Evening journal., 1921-05-06


ware was founded nearly three years
ago. there was no uncertainty as to
its purpose. A number Of citizens
formed an association to make dem
onstrations which might lead to an
Improvement OF fundamental and
vital conditions within the Common
wealth They also had an ulterior
hope: namely. that whatever we
might do successfully here would
serve as a guide to other states of
the Union. There has never been any
difference OF opinion as TO that pur-
pose. or that hope. Whenever or
wherever we have wavered, 1t has
been on a question Of method.
The Service Citizens has carried
through some experiments which
have been Of immense value to Del
aware. II we have not received due
credit for all that we have accom-
piished It is because we proceeded
with excessive modesty. We thought
that greater gains would accrue II
we hid ourselves entirely from view
and remained content that other or
ganizations and institutions should
receive all the praise. We believed
that better results could be obtained
II we threw all the credit to the State
Board OF Education. the Wilmington
CITY Board Of Education, the State
Board OF Health, the Americaniza-
ton Committee Of Delaware the
Survey Commission. the University
Of Delaware. the Teacher As
sociation and sundry other units Of
public service. Consequently, the
extent Of our activities has never
been known 10 the public.
During recent months, your Di-
rector has felt that this attitude had
no particular virtue in itself. neither
had il achieved results which more
frank and direct method would have
failed to accomplish. For Instance.
al great expense of money and by
the most unremitting toll, we have
sought TO support the State Board OF
Education under the School Code OF
1919 and the School Law OF 1920.
Nevertheless, the Legislature has
swept away both these laws and the
state Board which administered
them. or. another example; The
Service Citizens furnished the STATE
Board Of Health with the eNper
guidance Of Mr.. Chester II. Wells
who was accepted everywhere as il
oficial executive. But the recent Gen
eral Assembly made no provision 70
the continuance OF Mr.. Wells work.
Therefore, have reached the cor
ciusion that very little Is TO be game
by doing things by indirection. Ther
is a legitimate and honorable plac
in the State for such an organizatio
as the Service Citizens. and / propos
10 tell frankly what we have done i
the past. At this point 1 would EN-
phasize that the Service Citizens
not a political. partisan or sectaria
body. Whatever we do for Delaware
we do because It is worth doing. an
not 10 advance the interest ot an
SCI or sect or clique or group In tn
state. Also. I think that il SHOULD
be clearly stated again that We ow
the means of doing this public serv
sce almost exclusively 20 Mr.. Pierre
duPont. Prom our omclal board
and committees we have receive
me nor dis.nteresied and wise Eui5
a-ce ru- except FOR about $500
-~e-rtersr ir fees. al % our fnancr
-er-urcas have come from tnis o'
fa--rrhtsa and Distinguished citz'
- Delaware
Trat we have undertaken 20 DO
--r~r ri--r-e- We have tired tc ass
re people ~ this STATE -n rnaii
-eawars ere healthier. napp-'
and -rret desirable place on eartb
rr tn ire Tre few VINO na
r--oe-f our efforts have corsc-oli
o. urecnacicuslT rrlslrl-errre rrete1 %
rr-rree -he macy who have pe
-fer l--r F1Fricion or aniaEonii
-sra been r1lsrfcruec 1g me nf
tie fer F1r. wrateFer rriFiafes
--ar have mace. fhis much can
rad wtno1t tne Eiisntesf resers
tior- That no one connected ~
trp service Citizens has used tt
rrea~ izatlon for Obtaining poiiiic
once or private gain Or Dopr-
favor. We have lived and tnouE
rrd tcIe6 10 serve 40 the people
Ursaware and through them uli
r-felr the entire United States ~
t-o whoie world. our activities na'
f.ea- 80 rnultfOrm that can tou'
only ne most conspicuous feature
~ this report