Evening star., 1942-03-22
Capitalization Is Theme
OF Southwest Defense Plan
Newcomer Hull
Organizes Area
Program
BY THOMAS G. BUCHANAN.

A phone call minutes before his
train was to pull out of Union Sta
ton plunged Robert A. Hull, jr.,
into civilian defense work as one Of
the city's youngest deputy AFRAID
wardens.
Mr.. Hull was leaving town last
November on business trip when
he received a message from Harry
s. Wender, president of the South
west Citizens Association and Civil
ian Defense Committee chairman
from that area, asking permission
to place his name in nomination for
the warden post.
The 27-year-old Princeton grad
uate accepted, and on his return to
Washington found himself intrusted
with the defense Of one of the city's
most vital areas.
And that's what got me into all
this trouble!" he jokingly adds.
Tries Confusion Elimination.
Capitalization has been the theme
In the warden service Mr.. Hull is
building. He has attempted to
minimize confusion in the maze of
conflicting defense agencies in each
district by establishing unified
warden recruiting system for the
Southwest area.
Tie prevailing method of setting
up emergency housing, feeding and
similar units in other defense areas,
Mr.. Hull explains, is for the Civilian
Defense Committee. on notification
from Col. Bolles' Office. to appoint a
chairman for each unit and charge
him with the conduct of a recruit
ing campaign to provide the per-
sonnet for his organization.
This has led to considerable con-
fusion and duplication of effort, he
asserts. In Southwest Washington
the procedure Is different. Here the
Civilian Defense Committee turns
over the task of forming emergency
services to Mr.. Hull.
Whereas the deputy air-raid war
den in some areas has not even been
consulted In the establishment Of
these services, Mr.. Hull declares,
he appoints the chairman of each
unit after receiving nominations
from the zone and sector wardens,
subject to final confirmation by the
Civilian Defense Committee.
1,128 Wardens in Service.
These chairmen become assistant
deputy wardens and their work is
integrated in the general air-raid
organization. They obtain their
personnel on recommendation from
the zone and sector wardens from
among those considered best quail
fed for that particular work. No
one is permitted to participate in
the activities of more than one
service.
From an original nucleus of three
deputy wardens Mr. Hull has built a
volunteer organization which num-
bered 1,128 persons up to March Is.
During the recent four-hour black
out 1928 wardens were on duty; 1853
saw action in the previous all-night
blackout.
The chief problem in an area Of
Is diversified national and racial
composition as Southwest Washing
ton Is to achieve harmony among
the various groups, Mr.. Hull main
tains. He says he has received 100
per cent cooperation from all Sec
tions.
Mr.. Hull has been a member Of
the Southwest Citizens Association
since the fall of 1888. shortly after
his arrival in this city.
He was particularly interested In
zoning conditions at that time. op-
posing so-called strip zoning'' in
the Southwest area whereby the
value of residential zoning regula-
tions was nullified by the authori-
zation of numerous commercial
strips through them and by the
presence Of commercial establish
ments In land xoned for residential
structures.
Sought Recreation Pier.
After Joining the association. he
became chairman Of its Zoning
Committee. He later participated