Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-11-12

"a AOA OOAAUoAAs
Understanding and Teamwork
Will Solve Many . Problem.
Some of the civic leaders have
grasped the idea that under
standing and teamwork are
essential factors in the solution
of local problems. There ap-
pears to be an increasing num-
Der of civic groups engaged in
the study Of the District and its
problems. Such studies embrace
local history as an important
background to the understanding
of the problems.
In the Voteless D. c. League
of Women Voters study groups
are at work in several of their
departments which deal with
local matters. Space is not avail
able to give an idea of all of
these.
In the department of govern
ment and its operation two meet
ings are being held each month.
The 1939-40 program of study
of the District government in
cludes six major topics as follows:
l. Historical background. 2. FL
nancial setup fiscal relations.
3. Suffrage for the District. 4.
Reorganization proposals trecent
reports. S. Merit system. 6. How
Congress legislates for the Dis
trict.
Considerable informative ma
terial has been distributed among
the members of the group and
research work is being done by
some to supplement their reading
of the available printed matter.
When the group gets together the
subject under consideration is
thoroughly threshed out.
These topics are taken up in
the psychological rather than the
logical order. The topic which is
Immediately under general public
discussion will always have the
preference.
The department of govern
ment and education covers
very broad field not combining it.
self to the local. It is studying
the local problems and in the re-
cent issue of the News Letter
says, With all the sound and
fury about government reorgan-
ization. our school system re-
mains the same, a Board of Edu-
cation with responsibility but no
power, hopelessly complicated
budgetary procedure and school
system handicapped on every side
by inadequate funds and lack of
freedom"
Board of Trade committees are
making extensive studies of civic
problems through competent
subcommittee. The streets, ave-
nues and bridge committees re-
Gently surveyed the highway and
bridge projects and are now in a
position to better understand the
pending problems involved. The
committee on public schools has
an elaborate survey under way to
equip the members for intelli-
gent action.
Other organizations could be
mentioned in which there is an
honest attempt to know the
problem before trying to bring
about its solution.
There is, however, somewhat Of
a lack of effort to coordinate
the result of these studies in the
different groups and bring about
a unified front for practical CO.
operation.
The chief obstacles to general
and practical cooperation in
solving some Of our vital prob
lens are pride of authorship, ex-
aggerated idea of the importance
of an organization and a desire
to obtain exclusive credit for any
achievement. All of these are of
far less Importance than the real
solution of the problem itself
though that fact is sometimes
overlooked. In any success or
honest attempt to solve one of
our many problems there is al
ways abundant credit to be
spread around among every or
ganization and individual who
had a hand in it, no matter how
humble was the part.
1t is achievement of the goal
and not the ways and means
which really counts.