Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-07
HIGHER WAGES URGED
AS AID TO BETTERMENT
Speakers at Child Welfare Sympo-
stun Point Out Necessity
of Living" Pay.
Edward S. Martin. Scout Commits
sioner. Makes Appeal for Grown
Ups to Act as Masters.

Higher wages for the workinsman
and workingwoman We're urged as a
step in obtaining better conditions for
humanity by two speakers at child
welfare symposium under the auspices
of the Federation of Womens Clubs,
held at the Public Library today. Mrs.
Fred r. Dubois. who described the big
brother" and big sister movements.
declared that minimum wage la"
providing a living wage is necessary.
Miss Estelle Wheeler. who told of the
work of the Washington Diet Kitchen,
declared that if there were more justice
in the payment Of employees less CHAR
ity would be necessary.
She pointed to the lack of a living wage
as one of the reasons for lack OF clean
illness in the homes of some OF me poor
and lack of medical attention. She cited
one instance in which a mother did not
have the ) cents necessary to buy cake
of soap with which to wash the clothes OF
her little ones. She also told OF woman
who had to put away her coal in hard
rain because she could not aHord 10 pay
any one to do it.
Mrs Du Bots declared that the niue
girl in the store, earning Vs." week,
should not be working. She said that
these children are worth no more imam
they receive and urged that they might De
paid for the time they spend while IN
vocational scnool. She urged vocational
training, saying that many girls who are
taught music and similar things are not
taught to do anything by which they
might earn living.
1T is up to the women to solve these
problems" she saiG. Men are already
doing all they can as wage earners. They
are always ready to listen to us when We
clean house. She spoke of the work
which had been done in this city by the
'.big brother and big sister movements.
saying that if they had never paid before
they had paid during the last three weeks
The greater part of Miss Wheelers adj
dress was devoted to the outlining of the
history of and telling of the work of the
kitchen. She said the nurses who so out
into the homes in the afternoons do eX-
cellent work.
Good in Scout Movement.
That no boy scout has been taken into
| the Juvenile Court since october last was
pointed out by Edgar s. Martin. scout
commissioner for the District. who de-
scribed that movement. Mr.. Martin de-
clared that juvenile delinquency is due to
the amount Of idle time children have be-
tween the ages of ten and twenty years
and pointed out that through the scout
movement boys are kept busy. He ex-
planned that they study after school
hours as well as taking hikes and en-
gaeing in similar activities.
He said that statistics show 80 per
cent of the criminals are made between
the ages of ten and twenty years, and
that few after passing the age of TWEEN
ty-five, without having done wrong, ever
do so. He said at present one of the
chief needs of the boy scout movement
in the District is for young men to act
as scout masters saving 5000 boys want
to become scouts. but have no grownups
If them
Mrs. James Lansburgh representing the
Alliance of Jewish Women. urged that all
organizations and churches should aid in
seeing that school children received
proper medical attention. She told Of the
work being done by the alliance in this
connection, explaining that the organiza-
ton does not interfere with the schools
in any way. but provides for children
who are reported by the teachers as
needing attention.
A. j. AIcElway spoke briefly of child Ia
Dor In the District and urged the support
of his auditors for bill now pending in
Congress. which is to take the place of
the present child labor law.
Mrs. George 7. Smallwood chairman of
the child welfare committee, who pre-
sided. pointed cut that all the speakers
dwelt more upon the Importance of pre-
vention than on rectification.