Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-21

as will further develop their care and
protection Of children" Mr.. Hoover said
The conference will not be assembled
for another nine months or year IN
order that there may be time for COM
plete and exhaustive advance study OF
the facts and forces in progress, OF the
experience with the different measures
and the work Of the organizations both
in voluntary and official fields. The sub
jects to be covered embrace problems OF
dependent children. regular medical ex-
animation. school or public clinics for
children, disqualification, adequate milk
supplies. community nurses, maternity
instruction and nurses. teaching OF
health in the schools. facilities for play
grounds and recreation, voluntary Or
ganization Of children. child labor and
scores Of allied subjects.
Last Gathering In 1903.
This will be the first national con-
ference held in review Of the subject
since a conference was called by Presi-
resulted in a great impulse toward So
cial and protective activities in behalf
of children. 1t is proposed to include in
the interested groups the educational
associations so far as education pears
upon the health and protection Of child
life. It is not the purpose Of such ef-
forts to invade or relieve the RESPONSE
bilities Of parents. but to advance those
activities in care and protection OF chill
dren which are beyond the control OF
the individual parent.
1T have communicated with a number
Of the larger voluntary bodies and pub
lie officials throughout the country and
find they are unanimous In the belief
that such q national review Is urgently
needed In order to establish a new plat
form for further advance, and they are
in agreement with me in the necessity
of exhaustive examination OF the whole
situation and the preparation Of mate
rial before such conference Is called
II we are to secure effective results from
the conference. We as Q nation are
fundamentally concerned with the rein
forcement of the equality Of opportunity
to every child. and the first necessity
for equal opportunity is health ana
protection"
Private sources have placed the sum
Of 100000 at the disposal Of the Presi-
dent.
The conference will be under the
general direction Of Dr. Ray LYMAN
Wilbur. Secretary Of the Interior, with
the cooperation of James j. Davis. Sec
rotary of Labor. The Childrens Bureau
Is one Of the agencies of the Depart
ment of Labor. The executive secretary
Of the conference will be DR.. Harry e.
Barnard, State health commissioner OF
Indiana.
Advance in four directions at least is
needed, as experts Of the Children's Blu
reau see the problems after II years
study. The first is lowering OF in
FAINT and maternal mortality rates.
Though the infant mortality rate Is i'm
proving. there are still four countries
with better records than the United
States. Second, the improvement Of the
health Of our children. There are still
many evidences of malnutrition, OF I'M
corrected physical defects. Of faulty
hygiene and of poor mental habits.
Third, we need to give more adequate
protection to working children. Better
legislative standards and more effec-
tive administration of child labor laws
are needed If children are not to be de-
prived Of the opportunity for education
and normal physical development by
too early labor or by labor under I'M
favorable conditions. Finally we need
to put forth greater efforts to prevent
child dependency and delinquency.