Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-03-16
DEM Official Urges
Stores 10 Stay Open
Three Nights a Week
Church Leaders Hear
Plea for Employees
At YWCA Meetino

Washington stores should keer
open three evenings a week instead
OF one, Charles Mills, director OF
personnel for the Office for Emer-
eency Management. told ITS church
leaders and Government employe
counselors meeting at the YWCA
last night.
Discussing the newly arrived Gov
eminent clerks problems, Mr. Mills
described the cold. machinelike re-
ception given Government employees
in huge Federal agencies, which
leave her to her own resources.
She is alone on the Job. she is
alone in the community and in MANY
cases she goes back home in a week.
Then she says there was nothing
for her to do. and that Washington
Offices are futile and accomplish
nothing"
Many such instances had their
effect. we were forced to help
newcomers find ROOM" Mr.. Mills
went on. We were forced to finance
her during the first period in Wash
lngton, We were forced to introduce
her to other people, and we were
forced to accept her into the COM
munity."
Progress Being Made.
Progress has been made in Wash
1ngton, and conditions meeting the
newcomer in other crowded defense
centers are considerably worse than
they are here today, the speaker
observed. Il have been around the
country and seen other boom
towns" he went on. This city is
TO be applauded for recognizing the
difficulties early. We here are still
far ahead of the rest of the country.
We have made progress toward CIV
ing place in the community to
newcomers. That is largely because
the churches have done so much
to recognize the problem"
Mr.. Mills made strong plea for
day nurseries, saying:
Day nurseries which to us-em-
ploye cOunSelors-are such a basic
simple necessity, do not seem to i'm
press our supervisors as something
to do with the job of keeping our
employees. We have to do a great
deal OF serious persuading of our
own superiors. They do not realize
that more people would remain at
their posts doing a better job if
these community services were pro-
vided,"
Family Groups Desirable.
Marshall Stolley, employee coun-
selor in the War Department. said:
What the newcomers want is
small family like group which they
may enter into. Remember that
these newly arrived are people who
nave severed their family and church
relationships. Most of them have
come, not for the glamour of the
Nations Capital or for the excite
ment, but because of sincere desire
to be of national service. Theirs is
a spiritual approach"
Supper was served, and after the
two speeches the remainder of the
program was taken up by introduce
tons. The entire program was spon-
sored by the Defense Commission of
the Washington Federation of
Churches Ministers of various de-
nominations gave two-minute ad- |
dresses and introduced fellow min
listers to the Government employe
counselors, who were the federations
guests.
The federation represents 100
Protestant churches of Washington
united for wartime service During
the first two months of 1943 a total
of 1880 servicemen and war work
ers participated in parties arranged
by these churches in co-opera ton
with the Defense Commission.
Community War Fund agency. Five
member churches and the Central
Union Mission have provided lodg-
ing in that time for $500 men in
uniform. Home hospitality has been
arranged for 400 persons by the
commission. Seventy-fve Army
recreation rooms will be equipped in
cooperation with the Womens
Council Of the federation. The COM
missions weekly bulletin has a cir
culation of 1000 copies TO $50 Gov
eminent agencies and individuals.