Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 100, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 September 1909 — Hundred Thousand Orphans Wanting Homes In United States. [ARTICLE]

Hundred Thousand Orphans Wanting Homes In United States.

Recently there was held at Washington a conference for the purpose of considering the dependent children of the United States. It was found, upon the roll-call of the states of the nation, that there were 100,000 orphan children in the various orphanages of this country waiting to be adopted into good homes, One hundred thousand dependent orphans. Greater in number than the hosts of Sherman on bis historical march from Atlanta to the sea. The Washington conference was re- 1 markable. Its membership included men and women, black and white, Catholic, Protestant and Jew, the most experienced workers and the most thoughtful students. All these came together upon a common ground and agreed-upon a set of conclusions and a standard of action. There could not be more convincing evidence that the appeal of the helpless, homeless, neglected child is universal. In this conference Indiana had a creditable part. In commenting upon it and upon the great work that is being done in the state to save children, Governor Marshall said: “As a member and president of the Board of State Charities, it is a pleasure to say that the program outlined in this conference is largely in actual operation in this state. The work of many of our children’s organizations and institutions is useful and well done. “That of the Board of State Charities in supervising these organizations and in finding homes in families for children who are dependent upon the public, is of great value, both to the children and to the taxpayer. I have had brought to my attention the cause of many unfortunate children needing care and have gone over many reports of our agents who have visited children placed in families, The need is great and the service rendered is valuable. Las D-year our orphans’ homes cared for a total of 2,729 children, 1,582 of whom were in the institutions at the beginning of the year and 1,147 received afterwards. Homes in families were found for 659 of these children. The Board’s agents placed 200 last year. At the Board meeting this week, reports of visits to about 400 children in family homes, placed by various agencies, showed 360, or 90 per cent., to be doing well or fairly well. “We believe there is a child for every proper childless home. We believe there is a good home for every normal child. We believe there are many vacant homes. To such we say, let us help you to find a child and at the same time help a little child to find a home. The Board will be pleased to have the co-operation of all our people in its efforts to provide homes for these children. A letter addressed to the Board of State Charities, Indianapolis, will receive immediate attention.”