Evening star., 1909-05-03
Caring for Homeless Boys.

caring LOT AOuS1cSS 0OyS.
The women of the Federation of Wom-
ems Clubs. which is composed of local
organizations in almost every county and
town in Alabama, has taken under its
care all the homeless boys it can reach
newsboys, bootblacks. and others who are
earning their living-and are providing
homes and clubs for them, with good
food neat quarters, baths, books, games,
sports and kindly attentions. The matron
and her assistants keep their clothes and
stockings mended and mother them as
much as necessary. These clubs, like
those in the northern cities, are par
TALLY self-supporting. for each inmate
is required to pay as much as he can
afford for board and lodging. There is
no appearance of charity or correction.
No yagrants are admitted, and boys OF
vicious dispositions are sent away as soon
as they are discovered. Such institutions
are new and still rare in the south That
at Birmingham was founded six years
ago. with Mrs. w. II. Jeffries as presi-
dent.
The Women's Christian Temperance
Union. under the leadership of Miss Julia
s. Tutwiler of Livingston, Ala, who is
the Florence Nightingale and the Fran
ces r. Willard of Alabama, has been en-
gagged in prison reform work for twen-
ty-five years. Miss Tutwiler has been state
superintendent of jail and prison work
more than half that time. Her rec
concentrations have resulted in the ap-
pointment of chaplains and the placing
of libraries in every prison OF any size
in the state, and her influence in this
direction has been felt all over the south.
The United Charities has become a
source of inspiration as well as kind
ness. where kindness is most needed.
1t extends TO every community In the
state, and the woman members are now
beginning to awaken an interest among
the business men, and through them
hope to place the charities of the state
on a better business basis and secure
the employment of paid and trained
workers to look after cases of distress
and see that the money given for char
ity is not misappled and is distributed
in the most economical manner possible.
Greater service and less alms-giving,
more prevention and less cure. is their
object, and mass meeting was held
in Birmingham this month to enlist all
classes of the community In this line
of reform.
Through the efforts of the same women
rection was organized last winter for the
purpose OF exciting interest throughout
the state. This is the first movement l
know of in the south for such reforms.
Hitherto the prisons and charitable in
stitutiOns have been left almost entirely
to the officials appointed to take charge
of Them and have been used more or
less for political purposes, but organized
charity and prison reform are now re-
ceiving much attention from the women,
and that means a great deal here.
Work of the W. G. T. u.
The Women's Christian Temperance
Union, which has about $4,000 earnest,
active determined women among its
members, is very largely responsible for
the enactment of the prohibition laws,
not only here, but in other states of the
south. Every one here admits that it was
due to their efforts and influence that
Jefferson county. of which Birmingham is
| the seat. was carried by the "drys" in
November. 1907. Ten thousand women
and children paraded the streets that
election day. Notwithstanding a drizzling
rain. praying and singing and appealing
| to the voters. Having conquered the
stronghold Of the state. 1t was easy
eaough to subdue the smaller counties.
The Alabama Women's Christian Tenn
| perance Union was organized In 1884 by
| Mrs. Ellen Peter Bryce. wife of the di-
rector of the state hospital for the in
sane. After serving two years as presi-
| dent she was succeeded by Mrs. STRAIT
ford of Montgomery for two years. then
Mrs. j. Morgan Smith for one year. when
Mrs. c. B. Spencer was elected and
| served for twelve years through the most