Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-30
MANY AIDED IN BUREAU
OF WAR INFORMATION
Women Take Load Off Shoulders
of the Hard-Worked
Policemen

Gloomy and uneventful is the life OF the
downtown policeman these days. The
charming young damses who used to take
their troubles and queries to the gallant
crossing cop now go to the War Informa-
ton Bureau in City Hail. This transference
of attention is greeted with chagrin by the
most gallant of the blue-coated gentlemen,
but one was heard TO mutter Praise be !"
The noticeable increase in the inde-
pendence of young girls and the Increased
number of inquiries from foreign labor
seekers in the city was responsible FOR that
ungallant remark.
Nevertheless, the girls at the War In
formation Bureau in the pavilion in CITY
Hall court find that place busy center from
s o'clock in the morning until O'Clock at
night Here information of all imaginable
sorts and descriptions is given out to scores
of persons each day. Some inquiries might
lead one to believe II an employment agency
or a housewives trouble bureau. Designated
desires to do war work have brought vol
unteerS and paid WORKERS INTO thls BEe"t
field of endeavor.
The human-interest aspect of the work Is
infused into the answers. Not one OF the
girls and women working there under direc-
tion of Miss Elizabeth McShane fail to take
an interest in the persons she Is there to meet
and help. There Is none OF the parrotnke
sort of information given that tends to IN
| stIll distrust in an information bureau and
Immediately start the inquirer on search
| for HIMSELF
Some of the questions are so ridiculous
| that they are disgusting. Many or them
are everyday questions. while some or them
| are extremely pathetic. Each ana every
question Is answered as accurately as pos
| sibIe and no one is turned away without
| t,fo
| who can five full details
Employment is the greatest subject that
| people are seeking Information about Hun
| dreds of men have been referred to the
various free agencies that are looking for
| shipyard help. The large number OF aliens
who apply for this sort OF Information makeo
| Il impossible to place these men with Gov
| ernn,ent corporations, but there are numer-
Gus private shipyards that are continually
wanting this help.
| One pathetic story of a young alien who
| came here from Detr Dit inspired the Interest
| of the workers. Hear ng of the great demand
| for workers in and about Philadelphia, ht
| came here without a penny in ms pocket
feeling that 1t was necessary only Tor MN
to get here and be received with open arms
After sleeping outdoors all night and goint
without food for two days. he applied FOL
help at the War Information Bureau. and
they put him In the way of getting 1t.
II want to get warrant Tor the arres
of Frank Smith," young negro girl said
one morning. 1t seemed that her husband
would not support her, and she wanted thi'
information bureau to help her
War recipes. garden information, th
| woman's land army and the boys working
reserve are some Of tho subjects frequently
| asked about. Then there are questions o.
| local interest, of streets, car service ant
public buildings. all in the days work. A
great many persons just go into the pavilion
| look at the maps and exhibitions and theI
20 out, in that way answering their owl
| questions.
This War Information Bureau is unde
the direction Of the Bureau of Municipa
Research, and was made possible by the in
terest OF DIR. George Woodward. who
| financing II.
II Is the ultimate hope to make this In
formation bureau permanent thing TO
already the great need Of such a central In
| formation place Is proved.
Miss Elizabeth McShane is in charge. witt
Miss Catherine Newbold. Miss Emma Adam
and Francis McShane assisting her