Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 78, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 April 1917 — Page 3

Uncle Sam’s Children's Bureau

by Edward B.Clark

Hdfo the government has 1 taken up the task of im~ J proving living conditipns I for boys and girls in all JL parts of the country—

f'ASHINGTON.— In one sense at least the United States government is p a t e r n a 1. There have been objections, political, economic, and perhaps sentimental to giving Uncle Sam paternalistic powers along many lines of legislation for the public need, but little objection was raised to giving our great and good Uncle the power through the children’s bureau to look after tlie interests of the little ones of the country. Julia C. Lathrop, who for a long time was interested in beneficent work in a great social center in the city- of f’htcugo, was appointed by President Taft as chief of the children’s bureau, which is an Integral part of the department of labor. The law relating ‘to the bureau is simple and short in its phraseology, but It i» all inclusive. It makes it the duty of the children’s bureau to investigate and report upon all matters jiertaining to the welfare of children. The children’s field is broad. It includes virtually everything which can tend toward and promote a policy which has for its object the securing of good citizenship for the United States. It is an old saying and the flippant would call it bromidlc, but “as the twig is bent the tree Is inclined.” In the last report on the work of the bureau made by Miss Lathrop the questions are asked, ““Why are there so many deaths among country babies and country mothers?” and “What should the federal government do about it?” Recently studies of maternal and child welfare have been undertaken in rural communities for the first time. It is said that they are more Inclusive than the city studies of infant mortality, and that the method of approach necessarily has been different, although, of course, the primary purpose is identical. The desire has been -tosecurea statement of the social and economic factors which affect infant welfare. In addition, the work is so planned as to secure information concerning maternal welfare and the welfare of children under school age and to bring out certain facts relating to all the children in the family. The cost of carrying on these studies in country areas, has beeh much greater than in thickly populated towns. The children’s bureau takes cognizance of the argument sometimes brought forward against the importance of studies in rural communities, that the death rate of children in the country is lower than the death rate for city communities. There is a general belief that rural conditions are more favorable to the health of children than city conditions. But Miss Lathrop asks If we can afford to rest contented in this belief —even if it appears to be confirmed by figures of the census tables—without Intensive study of rural conditions. It has been shown conclusively by investigation that in certain parts of the cities of the country the death fate among infants is very much lower than the death rate among infants in many of the country districts. Today state and other public agencies are seeking the co-operation of the children’s bureau and are urging rural studies. This co-operation the United States government believes is highly desirable and it will be given as rapidly rfs the bureau’s resources permit. *Tt may well be said that such co-opera-tion will lead to permanent local centers of maternal and child welfare and to better local provision for all the needs of growing children. In any case such rural studies as the bureau has under way and desires to develop further cannot fail to throw some light on the question raised in regard to the welfare of rural children, nor can these studies fall to aid in making clear the Imperative need of Iflaislng the level of maternal and infant care.” A summary has just been prepared by the children’s bureau of Miss LaffiropTreport as if affects the welfare of children and mothers,in the countrydistricts. This summary follows the two, questions which already have been given, but which here are repeated: “Why are there so many deaths among country babies and country mothers?” and "What should the federal government do about.lt?" The census figures show a markedly high death rate among country women of child-bearing age for which a large number of preventable deaths from maternal causes appears to be responsible. It is estimated that more than

MUCH IN LITTLE

A seven-pound electro magnet that wlff lift 15 times Its own weight has been invented for many uses about machine shops. Babylonia was noted for the excellence of Its wheat and other cereals. Syria and Palestine also- produced wheat of fine quality, i The shortage of horses in Ireland, with the Increased agricultural activity, has attracted” much attention to tractors and motor plows. <

