The Washington times., 1916-04-18
.|HLDERD|SCUSSES
PROBLEM OF HOUSING
Declares Physically Fit Men win
Be Greatest Problem Before
U. S. After War.

The greatest lesson for the United
States in the war will be the disclosure
at the end of the struggle Of wrat con-
dition tie warning countries ftund
themselves In. with respect to phys
ically flt hen when the war began. This
disclosure will teach the United States
the greatest lesson 10 be learned. ac-
cordinE 10 John ihlder. secretary OF the
Ellen Wilson Homes.
Speaking before the Georgetown i!itl-
Gems Association last night, Mr.. Ihlder
treated OF the social ard economic sides
OF tho housing problem az they are ap-
parent In America today. He pointed
70 tern any as model, declaring thnt
this Tcutonic nation had nc sl'Ins for
years before tho war began. German
recruiting officers round. he said. that
q great majority of men In the sfourth
generation OF city llfo were unfit for
military sci vice There was c3nse-
ouent great loss 70 the military force
and to tho economic valde of the poo
pie, and Germany systematically COR
rectcd tho situation, providing a place
and home and industrial work for
evory citizen.
Mr.. Ihlder said that England was
slower to wake up, but he pointed to
the work accomplished In London and
Liverpool as instance OF the progress
that had been made In abolition of the
slums.
1t was tho hope and expectation, he
said. to make the Capital a model for
the rest of the country In the wiping
out OF slums and proper housing of the
poor. II was this. he said, that the
Ellen Wilson Homes were doing.
From an economic standpoint he de-
clared that II was to the advantage of
the community and real estate men to
nav nave tat tse thity city grow out and not ,Su up,
best sales propositions In suburban
settlements he said, was In communl-
ties safeguarded by building restric-
tions.
In conclusion. Mr.. IhIder said that the
German methods are not particularly
popular In this country today. but that
IL they were not acceptable to democ-
racy. II was up to the democracy to
show that 1t could do better than an
Miss Elizabeth G. Fox told Of the
work of the Visiting Nurse Society. She
declared that It was the function and
desire OF the society to care fer three
great CLASSES OF People In sickness, the
roor. those who were able TO Keep
their keuds above water in normal
times, and the average citizen on a good
wage or small salary. who had oppor-
rainy day, hut who was unable to meet
all OF the drains of sickness Miss Fox
said that all the society asked was that
those acquainted with the work would
spread the word to these classes that
there was nursing aid available in sick
ness. that was either free or not eX-
pensive. She cited concrete cases to
show the work of the society.
Ninety per cent OF the sick. she said
were sick In their homes, the other Il
per cert going to hospitals. The society
she said. had nothing to do for the
wealthy or the well-to-do who could
provide care for themselves. Though the
society has but twenty-eight nurses II
has tackled the economic problem OF
preserving the value OF life to the COM
munity. in cases where individuals are
not prepared to furnish proper care.
Business of the association was sus-
pended last night that the association
might hear Mr.. Ihlder and Miss Fox