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Show A WASTE OF BABY LIVES THE present crisis demands strict economy of national resources. It is real economy to save life, the greatest source of national wealth. We lose, according to statistics, each year one baby in every ten who are born. New Zealand loses less than one in twenty. Seven countries, according to their infant mortality records, are mare efficient in conserving their man-power than we. The same conditions which destroy young babies cause the death of half a hundred thousand or more in the early years of childhood and result in lack of vitality or actual ill health in many who survive to adult life. This national waste is needless. The Sheppard-Towner maternity bill aims to eliminate elim-inate this waste. It provides an appropriation of $2,000,000 for the first year for the states? iri the proportion which their population bears to the total population, provided each state appropriates a like sum. The act is to be administered by a federal board on which the United States Public Health service, the United States Bureau of Education, the Department of Labor and the Children's Bureau of that department depart-ment would be represented. The administration of the act in the states is to rest in the State Board of Health in those states having hav-ing a Child Welfare division in connection with the board, or if there is no such division, with a specially created board of maternal and infant hygiene. This is a step in the right direction, and if efficiently effic-iently and economically administered, should accomplish accom-plish more good than any like sum has ever before done for the people of this country. The Salvation Army is also doing some very effectual ef-fectual and beneficial work for the babies of this nation, and is deserving of the assistance and support of all citizens in their work of mercy. (fca) |