Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-29
The Citizens Association.

| Washington is fortunate in having A
; battery OF eighty federated citizens as
! sociations 10 concentrate the fire ot It's
more than half million citizens upnt,
, public need which arouse End promote
civic spirit, whic, give voice 10 tn.
! largest unit of disenfranchlscd psople
anywhere ~ the world. This is the
concentrated verdict OF noted SUDDEN
| Sociological Society after carefull
| directed. intensive and systematic study
! ri the peculiar situation in the National
Capital
| The mere fact of citizens discussing
together any common need~~for IN.
! stance. sewers better bus or car service.
+ or the taking off of sharp corner that
makes driving difficult or dangerous
does help to make people think as citi-
| zsns, aud may have the effect of slim
ulating civic pride. DR. Edward r. DE-
vino, professor of social economy at the
American University. said in making his
| report 10 the national society on the
results Of IN inquiry made by the semi
mar in social economy.
Then he emphasized that the Wash
! ;ngton plan is clearly superior TO an"
which concentrates on influencing vot-
! ers and limits its efforts 10 the brief
pariod Of campaign. The Washington
I associations were found to be free from
this seasonal periodicity. often sustain
| ing their interest throughout the year.
/ The seminar refutes the objection
frequently raised against citizens asso-
cations IN the National Capital bt
thoee who question whether the asso-
Citations are really seeking any ends not
clearly recognized also by the District
! Commissioners, the Board of Education
! and other official District bodies, and
behind them the Federal Congress itself
sitting as local municipal legislature or
working through its committees and sub
committees on District affairs. II point
/ out that. central authorities, un-
/ hampsred by local demands. uneriisht-
ensd By iocsl petitions and protests
might. indeed. from purely technica
point of view, devise and carry forward
q more symmetrical and comprehensive
program. but they would be working In
tins dark, They would he withou, the
very stuff IN raY material from which
n he lz
Attention rs directed f0rcefully 10 one
big advantage the Washington citizens
/ associations have over any type of So
called civlc organizations from which
women engaged In home making arc
excluded or are absent In the Wash
/ ington plan this large and interested
/ group Is al less given an opportunity
/ Tor participation. II the ultimate goa
/ is The improvement Of the community
ynir IN the last ANALYSIS. can come
onis AZ homes ere improved the soci-
! ological investigators point out. II Ia
/ obviously unfair and unwise In iet less
than fifty PER cent of the home maker,
/ that IT.. only the incn Of the homes --
initiate and execute the programs thus
designed 10 improve the conditions for
| the physical ard social weli-be!ns oi
! individuals and families.
! New impetus viii be given 10 the citi.
zens' associations activities A. result
. Of this commentator b. such noted ~.
c,olog.eal specialist, and ~ eivle pride
end advancement the community shoulc
benefit directly from the increased e..
/ .1asi2zn 81 the organized el,l4sns
For future pefk the eeniinas ma mads
i al important 9'tgg eStion H. Is natural
tta' e3t.ena ae1ocistiorS should ha".
5eg9n 9!th an attempt ~ Improve nigh
ga@a and other material Instruments
Of The common iife II Il. desirable ths /
from TINS beginning they should IN.
! cTaaaingiy gjVs attention 10 thDAs les
tangible factors which go 10 make az
: tbe good Tie ~ the community
IN tins study made by teseatch stu,
dents 10 emphasized again nos TINS
Capital Ctty aeta Inc beastIl 81 e&yeft
/ inquiry and judgment on the nynsd
phases ~ life ana pfogreaa snd sOcis
lnter1ourAc u is moi city made mag.
siiilceut aione bs the millions oi dollar
spent Tor material adornmen'. bu,
| also b. the loving thought and devnr
ton 0f millions upon millions of PEG.
pie promoting eathstie and spiritual ar
well ~ msLefisi ends.
j u has been demonstrated thai Lind
bsIgh fs4 q tire head ana kuopa hos
f.j'i1ss .t~senettaing that enllatss IN al,