Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-02-02
WITHIN THE IRON RING v War Relief Enterprise

- ERLIN, Nov. 24-since the outbreak of
K organized charities have given way before some
- thing erective-organized people The
relief work in Germany seldom bears the stamp OF
professional charity. rather has the character Of
mutual endeavor bear the unprecedented burdens
brought upon the people. The organiza-
tons built up by the peace-tme charities have been
absorbed into the greater work. They have been made
fit into a national scheme broader and more human
than the old, SNUG devices for giving. Womans
brains administrative ability and energy are largely 10
be credited with the remarkable accomplishments OF
the worlds first businessIke bon-dollar relief trust
Great her military and economic preparedness for
the Germany woefully without social prepar-
edness. 1t was fatal flaw in the armor an over
sight land whose bureaucracys boast is that over
sights impossible the day of mobilization the
social welfare workers of the empire faced chaos,
situation heavy with unlimited possibilities of disaster
to prevent which machinery had been created. no
plan worked out, and efficient workers instructed
Hundreds of thousands of families of wage earners
saw their bread winners march away leaving them
helpless, the sport of evil chance and without idea
for the future. Other thousands were thrown out of
swell all this misfortune to appalling
magnitude there later the high prices the bitter
pinch in food supplies, and further restrictions of
certain industries.
1t. the of Germany, and not the bureau
Gratis, who filled this breach in the lands defenses
Scarcely had the wild excitement of mobilization sub
sided before the club of the country organized
the National Womens Service league, enrolled 100000
of their number workers therein outlined scheme
national relief, placed this whole, magnificent
machinery at the service of the government, linking
their organization with established governmental
organization all along the IiQe.
The women all the'existinS philant
and remodeled them for the gigantic war taskse of
conservation There existed, besides the law of 1885,
which provided a trifng stipend for the families of
soldiers at the of the machinery the
women had create. And they did create it,
No one in Germany is good-naturedly witty at the
expense of the German Federation of Womens Clubs
today; for it was federation that organized the
service league furnished body of disciplined
women make history in the realm of social
organization.
The service league co-operated through its local
branches with the msnicipal authorities The first
problems with which it called to deal were
those of the unemployed soldiers families left
without incomes. Later problems had to do with the
care of refugees with the food shortage with the
scarcity prices o. clothing, with the training
of dependent women lines of employment with
the care of the helpless battefelds
with the instruction the whole people in prin-
,ples of household economy made necessary by
conditions.
The women worked in conjunction with the
municipal authorities with the boards and
bureaus their own account As the work took
snape social survey undertaken. In centers
where war conditions pressing most heavily,
SURVEYS begun, and these gradually extended
until great part poor and needy of the country
were card indexed The all of families
were kept track o closely. Bureaus opened in
tn cities and towns which all might
difficulties and relief The in these
adjusted rent questions aided soldiers widows
secure their support, hel. ped wives
soldiers get their monthly pensions of "a marks,
with the additional IL marks for each child under
fifteen Cthese pensions later ncreased), and
performed legal service