15,000 women die year by year in the United States from conditions incident to maternity, while the extent of unnecessary ill health is at present unknown. “The sickness or death of a mother inevitably lessens the chances of her baby for life and health, and it is plain that the question of maternal care in rural districts is of genuine public interest.” ... An argument for better care of rural childhood is based on the higffr percentage of physical defects among children in rural schools given In reports of state boards of health. Miss Lathrop concludes: “These comparisons are a strong indication that there is room for great permanent improvement In maternal and child-welfare work in rural districts, • The day when all rural children shall be well born and well cared for Is far ahead, but surely that day should dawn first for 7Ke~countfy."""7 ~ '. In connection with the bureau's rural studies a child hygiene expert holds a children’s health conference, to which parents bring their children for examination and advice about daily care I but not for medical diagnosis or treatment). Parents have shown great eagerness for this kind of help in the counties already' visited, "bringing their children often long distances, over bad roads, and even sacrificing farmwork for the journey. State and other local officials are urging the bureau to co-operate with them in similar studies and demonstrations in many states, and a number of rural units to extend their work are among the items for which the bureau asks a larger staff and appropriation. Miss Lathrop believes that such federal studies, making plain the necessity and suggesting a inethod are bound to lead toward adequate local provision for maternal and child welfare. The children’s bureau has prepared 1 many publications concerning the general questions of child welfare. They will be sent free of charge to parents and to others who are interested Tn the subject. There are several series of these publications. They concern themselves with virtually every phase of the great subject to which it Is the bureau’s duty to give Its consideration. It is possible that few persons have an adequate knowledge of the breadth of the work which the children’s bureau is undertaking. It has within its scope of study, suggestion and action not only the care of babies and of children of a little larger growth, but of mothers before and after the births of their children; of feeble-minded children; of training-school efforts; of labor problems; and, in fact, of everything which will tend to conserve the life, mentality, physique and happiness of the little folk of the United States. Comparatively recently the children’s bureau started out on what it calls “Baby-week campaigns.” “Baby weeks” have been held recently In many of the large cities of the country. These “weeks” Can be held Successfully in communities of all sizes. The form that they take, however, will vary greatly In different places. As Miss Lathrop says, “A rural community will not. wish to carry out the elaborate program which will seem necessary in a big city to reach the people. On the other hand, many large cities may hot be ready at a certain time to carry on an elaborate program which will demand considerable expense and the constant labor of many people, but may be anxious, nevertheless, to bring the subject of babies to the attention

Artificial lace closely resembling and much more durable than the genuine is made from cellulose by a French inventor. ’ The Hawaiian islands are becoming so popular as a resort for eastern millionaires that all the steamers sailing for Honolulu are crowded to their capacity. The Canard steamer linedias let a contract to the Seattle Construction afid Drydock Company for the building' of ( six steel freight steamers, the cost of which will run over $6,000,000.

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

of the public to an extent which will achieve substantial results.” There have been “Baby weeks” held In New York, Pittsburgh, Washington and many of the other large cities of the country. They have been uniformly successful. The object of the “Baby week” campaigns is to give the parents of the community the opportunity to learn‘the facts with regard to the care of their babies; second, to make known to the community the importance of its babies, the special facts relating to the babies of the community, and the need of permanent work for their welfare. A pamphlet published by the children’s bureau called “Baby Week Campaigns” contains minute instructions concerning the’methods of starting the “Baby weeks” and of conducting them in communities of various sizes. This pamphlet of suggestion can be had upon application to thebureSU Hr Washington. The children’s bureau concerns itself with the maternity side of the great work which it has In hand. “Remember the mothers. Well-cared-for, healthy mothers are necessary foi“the health and happiness of their babies. Find out what your community is doing to insure to every mother skilled advice and adequate care before her baby Is born and during her confinement. and give the importance of protecting the mother a permanent place in the educational work of the campaign.” Recently congress passed a childlabor law which places a heavy penalty upon the introduction Into interstate commerce of goods made or prepared in factories where little children are employed. The question of child labor has been a crucial one for many years. Congress was asked time and again to pass a law which would protect the little ones compelled by their parents or by the very force of hard circumstances to work before their strength could bear the hardship of toil. The children’s bureau has for one of Its concerns the safeguarding of American children from the evils of hard, confining employment while they are of tender years. When the real basis of things is reached, the high death rate among infants is an appalling picture. Perhaps It would not be too much to say that to reduce the awful rate of infant mortality in this country is the highest aim of Unple Sam’s children’s bureau. The question of infant mortality In urban and suburban regions is discussed at length in pamphlets Issued by the bureau. It is almost a platitude to say that the citizenship of the country depends upon the welfare of its children. The United States wants its children to be healthy, morally and physically. The government takes it for granted, doubtless, that Its desire is the desire of all parents. The wish is to help the parents and all others In the work of safeguarding the little ones of these United States. —■

The Home Life.

