Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-16
THE CITY MUST HOUSE AN
ARMY OF WORKERS

TT is not often that the opportunity is
presented to citizens to make one
course of action fulfl their duty to the
nation in its war effort and to the citys
permanent prosperity and welfare at one
and the same time. The best kind of
"helping to win the war" usually implies
sacrifice. But there is today an urgent
task before Phladelphians in the doing
of which they will be helping themselves
as much as the War Administration
An army of men is pouring into the
city to work in shipyards and other war
lem becomes more difficult to solve. So
scarce are good lodgings that one of the
corporations, employing thousands of men
engaged on Government work. has started
to erect temporary barracks for its en-
ployes. The Housing Association las an.
nounced that between 5000 and 10000
wage-earners' dwellings are needed, and to
meet the emergency it is appealing to
householders to make every effort TO
supply a greater number of rooms than
are now available.
II this emergency involved a situation
to last but a few weeks or months it
could be met by temporary eXpedients.
But these workmen have come to stay.
Not only are we in for long war, but
for years after peace is made ship
building will proceed OH scale far above
normal here and in all other great centers
Of industry. We must do more than fill
the, gaps which the U.boat has torn In
the worlds merchant marine. We must
have a merchant marine of our own. so
that never in the future shall we be de-
pendent upon the vessels of other nations.
BY the end of the war we shall have
nearly as many merchant ships as Brit
ain, and to insure the future freedom of
the seas we must have the greatest navy
In the world. He is blind who does not
have recently come to Philadelphia, and
who are still coming. will be a permanent
part of our population.
The provision of comfortable dwellings
In streets properly cleaned and drained
will first of all expedite Government
work by keeping workmen healthy and
happy. Then it will attract those with
families and will enable men now living
In barracks to bring their families from
the towns they left when high wages
called them here. Some of the men who
now seek good dwellings in vain are
making more than 800 a week. Our
standard Of citizenship will be raised by
giving these newcomers the facilities TO
live we'll
Capital will not be slow to see the pos.
sibilities in this new and remarkable
chapter of the city's history. There is
one practical obstacle against which
pressure must be brought to bear. Build
ing materials are diverted to other uses
by the Governments war needs. War
needs come first in Importance; but the
housing situation here is a war need
Englands immense industrial changes
have necessitated the building Of many
thousands of workmen's dwellings for
which materials. however scarce, had To
be found. and materials are not so scarce
here as they are in England.
We may expect in our civic life de.
mand for better government from the
incoming army of new Philadelphians.
Skilled and energetic men are not easily
made the gulls and tools of crafty poll.
ticians. We who have been on the spot
have a sorry spectacle Of inefficient and
dishonest government to show the new
arrivals. But we must make II plain as
R daylight that the struggle to restore civic
decency Is continuous and that 1t will not
cease for a moment until this is the best.
governed and best-managed municipality
In the country.