Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-04-02
SOCIAL BETTERMENT'
Plan Of Miss Helen Gould Broached
70 American Institute.
DR.. TOLNlS TO BIZ SENT ABROAD.
The Noted Economist WIN Aiaks;a study Of
Industrial and Social Conditions ~
Europe for the Benefit Of tine
Americas People. N

AmSbtpN1 he~Ks~
New York, March 2s.-Miss Helen
Gould's plan for social study,
preached by her to the American In
stitute Of Social Service, was out
lined yesterday in the following
statement issued by the institute,
which, at Miss Gould's request, will
send abroad DR.. w. II. Tolman, the
social economist, to make a study OF
industrial and social conditions In
Europe:
"Dr. W. II. Tolman, director Of the
American Institute OF Social Service,
will spend the summer In Europe to
make study Of the great move
ments for social betterment OF the
institutions which show the trend OF
human progress and the industries.
Every country, almost every city in
Europe, has some special feature
which the social economist of Amer
lea can study with profit. DR.. Toll
man will gather this material per-
sonally and photographer working
under his direction will secure pic
lures that will form complete Sc
ries in illustrating the most notable
and typical achievements in social
betterment in each city. In this way
the American Institute of Social
Service will be made more Of point
Of contact, through which systematic
and accurate knowledge Of present
day problems in Europe can be
brought to the people in America.
"Take Paris for example. In that
city the municipal activities, without
any disrespect, have been of the
speculative order. She devoted her
self not only to the solution of
economic problems, but also making
herself the show Of the world, there
by bringing many annual millions in
to the pockets of her tradesmen.
America should know how Paris has
done this. America ought to know,
too, how Paris trains her children
to make those wonderful artisans
who bring all the women Of the
world to shop in Paris. Some Of the
best work in improved housing has
been done in Paris; for instance,
Jules Siegfried, former minister Of
commerce, is the head Of housing
society for providing better homes
for the people which has started 50
similar societies all over France.
''In Italy there is q movement for
cooperative enterprise among the
people, especially along the line Of
banking, which Is almost revolution
airy and which, by the way, has
served, with certain adaptations, as
a working model for the system Of
agricultural credit introduced by Mr..
Plunkett in Ireland. DR.. Tolman
will study that movement.
'In Belgium there are cities where
the street signs are carried to high
state of artistic beauty; where the
lamp posts and telegraph poles are
ornamental. In some cases q city
owns its own bill boards and makes
them things Of beauty as well as Of
profit. DIR. Tolman will get pictures
Of those lamp posts and bill boards
and any one seeking relief from
American horrors in that line In the
future can see how they do it in
Belgium.
throughout Great Britain there
will be a comparative study of the
English system of municipal activ-
ity-the parks, Fairgrounds, model
tenements, baths, schools and care Of
the poor. In England different
cities have done particular things
particularly well. In London there
Is the great public bath system.
Liverpool has docks which are world
famous and the most complete sys-
TEN Of public baths outside of Lon
don. She has, too, system of loan
ing window gardens TO any one who
Of those tenement house window gar
dens will be secured. They have
done some splendid work in improved
housing in Liverpool. England can
teach how she manages her great
technical training schools, where ar
tisans may learn the latest applica-
ton Of science to plumbing or tex
tiles or any other branch of manual
industry. Manchester has put $780,
900 into building alone for such q
school.
"In ireland the studies will be
planned by the Right Hon. Horace
Plunkett, president Of the depart
ment of agriculture and technical in
struction for ireland. Mr.. Plunlcett
has promised his heartiest co-opera-
ton in enabling DR.. Tolman TO Sc
cure the working details, with pho
tographs of cooperative buying,
dairying and banking, introduced by
Mr.. Plunkett with signal success and
without any charitable contributions
among the Irish farmers. He will