Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-16

Corners is done by the inmates. This
| insures q more tho" ugh understanding
of the conditions by Older residents ano
more ready acceptance of them BY
| new omers.
The women ere grouped as proba
TONERS for a period of at least three
months: an electorate, the incoming
members of which must be recommend
ed by two members already in the in.
stitution: an executive committee
which is elected by the electorate and
which, usually numbers five in each cot
tage, and council composed of the
rangement Is the same in each cot
tage. Privileges are allowed in def.
mite increasing ratio according to rank
in this grouping plan.
For the purpose of developing re-
SponSibility. women in the more adj
vanced groups have a supervised part
in the government of the institution
Minor disciplinary matters are taken up
by the committee. In most cases the
removal of privileges forms sufficient
punishment.
The organized expression of this self
government is found in the cooperative
clubs There is club in each cottage
consisting of committee members
dIlu IL. Inc PURPOSE Ol
the clubs, as set forth in the constitu-
ton. is to. afford a channel through
which our determination to lead ar.
upright life. here and now. may flow
out to improve the life of our cot
tages. thence to the whole institution
and finally to the families and commu-
mites to which we hope to return"
One of the club meetings gives a
view of the interested and really CO.
operative attitude of the women. A
meeting was held to elect the committee
for a newly established cottage 1t vas
presided over by DR.. Harris All pro-
cedure was in accordance with parlia-
mentary law, which lent both clarity
and dignity to the consideration of the
business that was before the meeting
First the pledge included in the consti-
tuition was repeated and signed 1t is
worded briefly and directly: II pledge
my loyalty to the Cooperative Club of
Cottage X. I promise to prove myself
worthy of the honor and responsibility
conferred upon me and to obey its
rules. shall endeavor to perform my
duties acceptably and do all In my
power to uphold the ideals for which
this organization stands"
There was next a discussion OF the
women eligible for the electorate. Nom
nations were made for committee
members. When the members of the
committee had been elected. they de-
cided upon their chairman and Secre-
tary. DR.. Harris made a brief speech
stressing the two outstanding aims of
the committee-to be examples to the
others and to be fair. The last few
minutes Of the meeting just before ad-
iournment. were taken up by speeches
from the chairman and secretary. Il
thank you, girls" the chairman said
simply, I'll do my best and I know
they will"
THIS attitude OF appreciation of the
aims Of the institution and of an
active endeavor to follow out those
aims is shown very definitely by
conversation with one of the inmates
She Is a member of her cottage COM
mittee. and is in charge of the cottage
kitchen. She told with emphasis of
the improvement made by the institu-
ton in mental attitude and physical
well-being.
In comparing this condition with
that while in another institution. shs
said when came here / couldn't
walk UP that hill I had had bad food.
and no exercise except walking inside
the walled grounds Now--Look at
mel" shs looked strong, capable and