= , “There’snothing like having a little home to go to when you are tired pf the world,” remarked the sentimental person. ■ ——- ----- “Not If it’s the kind of little home where the door bell and the telephone are always ringing, and the phonograph Is always going and the neighbors are always running in to knock other neighbors who are unable to be present,” answered the man with a deep-seated grouch. --- _—

SOME POSTSCRIPTS

According to a Paris doctor yeast, diluted with lukewarm boiled water, is a remarkably effective remedy for burns. An instrument that measures the radiation of heat from the earth at night is the Invention of a Danish scientist. An Inventor has patented a pie pan in two sections that can be taken apart without danger of breaking its contents. •-

LONGEST RAILWAY TUNNEL IN AMERICA

Left:—Approach to the West Portal of the New Connaught Tunnel In British Columbia. The Ventilating System Is Installed Here. Center: Interior of the Great Nozzle Through Which Air Is Blown Into the Tunnel to Clear Out Gases and Smoke. Right: Eastern Entrance of the Tunnel, Showing Gases Being Blown Out by the Ventilating Engine and Fan Located at the Other Portal.

- The Connaught tunnel, driven through the Selkirk mountains in British Columbia, was opened for traffic on December 9, and is the longest railway tunnel on the North American continent. It is exactly 26,400 feet, or five miles, long, and carries a double-track line. It shortens the rail route by 43 reduces the elevation of the track through the mountain pass by 552 feet, eliminates 4% miles of snowsheds, and cuts out curves to the extent of seven complete circles. The cost was $5,500,000, including a ventilating system. Work was started on the main bore January 15, 1914, from both ends. The headings met and passage through the tunnel was effected December 19, 1915, making a new North American record for rapid work of this character. The tunnel passes under Mount Macdonald, which towers to a height of 6,000 feet above the new railway grade.—Popular Mechanics Magazine.

BURS ARE FOILED

Flagman, Endeavoring to Protect Train, Chased by Brutes. SAVED BY HAPPY INSPIRATION Made Complete Circle of Fire by Using Oil in One of His Lanterns and Betting Match to It—Ravenous Animals Killed. Down in the northern part of Pennsylvania, just beyond where the Susquehanna sweeps to the east toward the Blue Ridge, we have a branch line breaking into the foothills of the Alleghanys, climbing and winding through the wild wooded timber country of the Ganoga region, and many are the interesting tales tinged with au atmosphere of the bear tribe that emanate from that mountainbus section. One cold bitter utght last February a heavy freight train was slowly toiling up a long steep grade striving to mnkft a siding farther o.n to permit the evening passenger train, then due, to pass. When about half way between two stations which, in that vicinity, are a considerable- distance apart, it plunged suddenly into a big snow drift and stalled. It was about nine o’clock and intensely dark. The flagman, quickly alive to the situation •and the need es protecting the passenger train following, quickly grabbed his lantern —red and white —hurriedly" buttoned his heavy coat about him, pulled his cap over his ears and plunged into the darkness. He had gone possibly a quarter of a mile and was just entering a long deep cut when four Jean, ravenous bears clamored out of the thicket and started after him. There was but one course to pursue. He could not turn back. It was necessary to flag the train ahead of him —the safety of the passengers depended upon that. To climb the steep sides of the cut was impossible. To stop meant a fight and probable meal for the bears. His only safety was in flight. So, still clinging to the lanterns, he ran along the track, stumbling and hurrying, with the bears in close pursuit, running evenly for nearly a mile when his wind began to gjve out. The bears, hampered by the uneven course and darkness, managed to keep about fifty yards behind. The hard pace was rapidly telling on the flagman. He was about to resign himself to his fate when a happy inspiration struck him. He stopped and heard the grizzly quartette approaching with thumping tread. He waited until they were close enough to feel their breath, then started running in a circle, the bears following closely. He quickly unscrewed the oil cups of the lanterns and poured the oil as he ran until he had completed the circle, edging toward the center followed by the bears, he touched a match to the oil and knowing the bears’ fear of fire, he jumped through his circle of flame with the bears terror-stricken and imprisoned within. He hurried down the track in the direction of the oncoming passenger tfain, which he man«ged to stop, the engineer being attracted by the flames of the fiery circle. The situation was quickly ex - plained and the train shot down through the cut and the flames, killing the four bears outright and landing them on the cow-catcher of the englne.-— ~~

