Evening journal., 1919-01-18

bilities which, in their eyes, had little
to do with the preparing Of men for
fighting, and the winning Of battles at
the front
Our detailed report will show the
methods and the means used 10 ac-
complish results in all OF the activities
which we have undertaken. II will
show also the main lines OF actual work
and a few accomplishments Of which
we are proud, but up TO this time we
have not been able to prepare any COM
plete record of permanent results or
any adequate statement Of the wide
and growing human response TO the
fundamental appeals to the pride and
interest and responsibility Of Della
wares citizens for public health. for
improved education, and for the health
and welfare OF children.
"The Womans Committee wishes 10
express very strongly TO the State
Council at this time our own growing
conviction. based on our contact and
experience with large numbers Of indl-
viduals and with all the communities
OF the State, that the sentiment Of
sufficient number OF people Is now
strong enough along these lines, so
that 1t only needs 10 be crystalized by
proper publicity, organization and di-
rection-to stand firmly back OF even
radical State action for insuring public
health. for advancing public education.
and for giving 10 the normal children
born in Delaware every facility which
Is their right for health, education and
/ fitness for citizenship.
Since April we have enlisted in sc-
tive work along these and other lines
many individuals under our direct
supervision. we have had the ready CO.
operation Of many volunteer organiza-
tions and agencies. We have also had
the assistance Of State and local on
GERS and official departments. We have
had the cooperation and assistance Of
the press and the services OF profess
sional people contributed without cost
We have had what we knew from the
beginning OF our work In March, 1917,
Z was an absolute essential to success
the official backing Of this Council ere
ated by the Legislature. and we wish
10 say now, what we wish 10 have re-
membered as the State gradually comes
TO realize during the next year the full
meaning OF Defense Council work to
the community, that TO the action Of
the finance and executive committee,
and particularly TO the insight and ef-
fectlve action Of the director general,
! through whom executive decisions have
been administered, the chief credit IS
due. We could have raised private
funds TO put through a program which
might have satisfied superficial opin-
ion, but we could not have made Della
wares work take the place II has in
the national program. and win the
Federal and National recognition for
merit which has already been given to
Il IN printed national reports, in pub
lice addresses at Washington, In the
press OF other States, and in national
magazines and organizations, without
the effective support and assistance Of
the director-general and OF your execu-
tive committee.
I'VE regard it as our failure that the
work OF organization, Of registration for
service, Of women in industry, OF home
economics, Of health and recreation,
community war gardens, child welfare,
public health nursing, Americanization,
publicity and education, are all better
known at Washington that they are in
our own State We are sorry that we
have not been able to spend quite half
Of our total appropriation, for we are
not too modest 10 believe that II we
had been able to spend the entire
amount allowed to US in as effective a
way as we had planned. that there
would have been a much larger number
Of people in the State today awakened
10 the opportunities and responsibilities
for making the State Of Delaware take
its proper place in the reconstruction
work Of the nation.
I'VE believe that with six months
more, under peace conditions, which
would enable US TO secure the necessary
paid assistance, that we would have
been able, with the present rate Of ap-
preparation. to make up for much lost
time. Our difficulty has been that the
workers have been few, in comparison
10 the amount Of work, that other
States. with more financial resources
and wider opportunities, have been
able 10 outbid us In their employment
Of nurses and special workers, and that
we had TO choose between doing the
actual work from day to day, especially
during the influenza epidemic, and the
preparing OF the proper publicity
which should have attended all the
work.
1--WE know that the Defense Council
was a temporary organization. We also
know the present tendency to discon-
tinue or reorganize defense bodies as a
practical force since the signing Of the
farmistice. But we know from our in
quiries in the nation as q whole and
also in our present very keen appre-
Cation OF Delsware's responsibility 10
itself and the country, that the activi-
ties OF the Women's Committee repre-
sent responsibilities assumed for the
first time in this State by the State it.
/ self, and that these responsibilities once
assumed, cannot be allowed 10 relax
or suffer until, adequate provision has
been made for carrying them on. Many
OF the activities can be transferred
with more or less advantage and in q
comparatively short time either 10 pri-
vate organizations or TO other official,
local or State departments. In this
class are public health, women in in
dustry, home economics, food produc-
ton. recreation and Americanization.
But the child welfare, as a matter of
right and responsibility. should not ,e
transferred TO any agency, either State
OF volunteer, until its immediate and
future importance TO the State has been
very carefully considered, and it cannot
be relaxed temporarily and taken up
again without disastrous effects. II L.