Evening star., 1943-04-13
Vote Urged
For.Shaping j.
Institutions
Social Agencies Told
Cupitol-Is Democrocy's
Proving Ground

ffoWn9 0rOuno
DR.. Frank Lorimer, professor of
population studies at American
University, yesterday urged that the
people of the District be given the
right to vote in order to participate
in shaping: "their own community
institutions as we'll as sharing in
the political decisions of the Ma
ton" =
Speaking before the Council of
Social Agencies at its 23rd annual
meeting, DIR. Lorimer declared: I'VE
must be democratic all the way
through" and urged that the people
of the National Capital be given a
voice in Government comparable
to that enjoyed by people in capt.
tails of other democracies.
At the meeting, held in the Young
Women's Christian Association
building, Seventeenth and K streets
NV, the council elected seven
board members, for terms ranging
from one to three years and also
elected 13 members at large to the
council. Annual reports of division
chairmen, covering general activities
of the councils divisions for the
year ending March 81, were con-
tanned in a pamphlet distributed at
the meeting.
Proving Ground Of Democracy"
In his address, Dr. Lorimer de-
clared "the problems of the District
have more than local significance in
that they represent a proving
groundA of the principles of de-
mocracye in the life of metro
politan community" Likewise, be
held, "the conditions in the District
of Columbia have especial impor-
tance in rejecting and in setting
the tone of community relations
throughout the United States"
DR.. Lorimer asserted that the pop
ulation here increased so per cent
between 1920 and 1910. as against
25 per cent for the Nation.
The speaker defended the District
against criticism from the outside,
asserting:
"It is time to call quits toswide-
spread calumny which is being
heaped on the Government OF the
Nation and the people who live IN
the Capital Nowhere in the Ma
ton" he said. "can one find men
and women who are working harder
or with greater devotion than most
of the people in Washington"
Would Meet Changing Conditions.
Speaking generally on the need of
the present time, DR.. Lorimer pre-
dicted a dark future for this Nation
unless new institutions are shaped
to meet present-day needs and to
coordinate complex activities OF
modern society. At the same time,
he said, the democratic character OF
this Nations institutions must be
preserved. g. .- -,
He held that Government must
assume responsibility for planning
and maintaining full employment,
for equitable distribution OF ma
tional income and for creating con-
ditions conducive to health ="
John Ihlder. president of the
council. named many local welfare
facilities which have come into be-
ing here since the council was
organized. Many of these. he as
serted the council helped bring
about. Still much needed he de-
clared, are a mental health unit in
the District Health Department,
law requiring the licensing of child
placement agencies and bill to
govern charity solicitations in the
District.
Board members elected were Clar-
ence A. AspinWall for a one-year
term; Theodore Wiprud, elected to
serve two years; Mrs. Harry Bern
ton, DR.. Winfred Overholser, Mrs.
Emory Scott Land, DR.. Frederick E.
Reissig and Mrs. Harold Slnton,
elected to serve three years each.
Members at Large Elected.
Those elected members at large
OIL Ille COullCll, lIlCluQiIlS oCNCi WIN
we're reelected, we're c. E. Batsche-
let, Miss Josephine Brown, Miss
Elizabeth Christman, DR.. Ernest S.
Griffith. Mrs Ernest G. Warren, DR..
Carl Wells and Mrs. Prentiss Will
son, all reelected; Mrs. Bernton,
Mr.. Aspinwall, Mrs. Frank Linzel,
Mrs Henry P. Chandler, Mrs. Helen
Weir Martin and Mrs. Cazenove Lee.
The councils Board of Directors
Is to elect council officers for the
year in May.
william H. Sardo. jr., chairman
of the councils social service ex-
change. reported that the exchange
received 114,7l8 inquiries during the
year. Other divisions whose work
was outlined included:
Publicity, Mrs Ernest G. Warren,
chairman; family and child welfare,
Mrs. Linzel and Mrs. Chandler,
chairmen: research, Miss Jesse La
Sale, chairman: health, Miss Ger
trude H. Bowling, chairman: Cor
rections Committee, Neil Burkin-
shaw, chairman; recreation, Mrs.
Lee, chairman, and neighborhood
councils. Miss Cecilia P. Dulin,
chairman.