Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-10-15
WASHINGTON WAR
WORKERS BEG BOARD
Crowded Capital Without Vacant
Room; Inspires Luring Adver-
tising Pleas for Rooms.

Washington, Oct. l5-The Southern
constituent, who some three years ago,
rejected a Observation-Disclosures Job
here in the capitol-without even going
to work at it-because he considered the
cost of living too high, must have been
man of prophetic vision. He created al
most national sensation among JOB
hunters; politically he was a curiosity.
Sixteen wears. democrat in the wilder
ness, with Republicans III all the jobs, his
party came into power. His Congress
man paid back the years of loyalty. with
an appointment But the man took one
look ut Washington and it's living prices
and went back to Georgia on the iirst
train.
One is constrained TO wonder what he
would do in v ashington now. Much has
been written and said of the congested
conditions in war-busy Washington.
Goyernemnt officials whose task 1t rs to
bring IN war workers have been eager not
to have the reports of crowding drive away
hundreds of folks badly needed. In tact.
they have made every effort through
organization of aids to newcomers 10 finu
homes for them. On the other hand, reai
estate agents and Others beseiged hy
waves of homeless newcomers actually
have pleaded To nave the county iAh'ih'N'
that there rs no more room
A citv which, three years ago, was
estimated MS having five thousand vacant
houses and three Thousand vacant apart
mepts. now has not a single vacant one.
The search for homes has extended TO ali
the suburbs. where cottages have trebied
IN nrice The crowded condition of hotels
and boarding houses every traveller knows
for himself One of them has aptly re-
marked that on coming to Washington
on business one has 10 engage place IN
Baltimore or Philadelphia To sleep
Soldiers in uniform have been put 10
making house 10 house canvass asking
the occupants to double up as q pat
riotic duty and take IN a war worker
Absentee houscholders, having large do
mains which they have been accustomed
to visit once a year, have IN some eases
feared that the premises would bc COM
mandcercd hy tho government and
hnrrlcdly have returned. 20 keep their
drawing rooms from being converted INTO
dormltorics
One NAV well imagine that where
there Il SO much difficulty IN housing 50
manv people. there is equal trouble in
feeding them. Cafes and cafcterias have
sprung IN about tho city like mushrooms,
il il no common sight TO see inc OF war
workers standing in line outside restau-
rant, waiting for a chance to spend money
inside Just like line Of ticket buyers
before theatre box office.
Nobody seems 20 want 10 take IN 2
woman war worker The few who
advertise rooms, prefer gentlemen or
officers The discrimination hurts the
girl war workers feelings hu; has no
practical result As a matter Of fact
the gentleman has Just as lively =
time getting room
Some ono has estimated that the war
workers arc tiocking into the city AZ
the rate of 500 day and departing at
the rate OF 500 a day. discouraged, home
| less. sometimes foodless. There Is no
verlhcatIon of the latter figure but there
| seems 10 be no doubt about tho former
| There also seefns 10 be no doubt that
| there are 100, 900 war workers here who
| were not IN the city year ago The
result nav be compared 10 an attempt
| to ptst a quart Of water into pint measure.
4 reading Of want columns Of the Wash
| ingtou newspapers Is sure to arouse a
/ feeling Of pity for the unfortunates who
| plead for a place TO live, even AT profIteer
| prices In fact. the natives now read
| the want columns for amusement IN
preference 10 the funny papers. Hero
ARE \ few typical samples which bespeal,
the despair Of a war worker trying to
| hive in the capital
| The first woman confesse1 at the out
set that she Is desperate She says so.
| Here is her plant
Desperate: Does anyone feel enough
| patriotic duty % accommodate a rehned
widow Of an army surgeon with = cheer
| full room
Z, Another feels n" Stigna oi the men
only policy