The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1927-01-07

from the Catholics. Up to May 1,
1926 we had placed 3O75 homeless
children In Montana homes, 279 Of
which went to Catholic homes"
Mr.. McElroy asks, "Now if it is
right to tell the poor children to 90
out and sell tags for an institution
under Protestant control, why
wouldn't the same logic apply to a
Catholic, Jewish, or any other insti-
tutlon!" see nothing wrong with
that logic, which would apply, pro-
vlded fair treatment were accorded
all denominations. If l size the mat
ter up correctly, the work of this So
clety is a mOvement-a cause so
magnanimous and noble that we
should never stop to degrade and be-
little it with petty sectarian quib-
blings that have their conception in
nevy and jealousy. Away with that
narrowness. We must be broader |
and deeper than that. | conducted
the third campaign in my school be-
fore | knew what denomination, if |
any, controlled it-and stumbled on
to this knowledge accidentally not |
long ago. For years l had a little |
"hunch" that it was under Catholic |
control, but as | didn't consider this |
matter vitality material, l had never
made inquiry about it. After reading
their literature carefully, I was con-
WINGED that the work they were car
rying on was imminently worthy of
the vigorous, whole-hearted support
of every broad-minded, unselfish,
sympathetic citizen. Acting on this
impression, l was little concerned
about what church it was run by. Not
one Of the twenty-three officers, di-
rectors and workers of the Montana
Children's Home Society, and Mr..
McElroy thrown in, adhere to the
Church that l do. But what has that
to do with finding a home for a poor
little orphan child, thus opening an
entire future for him, ultimately
making him an asset to society in
stead of a liability, and Frightening
a childless home besides?
Mr.. McElroy, in his letter, regis
tiers protest against using the in
fluence of the schools in "encourag-
ing these religious institutions in
grabbing the children away from the
state institution Orphans Home at
Twin Bridges) in their young and
tender years." Anyone that is &C
quainted with the advantages that a
good home has over the Montana
{ State Orphans Home in raising a
, child up will not worry over the
) number that is grabbed away from
= it; in fact the more that is grabbed
: away, the better. 1t is far less ex-
{ pensive to the state to place children
/. in private homes. The average cost
\ to place a homeless child in a family
! is $168, and this includes receiving,
f caring for, placing, and supervising
@ until the child is eighteen years old.
n Ninety-two per cent of the place
n ments make good. 1t costs a little
; over $500 per year to keep a child
n at Twin Bridges. But while the fl
e nancial advantage is a considerable
i item--one that would amply Justify
d the existance of the society-,it is
e only an incidental one. The COM
n plete development of the child is the
;. all-important and major advantage
s This embraces character develop
@ ment, educating him, teaching him tC
i work and training him in a trade OF
F. profession so he will be a socially
s. efficient member of society Every
d orphan should have the tender care
/ and home training of good foster
ID parents, and no state institution car
,e possibly rival a good home in the at
> tainment of this end. 1t is upon thu
70 force of these arguments that thi!
h society had its origin, and time ha
i amply proven that these basic prin
,e ciples were sound.
)r Mr.. McElroy further says, eth
s, parents and Taxpayers, are entitle,
S, to know who is using the children
h for such a purpose and thereby help
0; ing to undermine their character an,
IS, self-reliance by intoxicating in then
a. the instincts of beggars." o My!
a. 1t sounds awful, doesn't it? In tire
e; different places in his letter he re
" fers to children that solicit for fund
ee for this society as ''beggars". l chal
lis lenge him to find me as solitary sol
r. letting child who we'll understand
lis the object and work of the societ
1t that would rankle under the stigm
as of "beggar". A boy or girl almos
n universally has a feeling of compass
sion and sympathy for a homeless
VS. child and will not stoop so low as t
lis cast discredit and disrepute upo
u such a noble and worthy a caus
'et This is the sentiment of an adult
he children aren't that "small" BroaC
ial minded, charitable, sympathetic me
ne and women will call them Solicitors
us In the generally accepted sence {
or the term we do not consider one g
in begging when he is soliciting in til
Dr. interest of the Red Cross, the Nes
le- East Relief, or the sale of Christina
lat seals. l, for one, regard the wol
no of the Montana Children's Home S.
Nv ciety on par with these other splel
ue did efforts to serve mankind, ar
De- one that equally merits our unstintt
Up patronage.
as AS a teacher, always explain
it'll my pupils the object of the organic
M ton, the good it is doing, and no
Ied the dimes from the sale of the hear
nd help to carry on this work. Then
so, put the matter squarely up befo
yer them to see if they wish to take no
csc of the work. l never urge it upC
is them at all but, rather, let the matt
of be voluntary with them. But l ha
) a never had a pupil who was nc
al tickled to have the chance to he
of some homeless waif who just ha