Evening star., 1920-03-20
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
ORGAN|zAT|ONP PLAN
Discussed at Conference oil
Welfare Representatives
Gathered Here.

Gathered Here.
Plans for the creation OF a perma
neat organization for the promotion
of the community spirit throughout
the country were discussed today at a
conference of community welfare rep
resentatives held in the New Willard
ballroom.
More than 800 prominent men and
women who are interested in the
furthering of Americanis.u through
neis hhorhood units were present.
Concrete proposal for a national
community organization was ad-
yanced at the morning session by
Wilbur c. Phillips. Cincinnati, rep
resenting the National Social Unit
Organization. The plan, which was
submitted in the form of a resoiu-
ton to be discussed at tcday's ses-
sions and passed at the close of the
conference tonight. provides that the
cohIerees constitute themselves a
temporary general committee to per-
1ect the organization,
Plan Executive Committee.
According to the proposal. a nomi-
mating committee should be appointed
10 name temporary executive com
m!ttee TO represent the general COM
mlltee. This executive committee
should familiarize itself with the best
work of community organization
throughout the country and report
back suggestions to the general com
mlttee at date to be named later.
The executive committee will formu-
late flexible plan for the observance
OF Flag day. June IA. as an occa-
SION 1or the promotion of neighbor-
ilness and the discussion of demo-
cratic community organization
throughout the United States
Mr.. Lanes Statement.
Franklin K. Lane, who called the
conference, was unable to be present.
he is In California and found it i'm
possible to return in time to deliver
the opening address. Fred c. Butler,
former director of Americanization.
read message from Mr.. Lane
Two needs of grave import con-
front the nation in the present hour"
Mr. Lanes statement reads, in part.
We need to develop a more thought
ful and interested citizenship capable
OF considering. discussing, weighing
and making a, wise decision in all
matters affecting the common veal
We need to find ways of crystalliz-
ing this public sentiment and of
translating it into action.
My interest in the movement
arises from my conviction that it
will help to solve both of these prob
lens. The movement has many phases
1t lies. for instance at the very root
OF proper Americanization, for the
essence of Americanization is not
merely to teach English, but to draw
the newcomer into our common life
and to make him an active partner
in all of our undertakings"
Spirit of NeixhbOrliness.
MIR. Lane said that the most potent
force making for community organ
ization appears to be the inborn spir-
it of neighborliness
I'VE need as people to emphasize
the common interests which bind us
together" the statement concludes.
There are divisions in our national
life. Let US recognize them all-so-
cial. economic. political. racial, what
ever they may be-let US examine
them. weigh them and find solutions
for them. But let US also remember
EN- barked all together on a great ad-
venture-the search for a democracy
based on fellowship and justice"
Must Utilize Class Conflicts.
Class conflict is a scientific fact,
and to deny its existence is folly"
according to f. c. Lindeman of the
department of sociology of the Wo-
d.
THE community movement must
learn how to utilize class conflicts in
constructive programX he COM
tinued. Static cooperation is chaos.
When class conflict is brought under
rationalistic control it inevitably
that the conflict may be shifted from
people to ideas.
Community organization will fur
nish the machinery which will bring
class conflict into the white light OF
the public square. Then the really
sion. investigation. conflict, decision
and tentative advance. There is no
other road to progress"
According to Mr.. Lindeman, the i'm
perative need of the present is a ma
tional community organization. A
host of organizations are attempting
to organize national bodies, he said,
which bewilders the people.
Unless some sort of coordination
among the various community
agencies takes place soon. he said,
the people will lose confidence in the
community movement. The people
are interested in democratic COM
they are insisting it shall be free
from institutional selfishness."
Larger Interpretation Of Life"
of the sayings division, Treasury De-
partment. said now is the time to or
ganiZe permanently for a larger in
depreciation of life and for a more in
telligent understanding of democracy.
Business is operated primarily for
the service of the public and not for
profit alone" Mr.. Lester continued.
Men and women owe their jobs to the
needs of a consuming public. Social
and political Institutions. like BUSH
ness. are intended to serve the COM
munity, and the only reason for an
institution's existence is the service
it renders. We are coming to realize
that the people should have something
to say about the kind of service rem
dered We cannot get any such dem
ocratic response until we have in each
community clearing house of public
opinion through some community or
ganization which represents the
rights of the public and the progress
of the entire country
COMMUNITY SERVICE PROBE.