Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-10

mating committee which seeks thoroughly
and efficiently to f1nd Just the man wo-
leisure. desire, interest and willingness to
work But when vacancies are filled by
such method there you have strong.
judicial weli-balanced governing body and
and aecomplishes results
Edward Everett Hale is credited with de-
scribing a board as long and narrow and
never coming to a point. Government by a
board and through committees is necessar-
lily more formal, less direct and immediate
than where the Individual reaches a de-
ciscn and proceeds to put it into execution.
1t involves a course of procedure which,
although irksome and often slow and fire.
quently irritating, may, nevertheless, be
made educational and valuable IL accept
ed in a proper spirit of patience and CO.
operation Objection Is often made by
members of governing bodies that they
cannot afford the time necessary to at
tend meetings and listen TO the discussion
of questions affecting the policies of their
organizations 1t is reported that one OF the
great financial directors of the steel trust
said when 1t was proposed to discuss some
policy of the corporation: Wen vote first
and talk about IT afterward" Social prob
lens cannot be dealt with in that way and
the man who may be able 20 decide in five
minutes whether 1t IS good judgment to buy
a million dollars worth OF bonds, may need
to listen an hour before deciding whether
1t, Is wise to oppose a legislative bill Great
ing home for tneDr:ates, or whether pro-
baton officers Should be chosen from MEM
berS OF the police force, or whether the
wives and children of strikers should be
helped with food and clothing and rent
Ability to give time is a responsibility
that the social worker on governing bodies
assumes, and inability to meet tne obliga-
ton is a sound reason for resignation.
| When a member OF . board is chosen ;or
his Influence, too often we find that his
resignation is offered in good faith; bat
the one reSigring is urged TO reconsider on
the ground that his name IS wanted and
that if he will withdraw his resignation he
will not be expected to do any work Or at
tend meetings. A virile social activity exists
by reason of the work it does, the beneet
it Is to the community. what it stands for
In the public mind, and not by reason OF
the names upon its board. When a gov
erning body begins to honeycomb with this
sort of member the era of dry rot has set
in and that organization becomes an exam
pie of one man power In It's president, or
the perfunctory expression Of the social
theories OF the executive.
Carrying out policies for social better
ment or for caring for the victims of social
conditions means spending money-spend-
ing money for buildings for services. skill
ed and unsllilled for food supplies, for
clothing, rent, fuel, for medicine, appl
ances surgical instruments, for teachers
supplies. gymnasium apparatus, for house
supplies, furniture, beds and bedding: in
fact, for almost every known article or
everyday use. 1t means making a nice
adjustment between the increased needs of
the year to come and the known receipts
of the year that has passed with just
enough faith as an element of income so
that the deficit will not be too great and
the surplus nothing at ALL And when
board member can take up a budget and
critieise it saney. giving reasons why he
disagrees with its recommendations. or vote
for its approval, knowing of his own
knowledge, that it is wise adjustment Of
soundly estimated income TO know social
needs, then he has met one OF the larger
responsibilities he assumed when taking
Office
In conclusion let me urge that no man
or woman assume membership upon the
COVE ming body of a social activity with
out properly understanding, In the broad
est way, the responsibilities that belong 10
such membership; but if taken on and per-
formed in the true spirit of corporation
with judicial elaboration with constructive
intention. with the desire to lesislate and
not to dominate, there is no experience in
life so broadening, SO uplifting. so truly
humanizing.