Evening star., 1940-10-18
Conference Takes Up
Family Welfare Aids
In Wake Of Defense
Regional PorIey Opens
3-Doy Session With us
Delegates From 6 States

Responsibility Of the family social
work agency for obtaining effective
community action in the wake OF
increasing problems due to the ma
tional defense program was to 'be
the basis for group discussions
scheduled to round out the first
day session of the Middle Atlantic
Regional Conference of the Family
Welfare Association of America.
Conference sessions opened this
morning at the Wardman Park
Hotel.
Approximately IT'S delegates from
six States will gather in eight dis
cussion groups, each to handle va
rious phases of the conventions S
theme subject, "Our Progress in
Understanding the Community" No
formal program was scheduled for
today, William H. Savin. chairman
of the Regional Committee, an
nounced.
The convention began last night
with dinner, attended by nearly
200 persons, at which Rabbi Samuel
Wolk of Wilkes-Barre, Pa, spoke on
"The Social Agency in an UnSOclal
Age" The speaker, calling for a
greater understanding of individ-
uals' problems in the modern social
scheme, said social agencies were
called upon at this time to "bulWark
democracy" by combating mass
hysteria that today was threaten
ing to lose all the ground that social
work and religion had thus far
gained for the individual,
Individual System in L. S.
Rabbi Wolk contrasted the posi-
ton of individuals in American
communities with those of totali-
tartan nations, pointing out that the
latter were subjugated to state needs
while American efforts were aimed
to benefit the individual He then
warned against class distinction, de-
claring that such motives and prac-
tices led to ''rending asunder the
Quiltwork of democracy
He touched on aliens in this coun-
try as gauges of our democracy in
asking fair treatment of them in
dividually. The speaker added that
If We considered all aliens as fifth
columnists. then democracy is fail
ing There are many alienS, he
added, who, although thy have
taken out their first citizenship
papers. cannot be put on w. P. A.
rolls and that aliens are barred to-
day in eight out of nine jobs in
private industry.
Miss Mary E. Lucas, field secre-
tary of the association. IGpC. Led
on her departments plans for cop
ing with the many new RESPONSE
bilities brought on by the defense
program. She declared that case
work would of necessity need the
cooperation of lay members Of
each community for better results
In combating anxiety, fear and
shock" which would be evident
In the next few months because of
conscription, poor housing condi-
tions and the ever-groWing indus
trial expansion.
Sees Need of Teamwork.
Particularly would this be true.
she said of small towns near Army
camps and the founding of defense
industrial plants in cities not capa-
BILE of handling a great influx of
workers and migrant laborers. She
called for greater teamwork be-
tween local and national agencies as
a necessary force during the next
few years.
At the speakers table were
Woodson P. Houghton, president Of
the Family Service Association Of
Washington: Judge Fay Bentley Of
Juvenile Court; Mrs. Raymond G..
Scarlet, board member, Baltimore
Family Welfare Association; How
ard M. Slutes of Inglewood, N. j.,
conference chairman; j. Bradley
Buell. of the Community Chest &
Councils, Inc, New York City; Cole
man Jennings, Washington Com
munity Chest, Rabbi and Mrs.
Wolk, Miss Lucas and Mr.. Savln.
Group leaders named for today's
conferences are: Group l, William
Meacham, Richmond, Va, and the
Rev. James M. Shelburne. Danville,
Va: 2, DR.. Frank D. Watson, Ard
more. Pa, and John R. Pinkett of
Washington: 3, the Rev. Roger C..
Stimson, Ardmore, Pa, and Owen