Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 August 1902 — FATHER SHOULD HAVE THE CHILD. [ARTICLE]

FATHER SHOULD HAVE THE CHILD.

Home Finding Association Characterized As Disgrace to Civilization. Rev. George K. Hoover, superintendent of the Home Finding Association of North Harvey, 111., was here last week and with the assistance of Borne of the local ministers, raised money to pay the way of Mrs. Sherman and daughter to Chicago, whom they induced to enter the home temporarily until homes could be fouud for them elsewhere. The father of the Sherman ohildren stands ready to support them if he is given a chance and does not ask for charity, and states that he is also willing to support the mother if she will conduct herself as a mother should. The Journal as well as a number of others is in possession of much information on this subjeot that it is not necessary to make publio, but whioh should elicit much sympathy for the father, who is now in possession of the boy, and who should be allowed to care for the daughter, instead of placing her in the oare of the Home Findiug Association, whose chief asset seems to be poverty. Here is what a Chicago paper has to say of the Home Finding Association and its superintendent, a nice place surely for a child, whose father stands ready to support it. T. D. Hurley, chief probation officer of the Juvenile court, says there are baby farms in Chicago that are “a disgrace to civilization and an awful blight upon child life.” He says in his annual report he will urge a war upon these places. He condemns especially the institution at North Harvey, 111., run by Rev. George K. Hoover. “ This place is a dumping ground for unwelcome infants,” he says, “and they crow up among the merciless, unsympathetic farm mistresses, and depravities of the worst kind.” Sixteen small children are suffering from lack of sufficient fuel and nourishment at the headquarters of the Home Finding Association at Sixty-eighth and Vernon avenue. For several days the bill of fare has consisted of nothing but bread without butter, oatmeal, and once in a while tea. For two days the home was without heat. The association is for the object of finding homes for waifs, paroled prisoners and others who, for the time being, are outcasts from society. It gives them a temporary home until a permanent one can be found and relies on the charity of the ppople for its sup-

port. Ihe house where the association makes its headquarters is an old. dilapidated mansion, standing in the midst of what were once carefully kept grounds, but which are now masses of tangled rubbish. The house itself; as well as the grounds, shows the signs of decay. Money, which never was plentyful, has become still more scarce, and as for food, a piece of meat is a rare treat to the poor inmates of the house. \ esterday the menu for breakfast consisted of bread without butter, tea and oatmeal, also without milk. For dinner, bread without butter, ns at breakfast, and prunes, sent in by a kindhearted neighwas the bill of fare. Last week, for two days, the house was without fuel with which to build a lire, and as a result nothing could be cooked for the inmates. I his is the way it has been for several weeks, and the prospect has not yet begun to brighten.