El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-11-08

the Jewish people are noted, and also
influence THE cultured women Of the
race to promote .he religious and edu-
cauOnaI interests peculiar to their
own faith. The Council of Jewish
Women as organized includes IN It's
membership most of the cultured He
brew women of the country and mas
branches in all of the larger American
cities. 1t is governed by an executive
board composed of officers and d.
TectOrs selected from all parts of the
country. Upon this central board de-
wolves the responsibility of outlining
most of the work undertaken by the
different branches. While the head
quarters are maintained in New York
city, the meetings OF the board are
held in different cities, thus stimUlat-
ing the interest of some local branch
each year. Charleston, 5. c., is the
meeting place this year and the re-
suits of this meeting, which began
on November 4, viii be as important
TO many women as the national cleo
tiOn.
Immigrant Aid Work.
Because Of the number Of people Of
Jewish faith who are oppressed in
various European countries and thus
driven to America, the immigrant aid
work always has been given an inn
pOrtant place in the work of each
branch of the council, being especially
large in those cities having the great
est numbers of Jewish Immigrants In
the seabOaTd towns the council pro-
vides for woman agent at the barge
office to meet the Jewish immigrant
women and girls and assist them in
any way needed This agent, who
usually is required to speak several
languages including Niddish, Hun
garian, Russian or ROumanian, can
ascertain from the girls their plans
for the future. If they are travelling
alone to meet relatives and friends
she viii see that they are guided to
their proper destination, thus protect
ing them from the many dangers that
would ordinarily come to women in
strange country.
In most seabOard towns a list Of the
women coming alone may be secured,
with the permission of the local COM
and these girls can be followed up by
a friendly visitor to the addresses to
which they have gone. There are
many wealthy Jewish women who
spend a large portion of their time in
following up these foreign women and
giving whatever assistance they may
need before becoming permanently
established in some disappearing &C
cUpatiOn.
Employment for Girls.
In New York and Philadelphia the
Council of Jewish Women took charge
of nearly $500 Jewish immigrant girls
during a period of three years, their
ages ranging from IL to 80 years In
the case Of the younger girls provi-
sion was made for them 10 enter the
public schools, where they received IN
structiOn under the compulsory edUca-
tlOn law which fitted them for a self
supporting position later on Posi-
lions were found for the older girls
and for at least a year, each was
looked after by some friendly woman
who kept in touch with the factory or
other place in which the girl was en-
plOyed, securing for her wages in pro-
portion TO her skill and helping her
in every possible way. Glasses in Eng
llSh for these girls, who are too old
to attend the public school. have been
generously provided by many branches
Of the council.
The fact that many employers viii
not hesitate to take advantage Of the
ignorance OF foreign women who do
not know our language and the value
of our money is frequently revealed
by the Jewish women who look after
these immigrant girls. A member Of
the council in Chicago recently report
ed finding a young immigrant girl
literally starving, although she was
a good seamStress and was employed
with tailor. He was paying her %
cents a DAY, often requiring her to
work until late at night. AS she paid
a dollar a week for her room, she had
only so cents a week left TO supply
herself with food and other neces-
stiles Her employer stOlidly stated
that he paid her what he had agreed
The girl was too ignorant Of the Gus
toms of the country to protest, but
her gratitude was pathetic when she
was. placed in position where she
received So a week for her work.
Save Girls from Lures.
One Of the most recent activities
Of the Council Of Jewish Women has
been TO establish an auxiliary to the
intern Municipal Research committee,
the duty of which is to conduct in
vestigations Of employment agencies
in different cities, many of which
have been found to offer grave moral
dangers to young women applying for
work Frequently advertisements Of
agencies will be circulated in other
cities, thus attracting girls in hope
Of work. By correspondence it has
been possible for many dishonest en-
through the efforts Of this committee
and many young girls saved from
ruin, and others from financial loss,
through the agency not being able TO
fulfill its promise of employment.
The department Of philanthropy Of
the Council Of Jewish women is an eX-
ceedingly active one and there is no
branch Of charity and benevOlence
which is not included in its scope.
In most OF the cities the Hebrews pro-
vide for the needs of their own race,
often working in cooperation with the
charity organizations of the city. But
there are innumerable matters con-
Stantly coming up calling for the help
of refined, generous women and in
these the members Of the council al
ways take the lead There are homes
for working girls. for old people and
for orphans, together with day
nurseries, hospitals. dispensaries and
free kindergartens which to a large
degree, if not entirely, owe their ex-
istence to the charity of Hebrew wOm-
en-. The council endeavors to further
the work of all these phianthrOpies
and at the same time to exercise dis
erection in order that the best results
may be secured. 1t has frequently
been claimed that the Jewish charities
have less of the pauperizing tendencies
than those of other organizations.
Social Settlement Work.
The value of social settlement work
was accepted by the Council of Jew
ish Women almost from the beginning
and settlements are supported in many
cities. In these various lines of ac-
. tivity are carried on according to the
needs of the community Industrial
training is given, based upon upon the
actual trade conditions of the neigh
bOrhOOd. If lace making is a prevail
ing industry, OF the manufacture Of
wearing apparel. or hat making. the
settlement training class endeavors to
fit a girl for the work in which she
is most likely to find a situation. Do
nestle science classes are always in
operation and most of these are
especially designed to teach foreign
women American methods of home