Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-07-09
STATEWIDE MOVE


|
portunity TO acquant itself with the fact
that there are many conditions IN Del
aware susceptible Of great Improvement
Some OF these problems are without the
| Jurisdiction of the Council of Defense
and none of them can be handled by the
| Council of Defense after the restoration
| OF peace, tor the reason that the Councli
of Defense will then have ceased To exist,
A very casual study of conditions IN gen
cral dictates the need of a meeting oi the
intelligent and representative citizenship
of the State to discuss ways and means of
permanently hcttcring conditions and II
is for that purpose that this conference
has been called.
'In order not to lislcad YOU let me state
that TINS meeting is not held under the
auspices Of the Council OF Defense, hut
is entirely independent of It, Any plan
which We work ont for lettering con
ditlons should involve complete co
opcration with the Council OF Defense
and think NAV say for Governor Town
send and the personnel of the council that
| constructive assistance and advice viii
be- most welcome by the council and re-
ccivri IN exactly the same spirit IN winch
Il is offered
.pcrhapS some idea of the thought that
! this problem ~ receiving from Others may
he had from y reading ut the following
| extracts from the July bulletin OF the
| National CITY Bank IF New ork
( " The war has revealed unsuspcctcd re-
sources IN all the countries not OF hidden
wealth. but of productive capabilities, 1t
is said that the shIms at London have dis
| appcarcd. that with the iusIstcnt appeal
| fnr Labor ruliStmrnts. and conscriptIon
| the idlcrs and even the vicious have been
! swept into useful employment With mil
| lions az the most effective workers IN the
| armies. unhrard-of sums are raised tor
! war PURPOSES. the war InduSt rlCs arc ex-
handed Hpuu an enormous scale ana vet
| IN England and France the population II
! cared for on the whole rs well as IA normal
| times The conclusion ~ irresistible that
If the same energy and spirit can nc con
! iInurd after peace Is restored. and devoted
! ia construction and production. the entire
! level of living conditions can hC raised
| above that Of the past The lesson If not
| that more can he had for the Ioor by eN-
| plotting the rich but that vastly more
wealth can be produced nv harmonious
and fully cmpiuycd industry than has
been realized IA the past
II is apparent that an intelligent citI-
zcnslnp. quck Ia appreciate its response
lnlitlrS. wiling ~ make sacrifices for the
common good and capable OF high de-
gree Of organization makes for tho power
aud security al the nation The principle
Is the same in time oi IN'aCc rs IN time ot
war, and II people viii respond 10 the
common interest IN time at war by work
iur faithfully and gCalouslv ut whatever
thpy have to 10, why should They not DO
81 after the war when they understand
that the level of living conditions tor the
entire community may he raised thereby
Perhaps the best way Of approaching
q comprehensive and Intelligent discussion
81 the matter before us is 10 outline n
tentative plan which has been prepared Tor
submission to thus meeting N the hope
that il MAY facilitate discussion
Tho plan contcmpatrs the formation
~ AN association to be known Ar Service
Citizens OF Delaware and the launching OF
the plan would Toe through those Of Us here
present signing manifesto addressed 70
the citizens Of Delaware IN the following
form Copies of tins manifesto have been
made and distributed 10 All here present
Mr. Raskoh read the manifesto. sc follows
Go the Citizens IF Delaware.
The present national emergency has
directed attention 70 the existence ~ the
State of Delaware at socal conditions
which are seriously limiting the Efforts
made hy our people III support OF the war
and VIII prove. If They persist al obstacle
10 clvic progress when the war Is over
Among the phases Of civic life III Della
ware which fall short of proper and attain
able standards and which. therefore, re-
qurc careful study and consideration oD
the part oi our citizens. the following may
10 mentioned Sanitation. public health,
housing. education. child welfare work,
tho care OF dependents and detectives,
accomplishments OF other communities
show that undesirable conditions In these
fields may be reached and corrected by
wisely chosen activities.
As compared with many States, Dela
ware occupies d favorable position with
respect to work for public welfare We
have no large cities, with attendant con-
geotIon and perpleXIng problems OF trans
portatIon 4 large proportion al our
citizens are engaged III the wholesome
occupations OF agriculture and well paid
industrial work Moreover. the fact that
the community Is, IN relation 10 It's populA
tion, one of the wealthlest III the world,
gives It ample resources for supporting
work for social Improvement, either by
taxation or through voluntary contri-
buttons The situatio constitutes at
once an opportunity and responsibility
The presence Of undesirable social
conditions IN Delaware is believed u be
due less to indifference Or the part OF he
public than TO lack OF definite knowledge
as u the SERIOUSNESS Of existing evils. the
extent to which these evils may be RENE
died and the means best suited u the
accomplishment of this purpose
w Ishing 70 assist, u the extent Of our
ability IN the establishment Of conditions
essential TO the weli-being and happiness
Of the citizens of the State Of Delaware,
the undersigned have united In body 20
be known as The
The purpose Of the society is 70 work
for the Improvement of social CONDITIONS
In Delaware la seeking 10 accomplish
this purpose he society proposes
A. To obtain, through properly
quaiif ed agents. such ex act kno Wedge
as to existing conditions as may be
necessary as a basis for remedial
action.
b. To urge and promote the
adoption of measures for improve
ment which are shown TO be desir-
able as the result Of our own in
quiries, or by the experience and
studies of other persons and organ
izations in Delaware and elsewhere.
c. To bring conditions and remed-
les 10 the attention of the citizens of
the State by means of addresses.
reports, newspaper articles. and
other suitable instruments of public
ity.
d. To make, where feasible, de