The Washington herald., 1912-08-02
WOMEN 4 FEATURE
OF R. /. ASSOCIATION
Are a Splendid Help on Such
Subjects as Schools and
Public Health.

To the Editor: note that your edt.
torial of Tuesday morning, Letting
the Women In." speaks of "the expert
ment of admitting women to member
ship In the citizens associations OF the
District. This Is not altogether an ex-
pertinent, however. l have heard of
several of these associations which ad-
NIT women, and know of one In partic-
ular which has welcomed women mem
bers ever since 1t was organized i've
years ago.
This is the Rhode Island Avenue
Suburban Citizens Association, which,
think, owes most of its success to
three things-the industry and loyalty
of its members, the fact that II has al
ways had the cooperation Of the wom-
en-, and the fact that It never adjourns
for summer, but keeps up its interest
in and work for the community all the
year round.
When the Commissioners held their ''re-
ception" in the District Building some
years ago, there were as many women as
men present with the Rhode Island Ave-
nue. Association.
There have been times in former years
when the women did not attend the reg
ular meetings. although they cheerfully
paid their dues and helped out on enter
tainments and picnics, and even in more
was due TO the forbearance Of the ladies
themselves. who stayed away SO that
the men might feel at liberty to smoke
IL they so desired. In those days special
ladies' nights were held at frequent
intervals; the women of the neighborhood
take decided interest in the affairs of
the association, particularly in the an
nual lawn and garden contests which
have been, for four years. a special fea-
Of fha Ntr.NHA
This year the meetings are held In a
church edifice. where the men do not use
tobacco. and the women are free to at
tend any and all meetings. as they are
entitled to through the payment of their
dues.
The experience OF this association shows
that your editorial Judgment is correct
about women not only having a right to
express their views on matters that con-
cern improvements. school facilities,
public health, and kindred subjects. but
that their suggestions are Of practical
benefit The thought that women would
inject an element Of discord" into the
association you very properly reject
with Indignation"
They are particularly helpful in school
matters. The school of the community
has women teachers and a woman prin-
cipaL Women therefore. get better re-
suits as a visiting committee than men
can.
During the absence of their husbands
on field trips during the summeg in con-
nection with work IN the scientific bu-
reaus OF the government several OF the
women have so ably kept ur the home
grounds that they have won prizes N the
garden contest. The same thing Is true
where women are themselves the noust-
holders.
In addition to the helpfuiness of the
women in this association. there Is just
at this time. an impressive EXAMPLE of
the value of having meetings continued
throughout the year. This week. for In
stance, the Rhode Island Avenue Associa-
tion makes fits suggestions to the Com |
missioners as to the streets which might |
well be included in the estimates for
street Improvement in the fiscal Year
ending June 80 1914 1t is also finding |
plenty to do in the line of other activi- |
ties. Last week it had an illustrated |
lecture on the Identification of home |
grounds by Mr.. Mulford. landscape gar
dener of the Department OF Agriculture, |
and its members are individually work.
ing out his suggestions. Although an ex-
ceptIonally stormy night. women equaled
or outnumbered the men in the audience.
an evening passes without a
meeting of one or another of the asso-
ciation's various committees
Not satisfied that It was doing its
whole civic duty with these purly local
matters. 1t has taken the lead in larger
civic affairs. The present water-rate /
is a case in point.
1t was this association which first Sc
cured a promise for a hearing on the
increase proposed by the Commissioners.
and then had the promise made good
after 1t was forgotten at the District
At this hearing the original
question of the need for and the right to
make an increase in water rates was
developed.
The Rhode Island Avenue Association