Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-05
WORK FOR THE RICH.
Woman's Welfare Department
of N. c. F. Told Its Duty.
TALK By MRS. HAMMOND
Incumbent Upon Wealthy to Amelio-
rate Condition of Less Fortunate.
ACCOMPLISH GOOD RESULTS
William, r WILLOW Giuoc nr%1;ra
TALK By MRS. HAMMOND
ACCOMPLISH GOOD RESULTS
William r. Wilcox Gives Outline of
Good Attained for Workers.
Annual Meeting Today.

welfare department OF the National
Civic Federation was held in this city
! this afternoon al the residence Of Mr.
chairman of the department. Mrs Ham
mond presided over the business ses-
! sion as we'll as over the meetings in
the morning of the executive council
and the executive committee
| The program of the business meeting
included addresses by Mrs. Hammond
Seth Low of New York, president OF
the Civic Federation: August Belmont.
chairman Of the department on work
mems compensation, and William r.
Wilcox, chairman OF the employers vel
| fare department. Mrs. Taft as honorary
chairman of the woman's welfare de-
| partment was an active participant In
the meeting. Mrs. Taft late this after
noon Will entertain the visiting delegates
at garden party in the White House
grounds. a reception tonight by Mrs
la mmond will bring the meeting to a
close
In her opening address, Mrs Ham
nIoni said, in part:
Do You realize that every morning an
army of 3.U0o,ooo working women march
! out 10 meet the day? An industrial army
which is contributing its service to in
crease the material wealth. and in that
way the political Importance OF our coune
try among the nations on the earth?
What Are Rich Doing? She Asks.
What are we doing-we women who
a'e not in the wase-earning class. but
who are enriched and benefited by our
patient sisters Of toll? This is a aues-
ton We cannot ignore. 1t is your duty
and mine, i'll the name of humanity and
patriotism, 10 work TO ameiorate the
condition OF the less fortunate of our
community SO as to remove any just
against the more prosperous of the
country.
1t is our mission to bring about bet
ter understanding between wage Garner
ana employer.
Although barely three years old, this
woman S welfare department. through the
efforts OF my predecessors in office and
their colaborers, has achieved most graft
tying results We have established night
schools. dispensaries medical clinics, WIS.,
ting nurses. kindergartens, lessons in
cooking. sewing and house hold economics
in mill towns of the south
No detail is too small for our care.
We have dried the wet garments of
the oNerworked postman, provided
reading rooms, local barber shops, baths,
bowling alleys, pool tables, conducted
without drinking and disorder: We have
concerned ourselves with the grading
of streets and lighting Of towns by
q n Of dow cff TO,
gardens, and even the proper pastur-
ing of family cows has been part of
our work. In every case the most en-
couraging feature of our labor has been
the ready realization by the employer
of the great Importance and value of
our cooperation.
Improvement Of Conditions.
Speaking for the employers welfare de-
partment, Mr.. Wilcox gave a summary
of results that have been accomplished in
improving the working and living cond-
tons among the working classes. Citing
cases In point, he said:
1.-THE employers welfare department
of the federation is composed OF 500
leading employers and public offic ais
throughout the United States. It's work
Is the humanitarian phase of the fed
eration's activities. The methods en-
ing to prove the value Of welfare
work by holding up as good examples
employers who have successfully in
troduced such features for the benefit
OF their employees as sanitary wash
rooms. factory lunchrooms. librar es
clubs, classes for technical education
and wage earners' insurance.
A StercoptlcOn address by one of our
lecturers before two hundred manufac-
turers in a single industry, picturing fine
ii.
rooms. ventilation devices drinking wa
ter fountains. seats for woman workers.
men s and WomenS ClubroomS and dane
ing payiliOns roof gardens. emergency
hospitals and proper homes for employees
resulted In the president of the largest
factory in that trade sending to the well
fare department for advice and expert
assistance in providing separate artistic,
Yet practical. lunchrooms with food at
cost. for men and women. and in two OF
his villages he has destroyed old houses
rented to the people, after substituting
modern sanitary dwellings, surrounding
social buildings
The success Of the welfare work in
one great industrial organization employ
ing betwee n twenty-five and thirty thou
sand wage earners and clerks in its
mines and plants in Michigan, Wisconsin,
y w York, Ohio, Illinois and other states,
which was initiated by one of the mem
beers OF our staff. is eXemplified by a con-
ference of more than one hundred well
fare workers in its employ held within
the last ten days.
Improvement in Kentucky.
Another employer of Kentucky has
given his men an eight-hour work day
in three shifts with the same pay that
they had when on two shifts of twelve
hours each.
This affords them time to go home
for meals. has greatly improved their
health and affords opportunity to use
their clubrooms in the mills where
they play billiards and other games
one of the most comprehensive eX
ampleS is that OF one of our members
manufacturing machinery in the state
of massachusetts. where there are $500
workers. the majority highly skilled
and receiving good wages, but the
! head of the company who has pro-
crossed with rs from the beginning Of
| the organization of our welfare de-
! partment, has incorporated in the work
| of that company all the underlying
| principles for which we have stood
| 'One Of the greatest accomplishments
| of the employers welfare department has
| been the result of an invests a ion of the
factor es OF one company in electrical
work where there are 10000 employees DIS
| tributed IN various states from NJ Ssouri
| TO Rhode Island The report, with
| recommendations made by our depart
| ment. resulted in the appropriation on the
| part OF the company of 8 fund of 500 co.
| for important sanitary improvements n
| cIud az by: len dustless methods for
| sweeping, ventilation. emergency h s.
pitfalls lunchrooms and systematic ar.
! for