Evening star., 1940-01-18

opened by Experts
11-Point Program for
Next 10 Years Placed
Before Meeting
Opening the White House Confer
ence on Children in a Democracy,
Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins
today declared that a new 11-point
program laid before the conference
for the economic and spiritual well
fare of the American child over the
next 10 years was marked by an
increased sense of public RESPONSE
bility."
Throughout the comprehensive
program on II different subjects
ran numerous suggestions that or
ganized American citizenry should
take over more Of the load to help
bolster the family, foundation Of
American life.
Miss Perkins presided over the
conference, at Departmental Audi
torium, where the distinguished
group of physicians, educators, So
cial workers, religious leaders and
representatives of many other
phases Of life had been called by
President Roosevelt to consider "the
relationship between a successful
democracy and the children who
form an integral part of that de-
mocracy.'' Nearly 500 experts from
every State and every territory ex-
cept Wyoming were in attendance.
New Yorker Offers Program.
The proposed new program was
presented officially to the confer
ence at its morning session by
Homer Folks of New York, secretary
Of the State Charities Aid Associa-
ton, who had been prominently
associated with the three previous
national child conferences called by
Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Will
son and Hoover.
President Roosevelt will address
the conference and by radio speak
to the Nation on the subject tomor-
row night from the East Room of
the White House. Mrs. Roosevelt
will speak at the closing session
Saturday morning at the Depart
mental Auditorium.
The subject of increased public
responsibility" was raised by Miss
Perkins early in her address when
she referred to the first White
House conference on childhood in
1909.
Pointing to changed conditions
now, she said:
Thirty years later this confer
ence finds it necessary to give major
attention to the economic founda-
tions OF family life, but with a
basis of far greater experience and
an acceptance of public respon-
sibility far more thorough-going
than was the case in 1909
This conference" she added
further" also recognizes the threat
to child welfare which the break
down Of orderly relations among
nations and the lack Of balance
among the various elements of our
own economic life involve. Never
theless, the scope and the nature
Of the reports presented for your
consideration tell us that man does
not live by bread alone. but to the
individual it is the spirit Of life in
the soul rather than the material
resources available to the body that
has ultimate significance"
Although the program laid before
the conference was divided topically
among II subjects, the recon-
mendations branched out into great
detail and into numerous proposals,
involving increased governmental
aid to the child. No estimate was
made as to the eventual cost.
Among suggestions to be consid-
cred and acted on by the confer
ence were the following:
A work program financed pri-
marily by the Federal Government
with State-local corporation, Fed
eral contributions to relief is nec-
essary, full Federal responsibility
for aid to migrants.
Large-Scale Housing Program.
A large-scale housing program,
extension of wages and hours legls-
lation and collective bargaining
guarantees, strengthening and max
ing permanent existing agricultural
measures, legislative action to give
agricultural workers as much eco
nomic security and protection of
wages and working conditions as
industrial workers.
Enlargement of school units to
give broader base of support; State
and Federal aid to schools on an
equalizing basis; training for chill
dren to 6; employment aid for
youth, civic and health education.
and increased attention to handi-
capped children in school.
Universal health service financed
by taxes or social insurance or both;
complete maternal and child health
service through local, State and
Federal cost-sharing.
Miss Katharine F. Lenroot, head
of the Children's Bureau, Depart
ment of Labor, who was host last
night at a press preview" of the
conference at the Mayf1ower Hotel,
explained to the conference this
morning the procedure for its pro-
gram.
DR.. Philip Klein, research director
for the Report Committee, pointed
out the methods for group discussion
Of topical reports.
Discussion of the general report
was participated in by the following
members of the Planning and Report
Committees: Miss Elisabeth Christ
man, secretary-treasurer, National
Womens Trade Union League; Mrs
Katharine Dummer Fisher, DR.. A.
Graeme Mitchell of the University
OF Cincinnati, w. r. Ogg of the
American Farm Bureau Federation