Evening star., 1941-11-08
Women Hear
La Guardia in
Defense Call
3,000,000 Needed
In Civil Defense
Program, He Says

warning that the world situation
Is still very serious, Mayor Fiorello
H. La Guardia. director of civilian
defense, urged today that every ef-
fort be made to speed the civil de-
fense program. In welcoming dele
gates to conference on women's
activities in civilian defense at the
departmental auditorium, he ex-
pressed confidence that the Axis will
be defeated, and declared that I'VE
must do everything in our power to
provide protection for our people
and our homes"
Representatives of 81 national
women's organizations attended the
conference. which was called by Miss
EloiSe Dawson, assistant director In
charge of group activities in the Of
fee of Civilian Defense. Others in
vlted to the conference included
women members of State defense
councils.
Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, as
sistant director of Civilian defense,
presided at the morning session of
the conference and introduced the
speakers.
In addition to Mayor La Guardia.
others who addressed the meeting
included Archibald MacLeish, IL
brarian of Congress and director of
the Office of Facts and Figures;
Federal Security Administrator
Paul V. McNutt, Surg. Gen. Thomas
Parran, Undersecretary of Agricul-
ture Paul H Appleby, Harriet FL
lott. associate administrator, Office
of Price Administration, and Dr.
Martha NJ Eliot, assistant chief of
the Children's Bureau.
100000 Workers Needed.
"The world situation is very seri-
Gus, and we want to get right down
to business" Mayor La Guardia
told the conference. The situation
in the Far East is particularly
alarming, he said.
Approximately 100000 woman
workers will be needed in the VOL
untary activities of the civilian de-
fense program, he estimated. These
workers will be required not only for
the duration of the present emer-
gency, but to assist in the postwar
fight against poverty, disease and
crime.
"Of the ultimate outcome Of the
war, we can have no doubt Mayor
La Guardia declared. L am con-
f1dent of the defeat of the Axis
Pointing out that democratic So
ciety is based on an entire conf
dence in the people, Mr. MacLeish
emphasized the important contribu-
ton of voluntary organized groups
in helping to make democracy work.
He urged that volunteer civilian de-
tense groups throughout the country
cooperate in celebrating Bill of
Rights day on December Is.
McNutt Calls for Courage.
We mus preserve that which we
are now preparing to defend, the
health and strength and independ-
ent courage of all the people" Fed
eral Security Administrator McNutt
told the conference. "All of us are
banded together in a common en-
terprlse. We are saving and salvag-
ing and strengthening the human
values by which and for which we
take our stand"
DR.. Eliot discussed the opportuni-
ties for volunteers in child health
and welfare. Surg. Gen. Parran
discussed the role of volunteers in
national health programs. Under
secretary Appleby outlined the op-
portunities for volunteers to help
meet Britain's need for food. Miss
Elliott discussed the activities of
woman consumer groups in the pre-
paredness effort.
Delegates had lunch at the WASH
ington Hotel, where models from the
Office of Civilian Defense displayed
the uniforms to be worn by volun-
teer workers throughout the country.
Afternoon Speakers.
Miss Dawson will preside at this
afternoons session, which will dis
cuss the role of organized groups in
the defense program. Among those
who were to speak were Brig. Gen.
l.. .. GaSser, assistant director of
Civilian Defense, in charge of civil
Ian protection; Wilmer Shields,
Division of Community Volunteer
Service; Miss Grace Coyle, associate
professor of applied social sciences.
Western Reserve University, and
Miss Alice Keliher, assistant pro-
feSSor of education, New York Uni
rersity.
Mrs. Roosevelt will receive the
group at tea at the White House at
pm.
Delegates to the Inter-A American
Commission of Women, who con-
cluded their three-day sessions at
the Pan-Anerican Union yesterday,
attended the conference today.
Recommendations for the Confer
ence of American States at Bogota,
Colombia, passed by the commission
yesterday, were to be announced this
afternoon.
A proposal that American women
on both continents be trained imme-
diately in whatever activities they
are able to replace men was to be
decided today
The commission decided yesterday
that through its chairman, Sonora
Ana Rosa de Martinez Guerrero of
Argentina, monthly bulletin on the
program of women in every Amer
lean republic will be published dur
ing the coming year. Each delegate
to the commission will send Sonora
de Martinez Guerrero a report each
month.