The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1927-01-07
Professor Dick Takes Issue
With Judge ]. ]. McEIroy
Ed;tor Producers News.

Nav l have a little of your valu-
able space in defense of the late
drive promoted by the Montana
Cbildren's Home Society. In a re-
cent issue of your paper certain
]. McElroy attacked their methods
of raising funds. At the outset l
want it understood that | am not in
any wav connected with the above
mentioned society directly or indi-
rectly.
II seems 70 me that the writer re-
ferred to is straining himself in see
inc the evil and injurious character
1f this society's work to a degree far
bevond what the facts will warrant.
Why should one have such a "spell"
over nothing? As [ re-read his let
ter and analyze his objections, he
seems to be ignorant Of existing
facts and conditions, given to mis-
representation and exaggeratiOn, IL
logical, intolerant, and uncharitable.
Since Mr.. McElroy's article APP
peared in these columns, l have tax
on the trouble of making a rather
thorough investigation of the eXecu-
tive and managerial machinery of
the Montana Children's Home Socie-
tn. together with their policies and
methods Of operation in order to sat-
isfv my own curiosity as to the evil
and destructive nature Of their work
4? y and to correct any wrong i'm
pressions that the reading public may
have received. The readers of the
Producers News may rely implicitly
on the authenticity of all statements
in this letter concerning the manage
ment, business policy and methods of
operation of this society.
Mr.. McElroy says, con further in
vestigation l found that this money
goes to the so-called Montana Chill
dren's Home Society, which is run by
some ministers and is a denomina-
tional institution" Now let US see
how these findings measure up with
facts. Mr.. Hawks, the state superin-
tendent for the society, says, "The
Montana Children's Home Society is
not a UNCONVENTIONAL institution. II
is non-sectarian and non-partisan
but is under Protestant management
1t is a church auxiliary working thru
all the churches, incluling Catho
lies" Relative to the ministers run
ming it, he says, "The society is run
ana managed by board of directors
thirteen in number. Of this number
four are woman. Five of the thir
teen directors hold offices, four O
them being men. The president is
stoclman. The first vice-president i
a printer. Neither of them have an,
church affiliation. The second vice
president, a woman, is the wife 0
an attorney and is Jewish by faith
The treasurer is a banker and is a
Episcopalian. The secretary is a req
estate dealer and is a Unitarian. o
the remaining eight members of tn
board, only one is a minister-a
Episcopalian. The board of thrice
members absolutely controls the al
fairs of the society. None of thel
draws any salary. They hire til
workers, pass on all matters of bus
ness, hold monthly meetings, an
consider reports made to them. tn
sOciety's books are audited by a
outside firm Of certified accountant
Then there are ten workers beside
office help. Of then ten, nine al
men. They are: state superintenC
ent, five district superintendent, O
flee director, superintendent of Boy
Home, matron of Girls Home, ar
an attorney. Of the six superinten
ents, one is a Methodist minister al
three are Baptist ministers. II
only Catholic employee is stem
grapher. All workers, of course, a.
on salary. The vocation and chur,
affiliatiOn of the twenty-three of
GERS, directors and workers may
summed up as follows: Vocation
business, ministers, five; lawyer
three; stOckmen, three; capitalist
two; real estate dealers, two; teac
ers, two; real estate dealers, tw
teachers, two; railroad employe
two; bankers two; printers one; M
sonic official, one. Church affili
ton: Episcopalian, six; Baptist, fiv
Methodist, four; Unitarian, two; Je7
ish, one; Presbyterian, one; and thr
have no church affiliation. "TI
ought to bring relief to anyone We
rylng about what denomination Il
society is laboring to build up.
should also put anyone right who
thought that this society was ma
aged by preachers.
Mr.. McElroy says, 81 had alwa
supposed that the public scho,
were a non-denominational instit
NJ hof IL
more favorable treatment than t
Others" He further says, "a soc
wrong was committed by some @
when children of different religic
beliefs were sent out as beggars !
the support of one of many like
situations" His supposition is c.
rect-Our public schools are non,
nominational. l also maintain Il
IN the case under consideration
particular denomination is being f;
ored above another. II it were Il
that the public school system is
ing used as a vehicle for the
building if some particular sect,
ne alleges, then l would agree W
him that social wrong is being CO
united. In this connection | asl
Mr.. Hawk whether his society ha
led any Catholic children; and, if
whether Catholic children were e
placed in Protestant homes. To tn
questions he replied, "Our work
non-sectarian. We place children
all races and religions as there i
need. We make it fixed rule
ways to place homeless children