The Sauk Centre herald., 1930-12-04

single mold or the qualities of many
The White House Conference was
divided into four sections. Sec
ton Medical Service; Section 2
Health Service and Ad-
Section Education
and Training; Section 4EThe Han
I was a delegate to the
section on the handicapped.
From the first, it was evident that
a fight was impending over the
of Section two to remove
the infancy and maternal activi-
ties from the Federal Children's
to the United States Pub
lie Health service. A resolution
was offered to that effect at the
committee meeting with only one
vote-that of Miss Grace
who is director of the Chill
dren's Bureau.
Her request that a minority re-
port be published was ignored. The
second session of this section re-
affirmed the resolution. Support
ers of Miss Abbott claimed this
was unjust discrimination. About
25 women delegates protested from
the floor. To complicate matters,
the committee on the Handicapped
adopted two resolutions. One asked
that the Children's Bureau remain
in the Department of Labor and
the other, that the Sheperd-Towner
bill which created the Bureau, be
re-enacted by Congress. -
The American Medical Associa-
ton with their 100000 members was
accused of picking and packing"
the committee and also of backing
the resolution asking for the trans
fer. DR.. Ray Lyman Wilbur was
said to be with them and DR.. Ha-
ven Emerson, of New York was
their spokesman.
The other faction included doz-
ems of women representing the
League of Women Voters and the
clubs. They rallied to
the support of Miss Abbott who
battled to retain the activities of
the Bureau as they are. Secretary
of Labor Davis stood by Miss Alb
bott while Surgeon General Cum
Minis favored the transfer. The
Federation of Labor
which claims to have originated the
Bureau, are on the side of Miss
When it became apparent
towards the end of the Conference
that it would be impossible for the
factions to agree, President Hoover
that the controversy be
referred to continuing committee.
Major General Cummins then with
drew the resolution recommending
the transfer.
Miss Florence Kelly, of the Con-
sumers League said:
"This will be remembered as the
Conference that dismembered the
Children's Bureau against the or
ganized protest of the women of
the Nation"
There are good arguments on
both sides. Miss Abbott as director
of the Bureau handled infancy and
maternal relief under the Sheperd-
Towner act very capably. The
benefits under this act expired au-
in June 1929. A new
bill by Walter Newton of Mime
sofa, was offered in May 1928 but
there was no action on this bill. At
the special session of the list Con-
gress Senator Jones Of Washington,
and Representative Cooper, of Ohio,
a bill in both House
and Senate. This bill is designed
to meet the objections of the op-
ponents. It is now before the Sem
ate committee on Commerce and
the House committee on Domestic
and Foreign Commerce.
There is strong opposition to this
form of legislation as an invasion
of States rights, a socialistic form
of "State" medicine and also on
the grounds that medical service
is under the direction of a lay bur-
eau.
Thursday afternoon from four
until six, President and Mrs. Hoov-
er received the delegates in the
East Room of the White House.
Delegates entered in couples and
were presented by member of the
staff. The rooms were beautifully
decorated with cut flowers and the
Marine band played lively music
during the entire time.
Mrs. Hoover stood back and a
little to one side of the President
She wore a beautiful black and
white lace creation which touched
the floor. She has a friendly
smile, warm handclasp and a
pleasant little bit of conversation
for each guest which made them
feel really welcome. Mr.. Hoover
was rather more formal and appar.
emily just doing his duty. This was
the first large reception President
Hoover has given, we were told.
I had the pleasure on this occas.
sion of meeting Helen Christine
Bennett whose name outside literary
circles is Mrs. Benjamin Franklin
Maupin, of New York City. Mrs
Bennett is special writer for the
Harper's Bazaar and was covering
the Conference for her papers. She
went through, the reception with
me and fspent an hour afterwards
in her room at the Willard.
Mrs. Bennett had just returned
from six weeks visit to Russia