Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-06

Recollections Of the old fight over
Federal Department of Education are
aroused by the proposal from Repre-
sentative Ruth Bryan owen Of Florida
that a new cabinet post and new
Federal department be created to give
attention to the interests OF homes ana
children. Vigorous arguments against
the plan are presented, and many OF
those whose comment is favorable look
upon the matter as an experiment.
Favorable treatment is given by the
Charlotte Observer, which, after notlng
that Mrs. owen believes that the Gov
eminent needs "a department to cor
relate the various agencies that now
function in the service OF chlld LABOR
home economies, infant health and
many other services" continues: we
that the home and the child, founda-
ton stones of government and c1vlllza-
ton itself, are not represented IN q
council of State, surely we approve such
a move. Mothers in this country are
not furnished as much information and
help as breeders of live stock, Instruc-
ton in prenatal care, child rearing,
management of the home are more
important to women of this country
than any amount OF Government aid
to farmers or manufacturers"
cat least the matter is worth threSh-
ing out" says the Toledo Blade, agree
ing that it will receive consideration,
and that anything concerning the
American home and its children will
have sentimental appeal, but sentiment
alone will not save the bill" for there
is a stoical element in Congress that
will have to be convinced of its prac-
ticability." The Santa Rosa Press DEM
ocrat recalls that there have been plans
M hofnFa
and simplifying the different govern
mental departments, but nothing much
has ever been done. Mrs. owen believes
her plan," continues that paper, will be
in line with these proposals. 1t Is worth
thinking about and studying further, at
any rate"
MRS. Owen does not seem to have
set the country af1ame with her bill, I"
thinks the Akron Beacon Journal, Of
fering the conclusion as to the result
that might be expected from such
changes: THE idea is prevalent that
welfare Of both home and child will
be best served if permitted to remain
under influences now on guard. The
people would no more think of COM
hitting these charges to the guidance
of political Washington than they
der the dominion of some bureaucracy
there. So far as the schools are con-
cerned, this idea has been resisted
whenever offered. Parents have con-
cluded that If their own districts are
unable to administer school affairs in
vain will they look to Federal officials
for a better guidance. The change
would mean thousands of clumsy and
incompetent jobholders, who would be
shoppers and inspectors and the prob
ers of concerns that do not belong to
them. To subject the home and its
children to the same distant regulation
would be even more repugnaat to the
average citizens sense of right"
I'VE do need such an agency or,
rather, agencies, but it, or they, should
not be a part of the Federal Govern
ment," declares the Milwaukee Senti-
nel quoting Representative Beck of
Pennsylvania as stating that the peo-
pie of the United States have come to
lean too much on the Federal Gov
eminent" The Buffalo Evening News
adds that "the cabinet Is too large
now" and offers the judgment: IF such