South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-16


community. for an effective own
Your own Home" campaign, have
been formulated by the e. s. de-
partment of labor and the literature
is now ready for distribution
through the division Of public works
and construction developments of
the department Twenty cities al
ready are getting under way with
their drives for the home building
and home owning.
To supervise the formulation of
these plans, Paul c. Murphy of
Portland, Ore. for two years work
ing on "Own Your own Home"
work. was brought TO Washington.
In consultation with department of
labor officials and several of the
leading authorities on building in
the United States, Mr.. Murphy has
drafted the campaign manual now
availa bic for such cities and in
dividuals as are interested in pro-
noting home owning
The own Your Home" bureau
in the division Of public works and
construction developments will serve
as an advisory board to the man
agements of these local campaigns.
where requested, and will extend
the fullest cooperation to every city
in the country which undertakes a
campaign.
Committee Work Planned.
Briefly the campaign plan contem-
plates a general committee made
up of civic and industrial leaders.
with some one whose standing in
the community justifies his selec-
ton, as the chief executive Of
fetal.
Under this general committee are
such subcommittee as have been
found essential. The manual sug-
Sests thhe prudence of having vigor-
Gus committees on finance. public
ity and campaign methods, mercan-
tile institutions, public service cor
porations, education, religious ac-
tivities, industrial workers and labor
unions, hotels and restaurants. ex-
hibits and management of head
quarters, women's clubs, speakers
and meetings, poster contests. civic
bodies, theaters and amusements.
transportation and automobiles, in
dustrial plants, music, printing and
supplies, and donations.
The function of each committee
Is explained in detail in the depart
ment's manual, together with sug-
gesuOns or handling specific prob
lens which invariably develop in
the "Own Your own Home" cam
paign.
In the department Of labor's
plan of campaign the women.
churches and labor organizations
play an important part. The entire
campaign is pitched on a civic bet
terment plane rather than on
purely commercial basis. and the
appeal is more on the line of what
each business group can put lin"
than what it can get out of the
movement
Will Help Nation.
1t is a 100 percent greater city
movement, having in mind only the
incalculable permanent benefits TO
the community and the immediate
helpfulneess to the nation during
the transition from war mobilization
to peace production. The depart
ment Of labor emphasizes these
benefits which may be expected
from the Gown Your Own Home"
movement:
1t will provide better living
conditions, increase efficiency. en-
courage thrift, give greater comfort
and happiness and create individual
reserves for misfortune and old age.
Every house owner with his fam
lily. whether rich, poor. or well-to-
do, becomes thereby a better citizen.
with increased self-respect. indie
pendence and responsibility TO the
city and nation and are more vitality
interested in the welfare and pros
perity of both.
2--That during the reimbursement
period, such a movement hastens
the return of normal conditions; re-
suits in much needed construction
for home and industrial purposes:
provides work for returning soldiers
and sailors and for labor changing
from war to peace industries stimu-
lates all lines of business in each
community. creates general pros
perity.
Cities That VIII Reap.
The fact that all these are patrio-
tic in purpose does not eliminate
the certainty Of their being material
" profitable TO the local commune
ties and in the long run, the com
munity which makes its easiest to
build and cheapest TO build, will
reap the greatest material bene-
fits
Not only has the department of
labor set out in detail the plan for
a successful own Your Own Home"
campaign. Ii is preparing publicity
matter which is to be placed at the
disposal of the local committees and
will. where communities can show
such action Is necessary 20 the in
auguration OF the campaign, send
an expert 10 assist in organizing and
getting the movement under way.
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