ELECT SMOCK AS PRESIDENT

National Association of Railway Yardmen Close Annual Convention and Elect Officers. The National Association of Railway Yardmen, which has its headquarters in Indianapolis,, closed its annual convention with the election of the following officers: President, J. C. Smock, Indianapolis; first vice president, Carl Taggart, Indianapolis; second vice president, Albert Cole, Indianapolis; board of directors, James Hacker, Indianapolit; O. H. Steadman. Greensburg, Ind. ;*J. E. Ellis, Connersville, and secretary-treasurer, R. N. Blythe. M. L. Clawson is general counsel of the organization, and C. G. Craig is editor of the official publication.,

WHAT AILS OUR RAILROADS?

Many of Most Desirable Employees Have Been Attracted to Other Pursuits by Higher Wages.

What is really the matter with the railroads? is a question that is puzzling a good many people nowadays. Is it shortage of rolling stock, or men, or both; or is It general inefficiency that is responsible for the deplorable conditions existing today? Of course the railroads could use a great many more cars if they had efficient men to handle them, but in the opinion of competent observers efficiency of many employees has deteriorated at least to the extent of the advance in wages and many of the most desirable employees have been attracted to other pursuits by higher wages than the railroads are paying, says Iron Trade Review. There seems also to be physical exhaustion and a breaking down of spirit due to the long and unprecedentedly severe strain to which railroad employees have been subjected. After all,, questions relating to men are fully as important as those relating to equipment in the railroad situation. ; What is the remedy? Cars and equipment will, of course, be available in xufficl en t n u mbers in the course of time, but the human factor is more uncertain. No one can tell what the supply of labor will be after the war has ended, but employees should remember one thing: A day of reckoning is coming. The laggards of today will be remembered in coming years, when the demand for men will not be such as it is today. So will the faithful workers be remembered. The man who gives to his job the very best that is in him will not fail to receive his reward when some day—no one can tell exactly when —a period of depression again prevails in this land, a time when there will be more men than jobs. J '■ -

BUT ONE MAN IN 50 THOUGHT

Carefully Rolled Broken Knuckle Out of Way That Other Employees Had Walked Around. A man with dirty face and hands, shirt soaked with perspiration, stopped, laid down his dinner bucket, rolled a broken knuckle out of the pathway between the tracks, put it close up against the ends of the ties where no one could stumble over it, picked up his dinner bucket and plodded home. More than 50 other employees had preceded this man, each one carefully picking his way around the obstrue* tion. I asked this man why he took the trouble to roll this knuckle out of the pathway. Be seemed surprised at such a question and said: “Why, some of the boys might get a bad fall If that knuckle was there after dark.” I said: "All the other men passed It by,” and he replied: “O’, they’re all good boys, they’d have done the same if they’d thought about IL” He said something, didn’t he? “H they’d thought about it” Ah, yes, “if they’d thought about it”— Erie Railroad Magazine.

CULM BANKS USED FOR FUEL

Product of Hard Coal Mine Left Over moved Now Utilized. Millions of tons of anthracite. which have for 20 years been lying in neglected heaps in Pennsylvania, are to be made available for use presently. Philadelphia papers note that great culm banks in that state are to be immediately prepared for market by a certain Pennsylvania railroad. Culm is the product of the hard coal mine left over after the chestnut and larger sizes have .been screened and removed. In the three great anthracite fields of .Pennsylvania there are many culm banks 200 feet high and a mile or more in length. From these banks millions of tons of coal in sizes known as “pea" and steam coal can be profitably taken. Only within a few years has It been possible to sell these sizes, and the present fuel famine has added to the demand: .Perhaps some good may fotne out of even a coal famine.—Detroit Free Press. —... .. ' --- '—-----

