The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-21
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORM ALTON
BURE AU
MORE DOPE FOR DEMOCRACY
FREDERIC J. HAsKIN. Direct
Washington. D. @

Washington. d. @
MORE DOPE FOR DEMoCRACY.\
Washington, D. c., Dec. 1S.-What
seems a brand new panacea for the ills
which Democracy is heir to, or other
wise comes by, and brand new angle
on internal reconstruction have been
developed in the Mohawk Br1ghton
Social Unit of Cincinnati, Ohio. How
the scheme works became known
here last week when Mr.. and Mrs.
Wilbur c. Phillips. founders of the
Social Unit. came to Washington on
business connected with the scheme:
1t is the belief of the sponsors OF
the Cincinnati Social Unit plan that
the closest approach to a working
democracy in this country is that
which exists in the small village. (This
is, of course, looking at 1t from the
standpoint Of cooperation and COM
munity service.) In a village the
wealthiest landowner is acquainted
with the poorest laboring man; with
his history and his condition. He
shows, or at least is expected to show.
a fraternal interest in his welfare
which need go no further than finding
him a new job when he needs it, or
sending his wife an occasional basket
of provisions. Down at Chatham's
Landing, when Mrs. Whipple. the
widow, is taken suddenly to bed with
an attack Of the influenza, and her
daughter a hundred and fifty miles
away at Normal school,. it is con-
sidered no more than right for Mrs.
Virgins (who lives in the next door,
to take charge of the premises. and
nurse Mrs. Whipple until her daughter
can return.
That, in a way. 10 the idea which
Mr.. and Mrs. Phillips and their CO.
workers have applied to the Mohawk
Brighton district of Cincinnati. Gin
cinnati was selected for thes expert
ment because it was Thought to con-
tain more average conditions than
any of the fifteen other cities under
consideration. Mohawk Brighton-a
peculiar section of Cincinnati-was
chosen because it was believed to be
the one where the Social Unit plan
might be tried out with best results.
1t was q tenement district without be-
ing a slum district.
ut Is the size of our city communf-
ties" contends Mrs. Phillips. which
prevents people from knowing their
own needs, individually or as a group.
In village no one can be i'll or out
OF job without everyone else know
ing about it. Oftener than not, there
is someone in the village, usually
woman, who makes it her business to
do something about 1t.
This Is the situation we have tried
to initiate in the Mohawk-Brightons So
cial unit. We overcome 'vastness' by
dividing our districts into groups. AS
rule these groups are nothing more
than city blocks"
In each of the social unit = woman
Village mother" She IL elected by
the residents OF her block, and it is
her job to know what Is wrong with
each individual member of her group.
She is paid small sum, in order that
she may have her housework done for
. - - 49, -
all of her time to her neighbors.
Furthermore, the Village mother"
is her blocks representative to the
Citizens District council" one of the
two bodies controlling the social unit
The council is made up entirely OF
such mothers" and has one eecutive
elected from among its members. In
the council are taken up the individ-
nal needs of individual families, and
measures to fill the needs are voted.
There is another body called the
"Occupational council" In this each
occupationa1 group 10 represented by
an elected member. Thus expert skill
| in virtually ali lines IL thoroly mobil-
| lied.
More than anything else. a particu-
lar attention has been paid to hygiene.
T Practically the greatest medical skill
| in the country has been requisitioned
| for the unit. The leading physicians
| Of the country have formed 1 commit
| tee before which the council Of Cin-
| cinnati physicians can lay any prob.
lem brought forward by the council
| of district physicians.
| 80 that" Mrs. Phillips points out.
| ''if peculiarly crippled child should
be found in the social unit district.
which the local physicians are unable
to cure. the greatest surgical skill in
the country would be available for II. ''
| the m In
nurses, artists, dentists. architects.
| business men. all have a place in the
occupational council. and their knowl-
edge and influence is brought to bear
on the problems of the people.
| Public health nursing has been an
important feature OF the work of the
Mohawk Brighton unit, and perhaps
| the single limp in which most success
has been attained. Several OF the Gin
cinnati relief organizations. which
unit plan, did so by turning all OF the
| nursing work and a majority of their
|trained nurses to it. Mrs. Phillips
! characteristics the work of these women
as remarkable.
| During the epidemic OF influenza.
our public health nursing system re-
! ported twice as many cases as were
reported from the average for the
| city. But with double the number OF
cases SO discovered we had orly hall
section OF the city"
The public health nurses have. OF
cuurse represe .itatives in the occupa-
fiona, council, and their intimate
knowledge of conditions among the
people render them among the most
valuable members of that body.
| The social unit plan has been IN
operation for less than a year, and
even yet all possible lines Of co-opera-
| tion have not been worked out. 1t is
too early to say whether the idea has
been as successful rs prophesled by
its protectors; but it is certain that
some pho SEES have worked out even
beyond expectations.