Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-19
GIFT Anglers THEM
Census Women Indignant
When Sent Ice Cream.
EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS
Declare They Can Afford to Purchase
All They Want.

Ice cream by the gallon-many gallons
almost by the ton-was sent to the WON
en- employed at the census office at lunch
time today by the woman's welfare de-.
partment of the National Civic Fedora
ton.
1t did not cool them off, but sent their
Temperatures soaring. In fact. scores of
the women this afternoon are roicing
their indignation at being treated as
factory hands, and others declare that
the treatment was such is accorded
paupess.
IF the women OF the welfare depart
ment OF the Civic Federation have money
to spend. let them buy ice for the poor
in Washington. Hundreds of women
heat today. Or let them spend their
money to better conditions in the alleys
of the city. which are said to be the
worst in the country. thoSsh limited
This was the advice given by spokes-
woman for the indignant women, herself
clerk receiving about $1.SOO salary
year. She refused to allow her name to
be used. but said that a great many of
| the other clerks felt as she did and al
ready had expressed themselves to her.
Calls It Ridiculous.
TT is ridiculous for these rich women.
who feel charitably inclined, to send ice
cream to 1,295 women in the census Of
flee, as they did today. women who are
receiving good salaries. ranging most of
them from $500 to 1900 a year. Many of
these women buy ice cream every day
they go out to their luncheons.
1T is on a par with suggestion
made by the wife Of a prominent MEM
Der Of Congress and later a member of
the cabinet and presidential candidate.
who declared that the woman clerks of
the government should wear uniforms
so as to distinguish them from ladies.
THE women who are employed in
the census office. like the women en-
ployed in other government depart
ments and bureaus, frequently come
from far better families than some of
the newly-rich women who are seek
ing to benefit them by sending them
ice cream.
The organization which is receiving the
criticism of the women of the census Of
fee this afternoon is composed of women
known throughout the country. Mrs
Taft Is honorary chairman of the wom-
| ans welfare department of the National
Civic Federation. and Mrs. John Hays
Hammond. wife of the millionaire mining
engineer, is national chairman of the or
ganization. The national body met here
May at the home Of Mrs. Hammond,
when it was addressed by many well
known men.
| Notwithstanding the protests made by
many of the women against the send
| Ing of the ice cream, the cream vanish
| ed like magic, and 1t is safe to say
| that every scrap Of IT was eaten by
| the women at the bureau.
One of the women who was protest
ing most vigorously said that while a
number of the women in her division
had refused to take the cream. others
declared il was shame to see 1T
wasted and had eaten their share.
Mrs. Hammond Surprised.
| Mrs. John Hays Hammond. when in
| formed that the gift OF Ice cream had
caused Indignation among the women at
the census office, expressed great sur
prise.
Il called up the census Office before
sending the ice cream and asked permits
women employed there on this very hot
day. There was no intention on my part
| to be patronizing. 1t IS the same kind
| of courtesy that I frequently extend to
my friends and neighbors, and it was
| entirely in that spirit that the ice cream
| was sent"
| Other members of the welfare depart
| ment declared that the attitude of the
\ women who criticised Mrs. Hammond and
| the organization for sending the ice
| many things which the organization has
done for the clerks at the census office in
/ the past. They said that many improve
| ments for the comfort Of the clerks had
! been made at the instance of the wom-
| ans welfare department.