their maintenance. They
must also be made to realize wha
part of such money goes simply to in
generating these unfortunates, anC
what part of it goes to the prevention
and restoration of such unfortunates
In the next place there must BIZ
aroused amongst people in general, I
willingness to support projects of {
curative, restorative and preventive
nature. In other words, the board o.
( control, before it can hope to carry
out programs of large, far-reachin!
and constructive nature, must have
! behind it an aroused and inform
ed public opinion that will supper
its projects.
Interested citizens, clubs, and or
| CARNATIONS, existing for the common
weel, owe it to the state to see tina
| the board of control carries on a pro
gram of public education that vii
inform and arouse every Taxpayer
concerning the ever-increasing mum
Der of persons dependent upon the
state for their maintenance, and alst
concerning the measures that will, i.
carried ort oye- a period of years
( reduce this num5~r and redrce th'
! burd-n OF tax~tion mLde necl3~ ,r3
there y"
Go Ee Continued On SatulG "