Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-27
Sends Letter Indorsing Move
ment for the Building of
Sanitary Houses.
READ AT MEETING TODAY
HELD TO DEBATE METHODS
Gathering Under the Auspices Of
Woman's Department, Civic Fed
eration-Aims Explained.

l "
The personal interest of President
Wilson in the alley Improvement
| movement was shown today when a
letter from him outlining his idea of
how the work In Washington should
be carried on was read at a meeting
of the District section Of the woman's
department of the National Civic Fed
GRAFTON. at Rauscher's. The meeting
was attended by Mrs. Wilson, the
wives Of several score of senators and
representatives from all parts Of the
country and many prominent society
women. It was called in order that
the work of cleaning up bad alleys in
the District and providing sanitary
homes at low rentals for the poor
might be explained.
Letter From the President.
The Presidents letter. addressed to
Mrs. Archibald Hopkins. chairman OF
the meeting, is as follows:
Il wish it were possible for me to
attend the meeting tomorrow. Since
it Is not may not at least send these
Few lines to express my deep interest
in the great task Of cleaning away the
slums of Washington? It Is a work
which must. Of course. be accomplished
step by step. I sincerely hope that
each step may be part Of a systematic
by the District authorities with the
FULL authority and support of Con-
gress. Pray feel at liberty to suggest
TO me from time to time any way in
which I may properly assist"
The reading of the Presidents letter.
which was written by his own hand: was
followed by enthusiastic applause. Mrs.
Hopkins said it showed that the President
is back of the movement. and that there
fore senator's and representatives should
join in making 1t a complete success.
Mrs. Hopkins addressed the meeting at
length. explaining the plan of erecting
and improving sanitary houses with
money to be invested in sums Of 500 or
more at per cent interest, and telling
of the plan to turn the worst alleys into
interior parks.
Lewis Merriam. assistant chief of the
federal childrens' bureau. made a short
address on the relation between alleys
and tenaments and infant death mortal
ity.
Investments Announced.
Following the meeting Mrs. Christian
Hemmick invested $1,000 in the sani-
tary housing plan, and Mrs. Charles 3.
Wood. who had previously invested $3.50,
increased the sum to $1,000 The sum
OF s., 400 had already been invested, and
the money given today including sums
not enumerated increased the total to
$500. 1t is planned to raise $4,000 to
erect sanitary houses to accommodate the
people who will be deprived Of homes If
pending legislation to improve Shows
court and Goat alley Is passed.
Mrs. Hopkins told of the general work
Of the womans department Of the Ma
tional civic Federation In the District.
She also told of her recent personally
conducted tours of the worst alleys, in
company with members of both houses
of Congress.
Good Homes at Small Rentals.
The people interested in improving
these conditions are following the plan
of Octavia Hill, she explained, by fur
nishing good houses at reasonable rentals
to the people ousted from the insanitary
houses torn down.
The problem, she declared, touches
every one in many ways. She mentioned
that the washing of many good families
is done in insanitary homes. Many or
ganizations are behind the movement, she
said. Mrs Hopkins said that interior
parks. with Fairgrounds and free wash
houses, where the poor may wash clothes,
should take the places OF some OF the
alleys.
In closing Mrs. Hopkins told of the
other work being carried on by the or
ganization she represents, including the
elimination of loan sharks.
She praised the District authorities for
their work in eliminating the alleys say
Ing that In the last year twenty-fOur al
legs have been opened or made into minor
streets.
Those Present.
Among those present at the meeting
were:
Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, Mrs. Ben John
son, wife Of the chairman of the House
District committee Mrs. Stephens, wife
of Representative Stephens of Texas;
Mrs. Henley. y wife Of Representative
wife of Senator Reed of Missouri;
Mrs. Howell, wife of Representative
Howell Of Utah: Mrs. Kahn. wife OF
Representative Kahn Of California: Mrs.
Bird Mcguire wife of Representative
Mcguire of Oklahoma Mrs. STEVENSON.
wife of Representative Stevenson Of
Minnesota; Mrs. Thomas wife OF Repre-
sentative Thomas of Kentucky: Mrs.
Garrett, wife of Representative Garrett
Senator MARITIME of New Jersey: Mrs.
Rainey. wife OF Representative Rainey
of Illinois; Mrs. Swanson, wife of Sena-
tor Swanson of Virginia; Mrs. Owen.
wife or senator owen OF OklanOmd.
Mrs Hayes, wife of Representative Hayes
of California: Mrs Kindle. wife of Rep
resentative kindle of Colorado; Miss Kim
die; Mrs. Graham, wife of Representa-
tive Graham of Illinois: Mrs. Mann. wife
of Representative Mann of Illinois; Mrs
McDermott, wife of Representative Nc
Dermott Of Illinois: Mrs. Britton. wife Of
Representative Britton OF Illinois: Mrs.
Borland, wife of Representative Borland
of Missouri: Mrs. Stone. wife of Repre-
sentative Stone Of Illinois; Mrs. Page.
wife Of Representative Page of North
Carolina: Mrs. Poindexter. wife of Senator
Poindexter: Mrs. Humphrey, wife Of
Representative Humphrey Of Washing
ton: ...rs. Pomerene, wife of Senator
Pomerene of Ohio: Mrs. w. ]. Board
man, Mrs. w. Barrett Ridgley, Mrs.
John McNaughton, Mrs. H. H. Peck
ham. Miss Maude Wetmore. Mrs. J..
Nota McGill. Mrs. A. F. Bates. Mrs.
Christian Hemmick, Miss Elizabeth
Brown, Miss Clara Farrar-Smith. Miss
Janet Richards, Mrs. Charles b. Wood
Mrs. Robert Chew and Mrs. w. H