Newark post., 1919-07-09

education assured them from their birth State
where the alien finds friends and urgent persua-
sion to become true American; State where
rich and poor old and young are properly and
decently housed and where they may find whole
some recreation, so that they may work hard,
with healthy bodies and clear minds and find
happiness in the work, the play, the duties and
privileges, and the companionships which go with
truly successful personal and community life.
Resources
If this is our program for Delaware, our first
practical step is to consider our resources for
working it out
Official
For three Of the main divisions: government,
health and education, we have official agencies
The Survey Commission, the State Board Of
Health and the State Board of Education in
charge Of the new School Code.
Official and Unofficial
In Americanization the State Board Of Educa-
tion has an appropriation for the education Of
the foreigner; the "Serivce Citizens has CO.
ordinated program which provides for the con-
tinuaton Of broad Americanization policy and
pidl Ol WOIk III Slllu w clldIc the oldc hc~
construction Commission is continuing active
program in cooperation with the Women s
Committee and other child agencies.
Part of Program Not Provided For
This leaves two of the main subjects and two
Of the allied subjects which are not yet provided
for in any adequate way.
Various aspects Of these problems are touched
by both official and unofficial agencies, but there
is clear field for study and action now, by
private agencies looking toward official action
later in the subjects of industry and agriculture,
housing and recreation
A study of industrial management and possible
expansion in Wilmington, Of laws and conditions
regulating the development Of industry, could
well be undertaken in this way.
\ rural life committee, with funds and expert
service, could support the Farm Bureaus and
give new impetus and value to the State De
partment of Agriculture. This committee could
make recommendations on recreation facilities
FOR town and country, and the same or a separate
committee or group might deal with housing.
Recreation and housing in Wilmington present
well defined problems from both the social and
industrial points Of view.
The first tentative plans and budgets for the
unofficial effort needed in these directions can
easily be secured.
As the object and the success of all disnterest-
ed civic work is to have public departments
assume their legitimate responsibilities for the
welfare of the people, the Civic agencies in
Delaware can now deal with an unexpectedly
happy advance in several of their most difficult
problems.
What seemed ten-years' program of Civic
effort two years ago has already become an ac-
complished fact.
There is no reason, however, for any realaxed
effort on the part Of private agencies. Public
departments will need assistance and co-opera-
ton in their new responsibilities, and there are
still relatively large number Of questions in
dire need OF solution, which are, far un-
touched by official responsibility The gain of
the past two years has been great, but Utopia
is nowhere in sight.
official Provisions
For the official program of Government, health,
education and child welfare, the State bodies in
charge have already demonstrated their serious
ness and intelligence Of purpose in planning the
work, and their readiness to accept volunteer
assistance when wisely given to supplement the
resources Of the State and community.
The foregoing represents the background Of OPP
portunity upon which the four commissions
named have selected an Executive Committee
who, following suggestions made at the first con-
ference of commission members at Dover have
chosen the officers of an organization to be known
Clearing House
az For publicity and information and
~ To consider in conference with the Execu-