Evening star., 1928-05-01

Child welfare work In the District
Of Columbia was described By Frederic
William Vile in q radio talk last night
over station WRC.
He said as follows:
Once in a while, as the radio audi
ence of station WRC is aware. I step
out Of my assigned role as a political
hroadcaster. 10 discuss topics that con-
Germ other things than precincts, pri-
maries and parties.
On almost every occasion when I
have strayad from the path OF politics,
Il has been TO talk about children.
and in particular about child vel
fare. That Is the purpose Of the extra
turn arm doing before the microphone
this week.
AS you have hitherto heard me in
the guise Of suppliant for funds In
support Of child welfare projects. may
say at once that tonight az least
/ do not come 20 you cap in hand II
IS rather 10 report the splendid progress
that has been made in the field Of
child welfare at Washington--progr
due. in some small degree, like to
feel. TO the generous response made 10
appeals which nov and then ] was
privileged to send out over this wave
length.
This much OF what / have said be-
( fore / would like 10 say again-namety
that when a man Is discussing he
welfare Of children. he is dealing With
very vital and valuable national IS
size. To that extent children are poll
itica.
They are the acorns from which the
Republics lofty oaks must grow.
nation that builds upon race Of
healthy children is building on granite.
not sand. Conversely. a country that
negiects child welfare Is as recreant
TO its trust and duty as II II were 70
neglect the fundamental obligation OF
national defense Indeed. as ] think
az II in passing. the strong -limbed,
clean-ninded children Of America are
the bedrock upon which national de-
Tense must ever rest. Succeeding gem
erations Of that sort Of children VIII
mean a United States safe from the
evils which assail the body polite al
nome and secure against the perlis
which might menace us from without.
That witty sage Of the plains, WIN
Rogers, recently pointed out that Uncle
Sam does more for pigs and COWS than
for children What the Mark Twain
of the wide and oily West means Il
that. while Federal funds and aid are
available, practically without stint. Tor
the welfare of our cattle herds. Treasury
money and Government help are only
! moderately available for the prom0lioii
| and development Of child health.
| Child welfare work here was inaugn'
rated about 80 years ego AZ a private
( agency IT began simply as distribution
of food 70 the SICK and needy poor
Gradually the work Was extended unDl
q milk station Wag established,
Eoon II became apparent that babies
/ we're IN need u food more than ans
/ other part u the population. Thu
| brought shout the establishment Of ths
milk station
| Then Il developed that food is oniS
| one of the requirements of babies, "
tie work was expanded 10 include In
struetion IN hygiene training and II
preparation Of an foods for infants anC
children up 70 years of age.
Prenatal care was provided f0i
mothers In one way and another, tn
/ work extended, being supported b.
private subscription. Eventually IL Wa
determined ~ charge nominal fee Il
those receiving the services 0f tn
organization.
Nine yeafs sgo Federal support wa
forthcoming tn the sum OF $4,000
though tbs NDfk continued 10 be con
dueted by private agencies A. IL rani
ned into eyer widening fields vi iSefln
peas, the Federal appropriation was In
creased 10 $4,000,
This WAS tbs situation up 10 tg2h
when i've III the then existing station
/ were taken ogeF by the District Healfl
| Department The other stations ne
iaained under The care Of the Chill
! Weltare Society,
Ia 1873 Two more stations or center
were taken over by tie ItealtiI Depart
. fnent, leaving one al the Children
Hospital IN become known tileneefDI
ward az the Child Welfare Society
! center for advanced work.
This division Of activities brought |