The Washington herald., 1912-02-25
DevoteS Her Entire Morn
ings to Furthering the
Serviceof Woman's Wei
fare Department of Ma
tionaI Civic Federation.
By JULIA CHANDLER MANz.


When woman occupies position Of
social leadership and has at her COM
msnd enormous wealth, the general pub
lie does not ordinarily look for serious
work on her part for the advancement
OF human happiness.
But add TO these temporal conditions
a heart Of gold and the world has a
friend.
The heart of gold seems the biggest
thing about Mrs. John Hays Hammond.
for she gives all of her fresh morn
ing hours every day in the week to the
advancement of this very same human
happiness OF which 1 speak
In her big establishment in Massachu-
setts avenue one room Is given for the
work Of the womans Welfare Department
Of the National Civic Federation. This
room is the center Of the work OF the
woman's department Of an organization
which the Hon. Seth Low has described
as The most altruistic organization in
existence
The National Civic Federation had its
inception in the West with the late
Hon. Mark Hanna as one of its prime
instigaters. Its purpose being sort of
court Of final appeals to adjust civic
questions and labor problems that need
human understanding more than they
need the enforcement Of national laws.
Grafton came to the realization that the
cooperation OF women was a trerhen-
dous need in the extension of this work
with its human welfare purpose, which
led TO the organization of the woman's
welfare depar OF which Mrs. Will
lam Howard Taft is now honorary ma
tional chairman. and Mrs. John Hays
Hammond Is active national chairman.
Mrs Hammond does not like TO be in
terviewed. Did you ever notice that
the bigger and finer the things a woman
accomplishes for other people the less
she wants to talk about her part in
the accomplishment? II is charac-
teristic Of the heart of gold. But when
] said that I wanted 10 talk Of won-
ans part in the National Civic Fedora
ton: of woman's work in the civic life
in America: OF the real accomplishments
OF the " Oman's Welfare Department, It
was an open sesame to Mrs. Hammond's
presence.
Call OF Duty.
For not only does she give her entire
mornings TO the work of this organiza-
tion. but she is intensely interested in
the formation of new sections all over
the country for the amelioration of the
hsrdships under which millions OF hu-
man beings labor.
The woman's Welfare Department Of
the National Civic Federation appeals
with confidence TO the civic impulse of
the women OF America in its effort to
organize sections throughout the coun-
try Mrs. Hammond told me.
What I asked, lis the work?'
''It is the call OF duty. The women
who answer this call are those who are
enriched and benefited by the great army
Of seven millions OF their sisters doing
daily hattie for their livelihood. First
and foremost the work is practical. The
arsr = ,l.e. -
in the welfare OF his employees, safe
guarding them from unnecessary risks
in dangerous and unhealthy industries.
providing good light. ventilation, and
santa lunChrooms and rest rooms
educational and recreation resources. good
housing conditions. savings funds. and
benefits and loan associations" she
said
That is an altruistic work as Mr.
Low has said. but why the special need
Of woman in these matters the need
that was felt with such keenness that
the Woman's Welfare Department was
orEsnized?" ] inquired.
There is not a home in all the land
that is not made sweeter, better. and
more complete by the presence of its
mistress" Mrs. Hammond answered me,
with that singularly generous smile that
has won her way into the heart Of all
those lives she has touched.
The business OF our country Is just
housekeeping on a big scale. and needs
woman's personal touch and maternal
thought just as much as the individual
household. The fact is the work of
the Woman's Welfare Department is
such as only woman can do" she went
on. and illustrated the point with the
recital Of many actual cases where the
betterment OF working conditions for
hundreds OF lahoring women had been
accomplished through the membership Of
r certain woman in the Woman's Wei
fare Department of the National Civic
Federation.
Striking Instance Given.
Just to cite an instance" she said. Il
will tell you of one of our members
who is the wife of a large clothing manu-
facturer. A part of her welfare work
was TO visit a factory in which the
same grade OF labor was employed as
that employed in her husbands factory.
she found the conditions there so
superior and was so impressed with the
appreciation Of the employees for the ex-
ira provision made for their comfort
that she went home to her husband
filled with enthusiasm and a determine
tion to use her Influence for the better
ment Of conditions in her husbands
manufacturing plant, which ended in her
persuading him to introduce similar i'm
provements in his own factory
Another member Of the woman's We'll