The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-02-22
CHILDREN In A DEMOCRACY

THE White House Conference on Children is a
continuation of an established practice for a
periodic review of child welfare and reformuation
of provisions for the best opportunities for the
Nations future citizens. Such conferences have
ALWAYS led to clearer bectives and better agencies
and methods for achieving them So we are glad
to join in the current White House Conference on
|Chlldren in a Democracy.
The infinite possibilities of each human soul
for the best development of life in this world re-
quires proper environment, understanding, oppor-
tunities for physical, mental and spiritual de-
|velopment. The welfare of the child cannot be
separated from that of his family, the community
or the nation, so that the welfare of children in
la democracy is a distinctive problem
Democracy in itself implies opportunity for all
They key to many opportunities is income. The
income of the head of the family determines the
home in which the family lives, it's standards of
living and community status, family health and
medical care family recreations, and to some ex-
tent educational and cultural opportunities.
The basic step in the promotion OF child wei
fare is adequate family income. Two problems are
involved: An adequate number of jobs in private
industries that all dependent upon such jobs for
income may have work opportunity and that in
come from production shall be distributed in rec
ognition of work performed so that purchasing in
comes shall be adequate to maintain the needed
volume of production. The basic step toward these
ends is to build up the bargaining power of work.
erS and to recognize their personal investment in
production. This cannot be done without effective
Organization Of workers. In other Words the well
fare of children is inseparable from the welfare
of the family the community and the nation. The
services and conditions which will be available fol
children are determined by the general level OF
life in the family, the community and the nation
Though we may isolate the special problems of
children for the purpose of study and discussion
our programs for action necessarily deal with in
tegrated forces. The same is true for all ages
youth, early maturity, middle life and old age. 1t
is equally true that unless human beings get the
services they need at the stages of development
when needed, the unfolding of individual capaci-
ties is retarded if not Kindred. The child cannot
get things for himself but is dependent on his
elders for the essentials of physical and spiritual
life.
Our responsibility for children should bring d
sobering understanding that the material things
Iof life should be subordnated to the service and
welfare Of humans. A struggle goes on in the
IproWn-up world between the building up of power
Through control over the materials of civilization
Tor whether we should most honor spiritual power
for life at higher levels. Our decision as to these
two ways Of living will determine our policies fol
Ichldren and the vrility of the nation. Our ideal
ism for children must have d solid material basis
land not consist solely of sentiment
The labor movement because familiar with
Imeager living for adults and children is particular
Ily concerned that all children should be assured
the best our civilization afford We are ready
to assume our responsibility for broader pro
gram