Evening journal., 1919-08-27
COMMUNITY BODY
FOR Union PAEK
Addresses by Mayor Tay-
lor. George B. Miller
ard Harold Keats
OBJECTIONS AIRED ON
PRESENT CONDITIONS

residents OF Union Park Gardens, at o
meeting held in the Sunday school
room Of the Silyerbrook NJ. e. Church.
Addresses were made by Mayor Taylor
George b. Miller president Of the State
Board Of Education, Harold Keats, ex-
ecutiye officer Of the Community Ser
vice, and others. The arrangements
for the meeting had been made by Mrs.
Lucy Jones Harris, community organ
izer for the Service
That the residents Of that section
were deeply interested In the meeting
was shown by the large attendance and
frequent response from those present,
on topics concerning the welfare Of
Union Park Gardens. That conditions
are not altogether to the liking Of the
residents was clearly shown by the
statements made by a number that they
would leave the Gardens as soon as
homes could be procured in other Sec
ttons. Conditions, it was said, were
intolerable.
Irving easier, song leader for the
service, conducted a "slng" from the
steps OF the church prior to the meet
Ing. Following the meeting, which was
attended by possibly three hundred
people, nearly fifty men and women
living at the Gardens gave their names
and addresses TO George B. Miller. pres
ident Of the State Board of Education,
who presided, as the foundation for
committee on organization. Others will
be added TO this committee and a meet
ing called in two or three weeks for
the purpose Of electing permanent Of
flcers.
Mayor Taylor was the first 20 be in
troduced after Chairman Miller had
welcomed the residents. Mr.. Taylor said
he was glad to meet the people because
this section Of the city reminded him
of a small town and he believed it was
the best kind Of town TO live In. He
referred 10 the conditions under which
the Gardens residents were living and
said there should be things done 20 |
remedy such conditions.
George R0mmel, president Of the 1
Wilmington Board Of Education. was
the next speaker. Mr.. Rommel re- |
ferred to school conditions and said |
that within a year If Council pro
vided the money, a school costing |
nearly quarter Of a million Of dol /
lars would be erected In the mean
time four portable schools capable Of /
accommodating 100 pupils would be
erected
Harold Keats, executive officer Of the
Community Service, was introduced
and told Of the aims Of the service and
why this meeting had been agitated
and arranged for. He said i'm part:
You have heard much perhaps in
The daily press Of the social unit plan
Of city organization. Ours is not the
social unit scheme, but rather a com
Dlnation Of the practical features OF
the social unit. the neighborhod and
The block schemes Of community de-
1.-THE plan which we are proposing
the formation. first of a
Union Park Citizens Association, and
The subcommittee % on Recreation;
,2) on Housing and Health; t3) on Pub
lc Fornms; ,4) on Hospitality; (5) on
Finance; l6) on Education.
"These committees would be made up
II citizens Of this neighborhood and
would deal with the questions arising
u !
MI the welfare and service agencies OF
he city would welcome any oppOrtun-
ty to cooperate with them because it
would mean the facilltation OF their
Efforts and the broadening Of the scope
II their work.
speaking for Community Service,
nay say that all the members OF our
tan will be happy TO cooperate in any
way and you may feel free TO call upon
lur departments Of community music,
Il drama, Of physical recreation, Of so /,
ial recreation. Of neighborhoOd organ ,
zation, or in short, any Of the re- !,
0urces which we may have.
1T must be thoroughly understood,
owever. that Community Service in no
way wishes TO guide the destinies of
he residents Of the Union Park Neigh
orhood and absolutely discaims any |
tempt TO settle matters Of policy for
ou. Our real desire TO that the citi-
ems Of this neighborhood organize
themselves for the conduct Of their
wn affairs and l am sure that IL this
fort is successful il cannot fail to re-
ound to the benefit Of all of us who
We here
zone Of the great purposes OF Com
unity Service when its policies were
by the committee on living
)ndltlons OF the Federal Government
as TO effect-wherever possible-real
tizens' associations or neighborhood
'gsnlzations, not alone for the stimu-
tion of thought and discussion Of COM
unity subjects by the people them
Ives but also to so organize the citi-
ms Of the great industrial centers that
ey should take an active part in the
ljustment Of their neighborhood |
Oblems.
"Our effort is 10 organize people
so that they can acquire
r themselves the advantages OF the
d town meeting type OF government
the same time benefting by the op-
which the large city affords.
this enterprise community service
absolutely without political bias.
10 personnel OF our committee is
nlcient guarantee OF the unprejudiced
d non-partisan character OF our Or
nizatlon. lt Is not, then with any
ought OF advancing any particular
cory OF government or any particu-
+ philosophy of life that this meeting
3 been called together. Il is rather
bring the residents OF this section
10 neighborly contact with each other