Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-26
THE CIVIC CENTER
An Organization Proposing to Com
t,4st-
bine All Good Forces.
ITS PROPOSED PLAN OF WORK
A Central Exchange for Directing
Efforts. aa:-'
THE CITY'S IMPROVEMENT

IdE CIIY > IMPROVEMENT
There has been started in this city an or
ganization named the Civic Center of
Washington. Its formation was first sug-
gested to few persons by an article in the
Review of Reviews, and after considering
the subject for some months articles of as
ISOLATION were adopted and it's committees,
with plans for their work, were arranged.
1t now has quite membership. and among
them are Rev. Byron Sunderland, Mr.. H.
B. F. mcfarland. Mr.. Theodore w. Noyes,
Col. Weston Flint, Mrs. A. L. Woodbury.,
Miss Hosmer, Mr.. B. Pickman Mann, Rev.
q. B. Ramsdell, Mr.. Warren Choate, Rev
! Alexander Kent, Mr.. and Mrs. Herbert S.
Owen, Mrs Carl Barus, Rev. Frank Sewall,
DR.. and Mrs. Theobald Smith, DR.. J.. o.
Adams, DR.. Egleston and Rev. s. NJ. New
man. Some of the committees which are
already organized and have begun their
work are the committee on organiza ton, the
committee on social conditions and the COM
mittee on union for practical progress.
The General Objects ~. 81
The object Of this organization is the CO.
ordinating into harmonious and effective &C
ton of the many various charities and agen-
the reachable causes Of poverty. and a
knowledge and application Of the best
things for the public welfare. .4- i
One of the fundamental ideas involved in
the Civic Center is that the city should be
regarded as a whole social body, and that
where part or district of 1t is found to be
the most neglected and backward the causes
OF Its being so should be examined and all
| the available forces put in action that would
4 q n INN if0 md md fbnr
one, the promoting of such general measures
as tend to improve the whole city. The
means by which it seeks to accomplish its
objects are: l. The obtaining OF all necessary
information. 2. By informing and develop
ing public opinion. 3. BY securing the en-
forcement OF wholesome existing social la Tvs
and promoting such further Legislation as
may be needed. 4. By cooperating with ex-
listing social organizations and, il need be,
initiating others.
1t aims to be central organizing point
FOR all the forces for work for good by hav-
ing all organizations, as we'll as individuals
interested in the welfare of the city invited
to be represented in it by associate member
ship, thereby bringing the forces for good
into more systematic and cooperative ac-
ton and forming a center to connect all
the agencies which are continually saying
You ought"
The Work of Committees.
The method of its committee in chari-
ties for getting the various charities, pre-
ventive or otherwise, to work together most
advantageousiy consists in having the
city mapped into districts, showing all the
charitable Institutions, public and private,
even to the homes of the heads of the
Kings Daughters societies, all the
churches and missions, and societies like
the Christian Endeavor. Epworth League
and Y. NJ. C. A. Its committee on social
conditions has as special object the pre-
vention Of the reachable causes Of poverty.
One or the features of it's method Is the
mapping of the city into districts and hav-
ing on the map the various agencies whose
erect is to prevent paupertsm, such as
the public schools, the kindergartens and
the various associations whose object is
to provide industrial training to children
or grown persons. thereby starting them on
the road to self-support. One of this COM
mittee's practical duties is to know Of the
school attendance and to bring il to pass
in cooperation with the proper existing
agencies. that all the children in the sums
where possible attend the public schools
and another duty in the same line is to
know of the attendance in Industrial train
ing associations and to aim, in co-opera-
ton with them. to have those most need
ing such training to attend. Another part
OF its work is the considering Of the subject
of the alley population and the housing
of the poor and collecting statistics of the
general social conditions of the city. One
OF the principal objects of the Industrial
OF the associations in Washington whose
object is the obtaining OF work for the I'M
employed; to know of those in other places
and to find out the different means for
solving the problem, and to seek to supply
those that are good here The method of
the committee on religious organiza lions
consists in having map of the city, with
all the churches and missions. and show
ing the church attendance and the num-
Der Of the churchless population and the
sections most needing churches.
The committee on union for practical
progress has been created for the purpose
Of cooperating with the national executive
| committee on union for practical progress
in Boston in the work of inducing all
! clubs. reform workers and churches to
| unite their efforts once each month in a
| cial evil. such as the sweating system the
| employment Of child labor. &c.
The Civic Center, according to the declar-
| alton of its founders, while desiring and
| inviting all associations to be represented
| by associate members, in no wise aims to
| interfere with their work to supersede
| them but aims to enable all to act most
] advantageously together.
Washington n Good Field.
Washington" said one of those interested
in the new organization, SIS a very favor
! able place for such an organization as the
| Civic Center. Its form of government be-
| ing uncomplicated and its official public
| spirited and capable, there is no municipal
obstruction in the promotion of good, as
there has been found in some cities. The in
dividual has his duties as such; he also, as
a member Of society. has his civic duties to
| perform, and to meet general conditions the
Individual by himself Is powerless..o Thera
must be collective organization and collec-
4 tive action. We have many orgarfza lions
for various kinds of philan thropic work,
but all more or less disconnected from each
| other.
| Heretofore there has been no associa-
| ton here which has had for it's object the
ascertaining of all the conditions ana rela-
! tive needs Of the city and the bringing into
view those requiring the most attention and
help. By permanent organized expression
| of public opinion much may be prevented
7 In the wasting of time and energy and
much be done in the way of the prevention
, Of the reachable causes of Indebtedness
and evil. and in the promoting of those
things that are for the welfare Of the social
| body" sH-.i-.
The st. James Hall BANQUET.
! The evening newspapers of London pub