The organization of the Vermont Children's Aid Society was authorized and the first steps were taken in the project yesterday afternoon at a meeting of some of the State's most prominent social and philanthropic workers, held in the roof garden of the Hotel Vermont. The sentiment was to make all haste in the organization on account of the dire need of it at present and incorporators were chosen who will elect officers as soon as the legal steps to incorporate are taken.

The formation of the organization received a big impetus from the report of Miss Sybil H. Pease, who has been making a survey of the situation as regards to children left in dire straits on account of the epidemic, and her report was one of the most important features of the meeting. The survey was made at the expense of the Red Cross but the work now passes to the new organization. It will be financed by private means and no money has been raised thus far.

At the meeting yesterday, which inaugurated the society which is to help care for Vermont children, Professor K. R. B. Flint of Norwich University presided. Two of the strong adherents of the organization were C. W. Wilson, superintendent of the Vermont Industrial School, and W. H. Jeffrey, secretary of the Board of Charities and Probation. Mr. Jeffrey was very heartily in favor of the project. He spoke of the benefits to be derived from the co‐operation of a private organization with the State Board. This organization would not have the legal limitations or other restrictions in the work and could do much good with its more flexible powers. Others in favor were Dr. C. F. Dalton, Thomas Magner, Charles Tuxbury of Windsor, members of the State Board of Charities and Probation, and Judge E. C. Mower.

The sentiment of those present was so unanimous in favor of the new society that, on motion of Judge Mower, the work of organization was begun. A committee of 12 was chosen to incorporate a Vermont Children's Aid Society. The incorporators are A. R. Gifford, Dr. C. F. Dalton, and Judge E. C. Mower of Burlington, Charles Tuxbury of Windsor, the Reverend A. W. Hewitt of Plainfield, John E. Weeks of Middlebury, Charles M. Smith of Rutland, Professor K.R.B. Flint of Northfield, Miss Berenice R. Tuttle of Rutland, Miss Emily D. Proctor of Proctor, Mrs. James Hartness of Springfield and Mrs. Charles M. Cone of Hartford.

P. T. H. Pierson of Bennington, chairman of the State Board of Charities and Probation, urged all haste in getting things in operation. Miss Marian E. Rowe, field supervisor of the Red Cross Home Service in Vermont, said she found two great branches of social work which have a chance to develop in this State. They are children's work and public health nursing. She said the Red Cross division in New England was heartily in favor of the new society in children's work.

Professor Gifford read a draft of a constitution and by‐laws and it was voted to use this as a basis for the organization. Judge Mower and Professor Gifford will take steps at once to file the articles of incorporation. Later, the election of officers will take place.

The report of Miss Sybil H. Pease, executive secretary of the emergency children's aid committee, was of great value. Her data, so far as completed, show the conditions of 197 of the towns and cities of Vermont and all places of more than 5,000 inhabitants. The survey was primarily directed at the results of the influenza epidemic, but other cases were heard from as the reports were made more complete.

The results of the epidemic in other states have been such as to prove the need of special effort to meet conditions here, and there was no reason to think that conditions would be any different in Vermont. The disease was found to be more complicated as regards dependency than the war, as it left children motherless as well as fatherless. Of course the influenza operated with other causes which are in operation all the time, such as desertion, tuberculosis, intemperance, feeble‐mindedness, etc. The additional information since the printing of the committee's bulletin brings the total children about whom reports were received up to 311 in 324 families. In 120 families with 371 children other causes than influenza were reported. There was one group of 16 families with 51 children where tuberculosis was the chief factor. In one city there were nine deserted wives with 36 children, receiving aid from the city or private funds. In the influenza group there are 440 children and 204 families. Of these there are 92 widows with 267 children, 48 widowers with 100 children, and 64 orphans.

The methods used to meet the situation were almost everything in the way of a device. Care by relatives or remaining parent does not by any means always prove a proper solution. Some of the most serious conditions reported were of this type. One of these cases is where a ten‐year‐old child was staying at home from school to keep house for three men and three children. Her cousin, aged 13, who alternated with her in this service, has since died in a hospital with tuberculosis.

In cases where the town was aiding the home, there was much evidence of the inadequacy of the aid and the necessity of supplementing it from some other source. In one case donations were solicited to meet the large deficit; in another, the case of a pregnant woman and mother of three children, it was reported that she was in need of food, although the town was helping her. There are many cases where the children were left in deplorable shape.

Miss Pease's report demonstrates the importance of care in the placing of children. Some were given in adoption by their mothers when the disease swept away their revenue. Orphans were in every case but one separated. Children were placed by guardians when there was no interested guardian. Children were torn apart and placed in different institutions.

Miss Pease's report says, further: "The placing of children is such a delicate, serious matter and experience has shown so clearly the dangers which result from careless placements, that it may be said in general that it should never be undertaken by any but an established agency which can see the thing through and can be called to account for its placements. Both the home and the child should be kept under personal and adequate supervision until the latter receives legal adoption or reaches legal age. This work can not be done by slipshod methods."

There are at present 16 families with 51 children where a mother's pension would be the proper solution. Several of these mothers have already applied for it. Conditions point to the fact that a very stiff fight must be put up to keep the home together. This organization, however, would do all in it power to keep the home inviolate. With almost no exceptions there on by intemperance, ill health, bad environment, etc.

The report of Miss Pease is very conservative as the hurried survey could not unearth all of the problems which exist. It proved clearly to those who heard it the need of some organization which could step in and give the help needed without restrictions. This state has given generously to the children of Armenia, Syria, and other countries, but has done little to help out some of the distress within its own boundaries.