Evening star., 1944-03-19
miss Perkins
Optimistic on
Youth Problems
Concern Voiced on
Future of IS to II
Group in Industry

Secretary of Labor Perkins de-
scribing juvenile delinquency as a
symptom of the disruption of life
due to the war, predicted yesterday
that 'the children of 1945 and 1916
will be all right once life gets back
into patterns that are good, clean,
healthy and comfortable.
Miss Perkins spoke informally to
the Children's Bureau Commission
on Children in Wartime at the Labor
Department, before it concluded a
two-day meeting here to establish
goals for children and youth in the
transition period from war to peace
The Secretary voiced special con-
Germ for the problems of workers in
the l5-l7 age group when they are
demobilized from industry.
Industry has depended on them
to an extraordinary degree" she
declared. "But they will be among
the first to be laid off-and that is
as it should be. They mustn't stay
in the labor market for their own
sakes and because adults will need
the jobs"
School Techniques Urged.
She urged. however, that tech
niques be developed "to make them
want to go to school" and to meet
their varying educational needs.
AS the commission worked on a
statement of policy, one of its
members attempted to put it on
record against postwar, military
conscription of youth" against the
bombing of children by America
and the United Nations" and ir
favor of feeding children of enemy
occupied countries at the earliest
possible moment"
The proposals, which met with 6
lively debate, were offered by DR.
Broadus Mitchell of New York, di.
rector of the research department
OF the International Ladies Gar.
ment Workers Union.
When the commission rejected
his motion for a statement agains
military conscription, DR.. Mitchell
asserted he was "in CONSERVATION
at the timidity Of the group" Tht
chairman, DR.. Leonard w. Mayo O.
cleveland, turned the question ovel
Ito committee to study measure.
on postwar planning.
His other proposals failed to com,
to vote.
1 Relief for Children Emphasized.
/ In its formal statement, however
the commission said I'VE are ap
palled at the suffering and destruc
ton of children of Allied and enem,
countries. These shocking realitie
|should strengthen our determination
to extend relief to children of wa
stricken areas as rapidly as possible.
The commission also called TO
the support of all political partie
as it maintained that postwar plan
ming must provide for youth "if vic
tory is to mean opportunity fo
them to share in building a fire,
world"
I'VE dare not, for them or for ou
future, risk another generation o
transient, idle, frustrated youth lik,
that of the early years of the de
PRESTON" the commission said.
Steps to provide increased oppor
punities for youth participation il
the planning of child health, welfar
and educational programs for you'll
in this country and abroad wer
recommended. Other goals included
extension of health services ant
safeguarding family life through
such measures as provision of "de
cent housing" extension of socia
security programs and strengthen
ing of special counseling service
with "due recognition of spiritual
emotional and social bases for family
and community life"