The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1923-03-21

omy claim The County Boards themselves are
all composed of non-salaried people and in those
counties having paid worker, as REDWOOD
County has, the salary is paid from some other
source than from funds obtained from the State.
In many counties, as again in our own, this work
er is paid by Red Cross funds, the Welfare work
being considered one of the major movements OF
the Red Cross Peace Time Program.
The idea that the State would really econo-
mize by the abandonment of Child Welfare work
(and that is what the adjustment OF County
Boards would mean) is false one one Will
think far enough into the future. In the past
four years over thirty-five hundred illegitimate
children have been reported to these Boards and
through them to the State Board of Control. In
each case the County Board, aided by the Board
Of Control, has endeavored to establish paternity
and to compel the fathers to support the child
ren In the big majority of the cases this has
been accomplished thus taking from off the
| States shoulders the support of these children
during their childhood and until they reach an
age of at least partial self-support.
The Duluth Herald gives the following bit OF
illumination on what the Board has done there,
in this matter, during the past few months
"In ST. Louis county thirty-six illegitimate
children have been born since January l. These
children will be dependent for fourteen years. II
it be assumed that three hundred dollars each
per year is fair estimate to place on the cost
of keeping child, this amounts to $15l,2OO
which somebody must pay. The task OF the well
fare boards, among other things, is to see that
the fathers pay for it. If the welfare boards are
abolished there is nobody left whose duty 1T Is
to see that this responsibility is fixed and en-
forced The ST. Louis county child welfare
board has collected $2,825.50 from fathers for
the benefit of unmarried mothers since November
last.
From viewpoint Of economy, plainly, this
is a foolish step; for if fathers not forced to
pay the public must And from the viewpoint OF
humanity, it seems so atrocious that it is unbe'
lievable that those who offered this bill have serl-
ously thought what it means"
Leaving the matter of economy OF money for
moment it might be well to think about the
economy of young American souls. An editorial
written by the Brainerd Dispatch early last fall,
before there was any question OF the adjustment
of these boards, makes us pause for little
thoughtful consideration of the topic. st. Louis
County and Grow Wing county have no expert
ences which have not been reproduced in Redwood
county Because we don't the problem in
our easy everyday life does not mean that it is
not there The Redwood County Welfare Board
KNOWS-and some of its members are heart
sick at conditions to which the uniformed public
is blind.
The Brainard Dispatch, in the editorial men,
toned, says:
"The Child Welfare Board of Grow Wing
county is facing problems similar to those faced
in other parts of this state by such boards. Nor
are the problems confined to this state or even
to the United States, for communities in other
countries, such as Germany and England, are
face to face with similar conditions that constl-
tute problems which able minds trying to
meet and conquer.
'One of the matters that is causing grave
concern to those interested in protecting children
from themselves, lies in the apparent indiffer-
ence of parents to the dangers their children are
facing when they are allowed to stay out until
very late hour night after night without re-
porting to their parents to how they spend
their time.
Those who are in touch with the situation
locally say that parents would be alarmed if they
knew just what their children doing during
those evening hours when they are away from
home Girls around Ia years of age are advising
their parents that they are going to the picture
show, first or second house, but they do not go
there but spend their time in questionable COM
pany. Some girls of the early teen age are asso-
ciating with men, many years older than they are
who take them out in automobiles, returning at
late hour. There is every reason to believe
that such girls are not informing their parents
of their doings, for it is hard to believe that any
parents would allow their daughters to be out
in this way with men much older than them
selves.
much liberty is given to children in our day,
and the parents generally are willing to allow
their children to find amusement for themselves
But when conditions such as We have described
come to their knowledge they will be led to con-
clude that even at the expense of seeming to
work hardship on their children they must in
sist that they stay in the home after dark.
"Brainerd lacks recreational facilities where
with the children of the city may find safe and
clean enjoyment, and because of this lack, the
only place where the child may be entertained
apart from the theatre an occasional social
function, is in the home. Attention ought to be
directed to providing some recreational center.
However, such place is not likely to appear soon,
the industrial disturbance hindering the mater
ializing of any such dreams. In the meantime
parents will be well advised to be careful over
the way in which their offspring are behaving
r,hop thov aro ont Of NIGHT Children do not in