The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1926-04-29
GOVERNOR TALKS ON MAY
DAY

DAY
Governor John E. Erickson, in
b~roadcasting a talk on May Day
last evening from station KUOM,
Missoula, said in part: "With the
approach of May Day, which is
now being celebrated every year
as Children's Day, and more es-
pecially as Child Health Day, GER
tain thoughts come to mind re-
garding our nations yearly bill
for negligence in the care of its
children.
"Of the 1900, 999 of u pop
ulation who die each year, it has
been estimated that forty-two per
cent die of p~reventable causes.
The waste from this p%reventable
loss is placed at about $1,000,-
OOO,O 900.
sFc..y thousand school children
die each year from causes that are
preventable.
"There are 400, 900 cases of ty-
phoid fever each year, ten per
cent which are fatal and seventy
five per cent of which are IN
necessary.
"Diphtheria, which is consider
ed preventable and for which there
has been a curative for THIRTY
years. takes the largest toll of
4
deaths among children of any OF
the common communicable dis
eases. Most Of these deaths oc-
under FIVE years Of age.
"Of all crippled adults, one
third received their injuries dur
ing the first six years of life and
a very large percentage are need
lessly handicapped. :,
zone hundred per cent OF all
mental detectives are recognizable
during the first six years Of LIE.
During the first quarter OF thls
century there has been more and
more a swing of the pendulum to-
ward the promotion of child wei
fare. The figures quoted show
the need of this. The Federal
government and the several states
are placing increasing emphasis
on the preservation of child LIE
not only from the humanitarian
standpoint but as n of u grea'
needs from the economic stand
point.
"May Day, which will be cele
brated Saturday as Children
Dav all over the nation, was hrs
celebrated three years ago under
the auspices of the American
Child Health association. 1t Il
certainly fitting that May Day
which was in the past the occas,
ion for May festivals, dances and
all sorts of joyous things should
now be revived as a day for pro
Noting the health and happiness
of our children.
'"The Save the Children Fund
international Union suggests the
following principles with regard
to the rights of children, called the
Declaration of Geneva.
BY the following declaration
If rights of the child. called the
Declaration of Geneva, men and
women of all nations. realizing
that humanity must give to the
child that which is best, pledge
themselves, rising above all con-
s~iderations of race. nationality or
creed:
4. That the child shall have
full opportunity to develop nor
mallv. both materially and spirit
ually.
2. That the child who is hun
+ shall be fed; the child who IS
sick cared for; the backward child
brought forward; the hayward
child led back; the orphan and des-
titute taken in and succored.
g. That in time of stress the
child shall be first to receive aid.
a. That the child shall be
eouipped to earn his living and
protected from all exploitation.
8. That the child shall be
taught that his finest qualities
shall be placed at the service OF
his brothers,
"Surely these are ideals toward
which we should all strive without
regard 70 race, creed or political
status.
"Mr. Herbert Hoover has de-
elared a bill Of rights for u own
eeldren which represents the
gea4e Of things that should exist
II sz enlightened and enormous
r. wealthy country, although we
rogst acknowledge that we fall
ssort II attaining his standard at
TIE present time. In his May
r., maze Nr. Hoover said: