The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-16
PLENTY OF ROOM FOR
ALL SOCIAL WORKERS
Replies to Y. W. &. \. Exccu-
tive Board.
DECLARE NEED Is APPARENT
y. W. &. \. Board. However. Feels
Social Service Federation Boarding
Houses Unnecessary Duplication of
Work of Their Body.

an expression OF OPINION on the
part of the executive committee OF
the Young Womens Christian Assoc
citation that the esta blishment of girls
homes by the Social Service Fedora
ton was an unnecessary duplication
of effort along lines already covered
by the first-named body, is the occa-
sion for the following letter from the
president Of the Social Service Fed
Grafton:
Richmond. Va, April Is, 1916.
Mrs G, =. Walford.
Miss Katherine Halves.
My dear ladies' our letter OF the
18th received. | called Il meeting
of the officers of the Federation We'd
nesday afternoon.
We are very much surprised at
the contents Of your letter aud fail
entirely to understand the reason for
its being written to our organiza-
ton.
Quoting from your Year Book. you
say. The absolute need for additional
boarding homes Is fully realized We
should think, as you were not able
to open another at this time, feeling
the need as you do. you would have
hailed with joy and delight the new
hame as your home at los w. Cary
Street did not meet tho needs of the
ment that you ladies arc really opposed
TO our home anv more than a great
Presbyterian or Methodist Church
would oppose a mission started in
another part OF the city.
Last Saturday one of our girls left
us and went to your home, because
she had an increase Of one dollar IA
week, making nine dollars, We were
so pleased and happy that there was
such home as yours for her TO go
10 when she left our home nest.
I'VE understood the policy of your
home and fully appreciate all that
is done for the industrial girl Of this
city. / understand there are seven
thousand girls working In the fac
tories of tho city. How many Of them
can you take care of?
we have never heard OF your
raising any objection to the settlement
House. Beech Street. Ours ts Just the
same. only we can house five times as
many as they can. The Wilson House
has the Same policy that we have, Do
you object to this house, Neither
one OF these houses has objected to
our home. but on the other hand have
co-operated with us in every way
possible,
In the short time We have been at
work we have given two girls two
weeks board each.
We do not think we have mis-
understood you or that your policy
has not been clear to us, We Ger
tainly appreciate your desire to be
understood and sincerely hope you
will disabuse the minds of your mem
bers of any thought that We are or
ever have been antagonists. We
really thought we were helping to
10
have solved so beautifully at los West
Cary street for a part OF the working
women Of this city,
1--WE fear that instead OF our mis-
understanding you. you have misun
jerstood us and have failed to appre-
ciate our efforts for young girls. We
are all Christian women, working for
the betterment of humanity. why
should we not cooperate and rejoice
at all times together?
we shall be very happy to hear
that you can open another boarding
home soon. All we desire is to pro-
tect and mother our little sister who
Is far away from home and mothers
influence.
Hoping that we understand each
other better. and that each of us will
clasp hands and work together for
Him, l am
Your in His service,
(Mrsl GEORGIA MAY JOBSON.
Prest. Social Service Federation.
y. W. q. A. Statement.
The statement which brought out
the letter printed above was the
following from the executive commit
tee of the Young Woman's Christian
Association;
AT meeting Of our executive COM
nd 40 nv
board of trustees. the attitude OF the
Social Service Federation towards tho
proposed esta blishing OF more board
ing homes in Richmond was thorough
~ discussed.
I'VE feel that the policy of the
Young Women's Christian Association
with regard To boarding homes has
not been understood by the federation,
because we do not believe that II. II
did understand us. it would launch Il
work which Is identical.
"In the Year Book which came out
this week you will find the following:
1T has always been the purpose of
those responsible for the conduct OF
the Young Women's Christian Associa
ton 10 open more, boarding homes as
rapidly as finances will permit Within
the next few years We confidently ex-
pect to have two or three homes In
stead of one. and to be able to accom-
modate far greater number of girls
than We can now provide for.
a. The absolute need for additional
boarding homes is fully recognized.
and it lis with most sincere regret
that we have to defer their establish
ment. II Is surely only a question OF
time when the generous Richmond
public will make Is possible for US to
offer safe and comfortable homes to
hundreds of girls,
You will see from this that II Is
not lack of appreciation of the fact
of the great need of homes for girls in
Richmond that nas kept the associa-
tion from pushing forward along this
line. We feel that we owe an obli-
CATION Ia the public at large 10 meet
shis need as rapidly as they are willing
10 make It possible for us to do So
There seems to be widespread
misunderstanding. or lack of informa =
ton. as to the policy OF our boarding
home which is situated at los West
Cary Street. In this home are many
rooms which are used by girls who
are receiving considerably less than
81 week. Also the committee tn
charge and the house secretary are
-. ~s,nI~