HOME TOWN HELPS

HARM IN “KNOCKING” TOWN

If City Government Is Not What It Should Be There Are Other Remedies, It Is Urged. It is easy to fall Into a habit erf petty criticism and detraction either of Individuals or institutions. Intheone case, when directed by one person against another it is commonly and rightfully classed as malicious gossip or slander,.... Id the other case it is sometimes loftily designated as an exhibition of public spirit. Both are alike, a shame and disgrace to the perpetrators, an evil that should be suppressed, says the Indianapolis Star. Men, naturally enterprising, who, under favorable circumstances, would push the interests of the community, are deterred by the feeling that they would meet with criticism and have no encouragement, and saying to themselves “what’s the w?” remain passive, leaving other cities to go forward where theirs makes no headway or goes back. Outside capitalists who hear the echoes of this detraction go elsewhere with their factories and shops. If a city government is not what it should be, there are formal and orderly means of reforming it. If a police force is inefficient, a remedy is possible without giving to the world the impression that crime is rampant and life unsafe there by day or night. 11 public service corporations de not act squarely and fairly by the people# there are legitimate remedies for such conditions. If any public officer! makes mistakes, there are other way® of reaching him than by branding hind as a rascal of the blackest dye. Mod in public otfice,being human, have! been known to be open to friendly rei monstrapfe. But the corihnon scold, either in prl-| vate or public, never accomplished good.

BACKYARD GARDENING PAYS

Cleveland Has Tried for Ftvo Years to Its Profit, and Many Other Cities Have Taken Up the idea. “A vegetable garden for every home,** is the new slogan tn Ontario, and it Is a slogan worth while. The provincial government has launched a sys# tematic campaign for backyard agriculture, and it proposes to show everyi householder how he may, by domestic farming, combat the increasing cost of living and the growing scarcity of foodstuffs, says the Cleveland Plain Dealers One of the aims of the Ontario government is, of course, so to increase the available food supply at home a* to enable the contribution of still mors to the hard-pressed motherland. But the plan must be broader In its result* Backyard gardening pays. Cleveland has tried it, these five years past, to its profit, and scores of other cities have taken up the idea. The earth is the source of wealth. man who cultivates a plot of ground contributes to the welfare of all mankind. The new Canadian movement owes Its origin to the stress of war. It is the kind of movement which perpetuates Itself. The man, the woman or the child who once knows the delight of growing things is always the better for it, and so is his community. This country can follow with profit, the example in intensive cultivation which Ontario is to furnish.

Exterior Should Be Dignified.

The exterior of the small house may be either picturesque or formal but If should be simple and dignified in either case. Any material may be used, as stone, brick, or wood, but once chosen, it should be adhered to. It is always right to use local materials, but we need not use more than one kind simply because several kinds are at hand. The surfaces in small work are never large enough for mixtures of material* So also with the design of the Bouse, The main lines ought not to be brokes up with protruding bays, unusual angles in the plan, absurdly large porche* or a complex system of roofs. Ingenuity is always a poor substitute for simplicity and good proportion. For interest, confine yourself to a simpft element, like the front door, which may be played with a little. ’

Traffic Posts Artistic.

The most progressive development the post which stands at the intersection of two streets and warns the aatoist to “Go to the Right,” has been made by the little city of Modesto, Cat The traffic posts in Modesto are being made artistic and ornamental, concealing their utilitarian purpose as far as possible. They are built of concrete, cast in a decorative mold, and topped by a concrete basket, which holds ferns or flowering plants. Just below the basket and set in the thickney <4 the post is the red lamp which warns drivers at night. z ,

Red Brick Most Attractive.

It may be stated as a general fact that brick having a reddish cast makes the best appearance, and those which are purple, very pale-yellow or gray in tone are likely to look cold and forbidding. Take yellow brick, for instance. Yellow of the ordinary tone is too raw to be pleasant, but when it is on the orange shade (reddish) it becomes beautiful. Orange yellow id warm and pleasant to the eye.