New-York tribune., 1918-01-07
Government Is Urged to
Adopt Specialized Scheme
for Housing
y.W.C.A. Aiding Work
e,;ld;ngs to Provide Suitable
Surroundings for Girls in
War Industries

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.-On behalf
=. the housing committee of the
younc Womens Christian Association
Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, jr., has
s.d at Washington with the Secretary
.fWar and with Otto Eidlitz, who has
.hsrce of housing conditions for the
rouncil OF National Defence, two
memoranda advocating the adoption Of
specialized scheme Of housing for the
vor,en in the camps and environments
Of the country.
The Young Women's Christian Asso-
,iaton has planned to build, at its own
,ynense, a model home for girls at
cbarleston S. c. The memoranda pre-
ssnted BY Mrs. Rockefeller are as fol-
lows:
The Secretary Of War, Washington.
aWe are coming before you to-day,
Miss Maud Miner, representing the
,ommittee for the protection of girls
Dr Katherine 3. Davis, of the bureau
of social hygiene; Miss Mary Sims, one
n the executive secretaries of the ma
tional board of the Young Women's
Christian Association. and myself,
thairman of the housing committee Of
he Young Womens Christian Associa-
.jou-to lay before you the question Of
rsmen working in or about the camps,
and also that of housing the women
employed in industry. particularly
those industries pertaining to the
operations OF war
an view of the probability that an
increasing number of women must
necessarily be employed in war
sctivities in connection with camps it
is strongly recommended that these
women be placed on war basis, en-
Listing for war service under military
discipline. Such control would do
of.such service at the present time.
Provide Suitable Buildings
I'VE beg that the government, recog-
nisng its responsibility to these girls,
build for them houses where they may
rat and sleep and be provided with
proper oversight, as we'll as opportuni-
les for recreation, none of which are
al, t,present available If it is the wish
Of the War Department. the Young
ypmen's Christian Association will
undertake to furnish leadership for
the social and recreational life of these
gltls.
sThis same need which exists among
women employed in connection with
the camps is as great among the wom-
en- already employed in factories max
ing war supplies.
Eve are, therefore, submitting tc
Mr.. Eidlitz. Of the committee on hous-
of %ho nofo
carefully worked out set OF plans fol
Women's Christian Association is
as a demonstrations; but it is obviously
impossible for it to undertake to buile
these houses for girls all over The
country. In submitting these plans tt
YOU and to Mr.. Eidlitz we cannot to-
strongly urge that they be accepted a
standard for the future housing o
women workers.
Result of Experience
"For the last fifty years one of tn
chief activities of the Young Women
Christian Association has been tn
providing of proper living condition
Tor young women, and we have draw
upon this long experience for the for
mutation of these plans. The uni
which we recommend provides for tn
girls individual privacy, proper bath
Ing, social and eating facilities. Sue
Surroundings will help to maintain an
improve their health and to make ther
more effective workers.
"On the moral side, they will b
gwen supervised recreation, pleasan
Surroundings and an opportunity t.
see their men friends.
These buildings also provide an op
portunity for instruction, as there ar
rooms where the girls can be taugh
such things as first aid, sewing, Eng
ilsh and such other subjects as the
may desire. The educational value O
such housing is unlimited. Most EN-
poyers Of women prefer girls from tn
country, who are strong and vigorous
these sophisticated but able girl
frequently become dissatisfied an
unfit in the crowded, sordid condition
IN which too often they have to liv
IN most Industrial communities.
Solved British Labor Problem
When England adopted a somewha
SIMILAR plan OF housing she found tina
shc had helped to solve the labor prob
cn, and III the munitions factories
"acre they are housed in small groups
'aere is no question Of restless, dis
ssushed employees, and the production
VI these factories is greatly increased
This is not simply war problem
out has been one of the most pressing
and acute questions for all working
women for many years past, and |
something is done now to ameliorat
nose conditions it will be contribu
lion to the future solution of thi
noss difficult problem. The women O
these various committees here repre-
ssehled stand ready to aid in the selee
Won OF women to administer thes
su'ldlngs. For these positions shoul
ne chosen trained women of high ideal
win love and sympathetic understand
ing of girls
=, Therefore, Mr.. Secretary, we ge
mat you lend the power Of your offic
ana your personal influence to thi
Undertaking.
(Signed)
MRS. JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER, JR.
Otto Eidlitz, chairman of Committe
u,9 on Housing, Washington:
Inc housing committee of tn
'oung Wcmen's Christian Association
aver much study and thought, hav
n;sae these plans which we are no.
etsihg ~ you. They represent the frui
VINE sne many years of experience of tn
oaa"g Women's Christian Association
'heir ideals. ' ~
!. IN coming to Won. wc urrc tn;