The Washington herald., 1918-08-12
RULES IN new
HOMESOF WAR
GIRLS An ISSUE
Some Think Workers Can
Govern Selves, Others
Not So Sure.

Democracy for young women war
workers has become an issue here.
The appointment Of a matron with
arbitrary powers. for the government
dormitories for young women war
workers, now under construction
here, or the installation of the self
government or honor system that has
operated successfully in many large
colleges. was discussed by the clerks
housing committee recently. The
clerks housing committee Is CO.
operating with the Bureau Of Hous-
ing Of the Department of Labor Ia
developing plans for the dormitories
The discussion has aroused interest
in the problem of the amount of free
dom that is good for a girl alone in
a large city and has brought oL>
many new angles. No one has yet
stated that there should not be any
rules governing the hour when young
women should be in and the hour at
which callers must leave. except some
Of the girls themselves.
Strict Mt Camp Columbia.
Miss Marjorie Day. member Of the
committee, stated: Il believe the time
is coming when girl war workers will
enlist as men do to fight and have
their food. clothes and quarters regu-
lated"
She has charge Of Camp COLUMBIA.
where girl war workers voluntarily
live. sleep in tents. and receive two
nourishing meals a day.
Girls who live at this camp live
under military discipline and like 1t.
All girls must be in camp and with
lights out at $3.50. Anyone who
wishes to stay out later must state
where she is going and how late
she intends to be out. This is done
for her own convenience and
safety"
Many young women refuse to live
in a place where such rules are en-
forced
1T is just like going to boarding
school," they say. They don't make
rules like that where young men
live, and in this day of equal rights
We don't see why young women are
Disseminated against in this mat
ter"
Rules Call for Matrons.
Government regulations covering
all buildings erected for the use of
~ WI lHdl II
must be employed in the dormitories
for young women.
OF the thousands OF young women
employed here. many in parties of
four and five have rented apart
ments and the housekeeping and ex-
penses are divided up equally. In
many cases this works out all right.
and in many others it doesn't. Very
often the most domestic girl Of the
party finds that in time all the
work has devo!ved upon her and
unless she is very meek or inordi-
nately fond of work she is likely
to rebel. Other causes tend to break
up the housekeeping party. The
neighbors sometimes object to the
numerous parties and the noise.
Miss Fagin of the local Y. w. c. A,
who handles rooms for girls, says
there are not many complaints about
the conduct of girls from women who
rent rooms. but 1t is significant, she
! says. that there are many calls made
for nice quiet girls
Mrs. Grundy Active.
Through lack of experience In be-
ing away from home. it is said that
girls often act in such a manner as
| to have their characters misiudged.
And Mrs. Grundy may be regarded
as an enemy agent in this case. Re-
ports are beinG spread that with the
thousands of girls pouring into this
city and the many camps surrounding
1t there Is a great deal of immortality
These stories are untrue and sour
rilous." says Col. Churchill, chief of
the military branch of the general
stan of the army.
Such stories hinder government
work in that they tend to prevent
young women from coming here and
also cause parents to withdraw their
daughters from war work in Wash
snGton. They fall under the head o.
enemy propaganda.
Patriotic citizens will not permit
themselves to be used as agents for
the spread of such sinister and VEN
omous fabrications."