Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-29
HARD WINTER SEEN
FOR D. C. FAMILIES
WIN Need Most Aid Since
Slump Began, Social Work
Conference Told.

How the economic depression and
resultant unemployment are affeettnx
American home life. throwing the bur
den OF supporting many families
upon charity, was portrayed today 1t
ctty-wide conference Of social work
ers at the United States Chamber Of
Commerce
With respect to conditions here.
Miss Louise MCGUIRE. assistant profess
sor Of National economies at the Ma
tional Catholic School Of Social Work.
predicted families would need more
financial assistance this Winter than at
any time since the slump began in the
Fall OF 1929. During the past two
Winters. she said. Washington families
have made their old clothes do and
have lived on reduced rations.
She suggested two remedies. FIRST,
caring for destitute mothers and chill
dren under the mothers pension act.
ana secondly by the enactment OF an
emergency employment appropriation
which would put heads OF families back
to work.
Miss Katharine F. Lenroot, assistant
chief OF the United States Chfldren,s
Bureau. said appropriations must be
gotten from the next Congress II homes
are to be held together" She urged
social workers TO wage a campaign to
cCCuAS Akl&HCAAl AlQ from CONRTeSSs
Reports Increasing Demands.
Miss Mcclure said the present de-
preston has caused more Washington
families to fall back on social agencies
than ever before. She said the increas-
ing demands on charitable organizations
"faT exceed the increase In social
agency STATS and finances"
She disclosed that sos children out
OF every 100000 Of population are de-
pendent for their support outside of the
family. This number, she said, Is a
considerably higher ratio than In any
State in the country.
Il think the District needs to con-
slider seriously just what can be done
70 decrease dependency and delinquency
among children" Miss MCGUIRE said.
adding that in her opinion q non-sec-
tartan agency, especially equipped and
thoroughly stated, should be established
to handle dependent children. She
pointed out there was no agency now
operated solely for child welfare pur-
poses.
An attack upon the public school
system for failure to carry out provi-
sions Of the Children's Charter, adopted
by the White House Conference on
Child Health and Protection, was made
by Mrs. Clara NJ. Boyer, director of the
AAA4AoeA ANA aANAoAOi Va tAAC OAlA0ICA 0Q-
reau.
Declares Six Not Observed.
Six sections of the charter are not
being observed by the school system,
she said, enumerating them as follows:
Section 5, which provides for periodi-
cal health and dental examinations:
section 8, providing for every child Q
school which is safe from hazards, san
itary. properly equipped lighted and
ventilated; section 10, providing for
every child an education. which, through
the discovery and development Of his
individual abilities, prepares him for
life; section IL, providing that teaching
and training for every child 40 win pre-
pare him for successful pMenthood,
homemaking and the rights of citizen
ship; section Is, providing care, treat
ment and training for physically handi-
capped children, and section Is, pruvid-
ing for every child protection against
labor that stunts growth, either physical
or mental, that limits education, that
deprives children Of the right of COM
radeship. Of play. and Of Joy"
Thomas S. Settle, secretary of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, disclosed that it is the
purpose of his committee to provide .
playground within a quarter Of q mile
CT every child Of every race in Wash
ington, and a base ball and foot ball
field within three quarters OF mile. He
advocated uniform supervision OF school,
playground and park activities.
George A. Hastings Speaks.
Extraordinary cooperation between
Community Chest agencies during the
period of depression was urged BY
George A. Hastings, administrative as
sistant to President Hoover, at meet
ing last night
"Cur social work. Hastings declared.
.'hiS become so carefully divided up
into separate fields Of health, family
welfare, character building, mental
hygiene, child care, recreation and
other branches that we might easily
forget that we are mutually depend
ent and furthermore are parts of the
common life of the whole community
and not merely a detached and self
sufhcient specially.
Our problems and work are ire
vocably connected with the general eco
noTnic situation. In our zeal for prog
reSs in our chosen directions we must
be on guard against considering every
rivulet of result from our efforts as the
main stream Of social improvement.
After all the main stream is economic
soundness. Responsibility rests upon us
as social workers both In prosperity and
adversely
Depression Increases Task.
when the tides Of business are rum
ming strongly our efforts are in demand
to help care for the sick, the needy
and the handicapped. When the eco
nomic system Is dislocaDed our task Is
proporttcnately increased. Is not this a
good time for us as social workers to
realize that it is our function not only
to help care for the unfortunates, but
to play cur part in the social and eco
pomic craftsmanship which looks to-
ward strengthening our economic sys-
temp"
Turning to discussion of child well
fare work, Hastings said the health and
protection Of children Is the joint duty
of the parent and the community.
The welfare Of children" the speaker
insisted, Is not some sentimental, In
significant frill on the far fringe OF
public interest. 1t is q vital major con-
Germ OF National, State and local gov
eminent and citizen interest, as well Is
parental responsibility.
Challenge Is Faced.
Communities win do their share only
as parents indicate their interest and
ask the public authorities for the special
kinds Of help they need to safeguard
and rear their children in an atmos-
phere Of safety and opportunity. We
face q challenge to deal with the pow
erty, neglect, sickness and delinquency
Of children. The forces Of public I'M
derstanding and public opinion need 10
be focused on changing, outworn laws
and upon energizing public authority
as well as voluntary organizations.
at Is significant that the White
House Conference on Child Health and
Protection came from the initiative and
interest of the President of the United