Evening star., 1948-05-08
Family Farley
Told Psychiatry
Is '0versoId'
Duke Medical School
Speaker Says More
Research Is Needed

theories OF mental hygiene to the
public too well and too early" DR..
Leslie Holman of the Duke Univer-
sity Medical School declared today.
A psychiatrist himself, DR.. Hoh-
man told delegates at the final
session of the four-day National
Conference on Family Life that
psychiatry must develop facts
through increased research, before
1t can take its place with other
fields of medicine in "a unified front
OF irrefutable knowledge"
He was one of seven speakers at
panel discussion in Lisner Audi
torium. on "Our Role in Strength
ening Family Life"
Grasp at Promised Land.
Troubled people, DR.. Holman. said,
through psychiatry, have grasped
eagerly to see the promised land"
1t may be excusable, he said, but
"our enthusiasm to show them the
green pasture has pushed us with
the running steps of speculation and
theorizing instead of the painstak-
Ing plodding of finding"
"Psychiatry To-Day" he asserted,
"knows extraordinary little more
about the causes of the major mental
diseases than it did so years ago.
DR.. Holman called for increased
sex education and practical child
care training programs to better fit
young people for marriage and
parenthood.
Home Shortage Assailed.
George M. Harrison, member Of
the AFL Executive Council told the
group that inadequate housing, and
health and education programs are
the greatest problems facing family
life, and charged that "a small
group of small men" in Washington
"are scuttling Americas hopes for
more homes"
Obviously referring to House op-
position to the -Ellender-W -Wag-
her bill, he said this action by small
men" is possible only because we
have not yet raised public alarm
over what is happening in Washing
ton.
Mr.. Harrison said the next ma
tional must" is a national health
program that would be available to
citizens in all economic groups. He
criticized a measure sponsored by
Senator Taft. Republican, of Ohio,
by stating that "all elements of
charity" must be eliminated from
health services.
More adequate social and employ
ment plans were urged by Kermit
Eby. CIO education director, as
the first step to put families in the
lower income brackets on a firm
basis.
He estimated that young couple
with two children should have a
minimum income of $500 to meet
the needs of present day life.
Agencies Changing Viewpoint.
In another address, Stanley P.
Davies, director of the Community
Service Society of New York, told
delegates the role of social service
agencies is changing from dealing
with the poor as class to helping
families of all income status with
community problems. OF 1904 cases
aided by his society during March,
he said, about so per cent were
entirely self-supporting
Eric Johnston, president OF the
Motion Picture Association of Amer
lea and chairman of the conference.
urged delegates to establish Com
munitv Councils on Family Life, set
up in their own home towns alter
the pattern of the national meet
ings. He said he thought there are
enough welfare agencies in exist
ence now. but their actions must be
directed toward concentrated at
tacks on problems facing the family.
Other speakers at the last session
included Mrs. j. Homer RemSberg
of the MiddletoWn Md National
Home Demonstration Council: Earl
o. Shreve, head of the United States
Chamber of Commerce; James Arm
strong, director of community serv-
ice for Kentucky, and DR.. Mary
Langmuir of Vassar College.
Health Insurance By-Passed
A special committee on health
problems, meanwhile. indorsed the
principle of prepayment medical
care plans, but followed pattern
set by the National Health Assembly
last week in by-passing consldera-
ton of proposals for national COM
pulsory health insurance program.
The committee, headed by DR..
Haven Emerson of Columbia Uni
versity, became involved in dispute,
when Alphonse Clemens of the
Catholic University Department of
Sociology charged that report be-
ing considered favored planned par
enthood. The report urged "eXplora-
ton" of the pros and cons OF each
method of family limitation
DR.. Emerson explained that the
conference is not an action group.
however, and will make no recon-
mendationS on any issue. Purpose of
the reports, he said. is TO make in
formation available TO the 125 groups
participating and that none will be
bound by the data.
Premature Birth Study.
The report urged stimulated re-
search into causes of premature
birth-which it listed as the most
important cause of infant mortality.
Arlington County. We. has the Ma
tons lowest infant mortality Fate,
with Is deaths in 1000 births. the
report said, but it added thai IN rural
counties of Virginia the rate is as
high as SO.
Strong Endorsement of the Taft
Ellender-W Wagner housing bill as
passed by the Senate was made by
housing committee, which also
called for increased rental housing
and urged city planning groups to
take stronger action through slum
clearance programs.
In special statement, meanwhile,
Boris Shiskin. economic chief of the
AFL, hailed the conference as the
first occasion at which labor and
management have Joined hands to
serve and work together for family
betterment and public welfare