Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-24
MORE WOMEN JOIN
WAR ON LANDLORDS
At Least a Thousand Ready to
March on City Hall, Asking
Law Enforcement
ORGANIZED TENANTS MEET

Churchwomcn of virtually every de-
nomination arc today preparing for the
march on City Hall on May I. when
of the Department of Health and
Charities. enforcement of the housing
laws with respect to sanitation.
While the women were announcing
their intention to attack the housing
situation from the sanitary end at
meeting held in Holy Trinity parish
house. South Philadclphinns in a meet
ing that iammed Toner'S Hall at Ninth
and Jackson streets were planning TO
fight tho increase in rents from 81 TO
81 per month in approximately 200
houses formerly owned by William
Bryant but recently sold to n group
Of so called spectators.
The hOuseholdcrs affected reside III
tho district bounded by Tenth. Twelfth
and Skunk streets and Moyamonsiug
avenue. The meeting was called at
the instance of the Tenants Protective
Association. of which Michael i. Roach
is president. 1t was announced that
r"ntcrS all over tho city are banding
together to fight protitccring. Ronch
has taken court action 10 stay the
execution Of sheriff : writ which would
put him out Of his home.
Would Not Aid Loan
The tenants at the meeting declared
that many Of them could not purchnsC
Victory bonds because they had been
forced to buy homes. They also an
nouncod they would not sign now leases
and would fight 'tooth and nail
against the rent proftccrs
Tho ChurchwomCn of the city made
their decision to crusade against "mur-
dcrous unsanitation' unanimously. Ono
thousand women will meet in tho Dio-
c"Snn Church of st. Mary, Broad and
South streets. at II O'Clock on tho
morning Of May /. and march up Broad
street 10 City Hall.
Let lis go as an army in the name
of Cod" said Mrs. Edwin G. Gricc.
who proposed the demonstration "LCt
rs proclaim tho nCwS in our rh-rchcs.
promote public interest in the housing
question and bring as many women
as possible to that meeting Let US
show officials at City Hall that the
women Of Philadelphia are determined
to secure better housing conditions"
A fcw minutes before John Ihldcr.
secretary of tho Philadelphia Housing
Association. had told the church women
that an impression prevails at City
Hall that the people of the city arc not
particularly Interested in housing con
ditions.
IT UnQucstonnbly this lack Of public
interest has affected the situation" Mr..
Ihldcr told the women. I'VE are too
easy going in America. In England the
people are not easy going and they OBJ
tain better enforcement 'of their laws.
All Creeds Represented
The church women's housing commit
tcc includes representatives Of tho Al
lance of Catholic Women and those of.
Friends. Jewish. Methodist. Moraviun.
Presbyterian. Reformed. Swcdcnbur-
ginn and Unitarian churches.
Mr.. Ihldcr said tn" Housing AsSo-
citation desires to obtain Improvement
through "a more efficient Health De
partmcnt, WhCrrupOn ON" woman
asked the secretary, in all seriousness,
lis it possible to get anything done in
this town. Mr.. Ihldcr said he was
sure the officials would do their duty if
convinced that Il strong public sentiment
demanded it.
Mrs. William Il. Abbey, chairman of
the church womcn'S housing committee,
told the women that iusanitary cundi
tions prevail everywhere throughout the
city.
1T is not only downtown in the poor
districts,' she said. lyon can walk
through our best residence districts and
by looking up n side street you will 500
things that need correction. The city
is really corrupt. The conditions are Il
menace. have here u letter from
Bishop Garland, in which he says these
conditions are menace to the commu