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*Address at the annual convention of the American Association of Workers for the Blind, Boston, August 27, 1907.

In behalf of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind I welcome to Boston this association of workers for the sightless. The purpose of our convention which represents every movement to better the condition of the blind, is to secure cooperation between the institutions and societies which are concerned in our problem. I know that good will come of our taking counsel together. I feel that we have the fair-mindedness to look at facts squarely, and the courage to set out hopefully, on the long road which stretches before us.

Our problem is complicated, and has more sides than isolated effort, however zealous, can compass. We must see to it that in the diversity of interests one class of the blind is not overlooked for the sake of another, or any part of the work undervalued.

The workshop, the library of embossed books, the home for the aged blind, the nursery, the kindergarten and the school are seen to be parts of a system with one end in view. I rejoice that there is assembled here a company of men and women determined to take to heart all the needs of all the blind, and in the name of the blind and of the State whose commission I represent I bid you welcome.

We have been forced to realize the shortcomings of our system, or lack of system, wherein faithful workers go in opposite directions, each hugging a private book of embossed type, or the plans of an institution which is to be the best and only seat of salvation for the blind. Let us draw our forces together. However we differ in the details of our work, let us unite in the conviction that the essential thing is to give the blind something they can do with brain and hand. The higher education, in which some of us are particularly interested, depends largely on early training in childhood, on healthy surroundings at school, on physical happiness, play, and out-of-door exercise.

Besides the young blind, for whom existing institutions are intended to provide, there is the numerous class of active, useful men and women who lose their sight in mature years. Those who are in the dark from childhood are hard pressed by obstacles. But the man suddenly stricken blind is another Samson, bound captive, helpless until we unloose his chains.

This association may become an organized power which will carry knowledge of the needs of the blind to every corner of the country. It may bring about cooperation, and good-will between schools, associations and all sincere workers for the sightless. It may start or stimulate efficient work in States which are yet in original darkness. Blindness must always remain an evil, whatever we do to make it bearable. We must strike at the root of blindness and labour to diminish and prevent it.

The problem of prevention should be dealt with frankly.

Physicians, as we are glad to see they are doing, shall take pains to disseminate knowledge needful for a clear understanding of the causes of blindness.

The time for hinting at unpleasant truths is past. Let us insist that the States put into practice every known and approved method of prevention, and that physicians and teachers open the doors of knowledge wide for the people to enter in. The facts are not agreeable reading, often they are revolting. But it is better that our sensibilities should be shocked than that we should be ignorant of facts upon which rest sight, hearing, intelligence, morals and the life of the children of men.

Let us do our best to rend the thick curtain with which society is hiding its eyes from unpleasant but needful truth. No organization is doing its duty that only bestows charity and does not also communicate the knowledge which saves and blesses.

We read that in one year Indiana has appropriated over a million dollars to aid and increase institutions for the blind, the deaf, the insane, the feeble-minded, the epileptical. Surely the time has come for us to ask plain questions and to receive plain answers. While we do our part to alleviate present disease, let us press forward in the scientific study which shall reveal our bodies as sacred temples of the soul.

When the promises of the future are fulfilled and we rightly understand our bodies and our responsibilities toward unborn generations, the institutions for defectives which are now our pride will become terrible monuments to our ignorance and the needless misery that we once endured.