Evening star., 1927-04-24
BY HERBERT HOOVER.
Secretary OF Commerce.


In a recent survey ma lie by the
American Child Health Association of
86 medium-sized cities of the United
States, it was discovered that the
children in these smaller cities OF the
Nation are receiving just about so
per cent of the health protection to
which, even at a conservative esti-
mate, they are entitled.
On the other hand, communities
have reported that, as direct result
of the celebrations Of National Child
Health day-May LII 900 clinics for
children have been established, birth
registration records have been i'm
proved and steps have been taken for
communicable disease protection and
for better control of milk supplies.
school health and sanitation.
Urge Permanent Work.
It's sponsors hope that National
Child Health day will be permanent
American movement toward securing
for children their most elemental
rights--to be born well, to have a
healthy childhood and to reach ma
turity in the happiness that comes in
it's fullness only to those whose physi-
cal heritage has been safeguarded.
If we want this civilization to
march forward toward higher eco
nomic standards to moral and spirit
ual ideals, it will march only on the
feet of healthy children.
The breeding ground of the
gangster is the overcrowded tenement
and subnormal childhood.
Antidotes are light and air, food
and organized play.
The community nurse and the COM
munity safeguard to health will sue
ceed far better than a. thousand
policemen.
This year, May day sends out to
the country an appeal to round out
the splendid endeavors in behalf OF
children by adding to what is already
being done, a greater consideration Of
the spiritual needs of the child. To
the churches. the American Child
| Health Association has issued a call
for cooperation and they have an
swered it unanimously.
Idealism Essential.
II, to the efforts which science is
so earnestly making to study and
safeguard the young, to what the
schools are doing to meet the expand
ing needs of the new generation, the
homes and churches of this country
should make common cause to restore
| to our children something of the faith
and tdealism upon which rests the
very foundation Of our Nation, we
may face the future fearlessly in the
knowledge that we are rearing gem
Grafton equipped at every point to
bear the strain which our great ma
| terial resources place upon us.
| May day--National Child Health
| day, which has been definitely estab-
liShed as an annual festival is a
| pertinent and picturesque outcropping
| Of the desire for health which is TAX
| ing hold Of us as a nation.
| There have been three May days in
| this new Interpretation of a call to
arms for child health. The first May
day found the States scatteringly or
ganized. Last years celebra ton
showed that the idea had penetrated
the national imagination and is con-
| tributing something to the permanent
| life of the country.
| Next May day. which is the fourth,
will see chairmen in every State
heading committees which in many
cases have become permanent bodies.
| 1t is impossible to estimate the num-
| Der of actual examinations and cor
| rections, the stimulus given existing
| pieces of work, the new projects I'M
| dertaken and the larger sense of COM
munity responsibility for child health
! which the reports from these chair
men are beginning to reveal. But we
know that these once-a-year obsery-
ances in communities I'm every State
are building a machinery through
which health knowledge can filter
! a device to detect and mend the weak
places In health protection.