The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1926-04-22
BETTER HOMES WEEK
Will Be Observed April 26-5Iay
l, With Foreword by Herbert
Hoover.

The Better Homes movement stands
on the belief that our people, by we'll
planned measures, can obtain for
themselves finer type of home and
family life. The splendid and wide
spread support that has been given it
makes for soundness at the very base
of our whole social and political struc-
tUre. 1t is in our homes and family
circles that the children of each
generation receive the most essential
part Of the training they need as men
and women to go forth and meet the
problems that press upon them. From
our homes each day come those who
produce and distribute necessary COM
modities and carry on the government
and other enterprises. The highest
and most enduring social relationships
are those of the family, and most men
and women find the welfare of their
families to be life's most impelling
motive.
Home making is still as much
matter of personal character and I'M
sWerving maintenance of standards as
it ever was. On the housekeeping side,
moreover, it involves wider knowledge
and greater range of alternatives to
choose from than ever before. New
equipment and devices are constantly
becoming available and the results of
systematic study are shedding new
light on various household problems
affecting health and happiness.
Furthermore, millions of our families
must adapt themselves more or less
often to changed circumstances of liv-
ing because of movement between
country and city, between regions
with different climates, and between
apartments and houses of different
sizes, and because of changes in in
come.
Systematic study of home making
under great variety of conditions is
evidently needed. The Better Homes
committees, by division of tasks,
are able to go into many problems
more thoroughly than a single over
worked housewife, and through the
demonstrations present their con-
illusions in practical form. In num-
Der of cities this has involved showing
several houses, each specially fitted to
the needs of a particular group of
families.
The local committees which kept
the cost of their demonstration hous-
es, furnishings, and equipment within
carefully devised budget have done
the most toward solving their local
housing problem. They have faced the
same problems as the families which
have to piece out limited funds with
brains and ingenuity and the work
of Their hands.
Permanent school practice houses
built and owned by our public schools
and colleges, embodying high stand
ards of architecture, construction and
furnishing, are another important
part of the movement. Education for
homemaking should be available to all
and is best given under realistic con-
ditions.
The work of Better Homes commit
tees has promoted character training
in the home, and reading, music and
other forms of wholesome home recre-
alton. 1t has encouraged saving and
wise expenditure for the building and
equipping of homes and thereby help
ed to raise living standards, reduce
drudgery and make the conditions of
life more attractive.
Of great significance is the origi-
nality shown in the local demonstra-
tions. Nothing would deaden the
movement more quickly than the list
less following of a standard ready
made program.
There is nothing finer than a living
tradition, tradition which continual
ly spurs men and women to achieve
ment Those who are pioneering the
way in Better Homes demonstrations
today can build up tradition which
will make the high type of homes,
and the character of the young men
and women who come from them, the
chief pride of the community. Such a
tradition requires a central point of
inspiration, dynamic symbol and the
Better Home demonstration fills this |
need.
Where a demonstration is most sue
cessful, it is usually because the COM
mittee works hard and obtains willing
assistance, especially from those
whom it directly calls upon. The
Better Home movement already
commands wide following. 1t de-
serves greatly extended support.