New Britain herald., 1927-06-22
TAKING CHILDREN FROM
 THEIR PARENTS

TAKING CHILDREN FROM
 THEIR PARENTS
 Mother love is strong. regardless of the circumstances under which it Is nourished. To take children from parents, as the state has right to do when conditions warrant such step, is serious business. Such an instance has taken place in this city, and the public has been in- clined to sympathize with the par ents. especially the mother.
 The watchful eye of the state has been taking special note of the Ro- main family. 1t appears. which &C., counts for the activity of the Con- necticut Humane Society in this city. The charge that the parents have not been properly taking care of the children was sustained in court, and despite objections of the mother cries for her brood. they will be reared in the care of the state.
 It is comparatively easy to stand on the sidelines and make unctuous remarks rtgarding the necessity of all parents taking proper care of their children. The charges against the mother were neglect of the chill dren, not cruelty. The only point where a charge of cruelty entered was in connection with treatment of pony week or so previous. and this consisted of failure to properly shoe the animal and keeping him in unclean and unfit surroundings.
 The law does not take possibilities under consideration, but only the actualities. A mother who will fight and stone officials who are bent up- on taking her offspring away from her, who places herself upon rail- road track with the intention of committing suicide if this Is done. certainly gives every evidence of lov- ing her young with that maternal eagerness that is the normal and ', o t,,,ol ,otiop of unuon rooo rd . less Of the language she may have used at times while the children were within hearing. People can be educated not to use bad language, especially if provocation is removed. The trouble in the Romain family appears to be poverty. Let the family be the recipient of good income, be able to live in good sur roundings, possess all the comforts of life; then, we would be willing to wager, the children would, be well taken care of, there would be nc possibility of neglect, and even to do- mestic animals, if any, would be properly shod and kept in good con- dition.
 It is unkind to blame family foI something that is beyond its con. trol. The Remains, and every family in or nearly in the same condition are sufferers from economical cir. cumstances rather than from the re. suits of innate incompetence. Nc doubt they were encouraged tt marry and encouraged to have g family: but from this point on the encouragement ceased. Finding themselves without sufficient mean! to live according to the standard o' life necessary, the state enters ant saves the children from the result: of what it deems improper bringing up--and rightly so, as every child i! guaranteed proper care. at least in directly, and if parents cannot glvs it the state is empowered to see tha such care is given.
 If conditions are such as the! have been represented. the Romail children will be brought up to bet ter advantage under the care of thu | state than under the care of thu paternal roof. But they will lacl something that the state can neve ] give. and that is the mother low i-that is found under the same roo
 with the woman who brought then
 into the world More material wei
 fare is given by the state. but ther
 is no substitute for the other. Bu
 with maternal love must go prope | care and rpbringing. and where thi
 is lacking the proceeding taken can not help being justified.
 l Such a condition in a city. eve
 in one. family, is distressing. "