Describe Council’s Work in Bettering Conditions for Women and Children

(Jewish Daily Bulletin)

The activities of the National Council of Jewish Women in securing legislation to better the conditions of women and children, in and out of industry, were described by Mrs. Wolf of Washington before the eleventh triennial convention of the organization in session here.

Mrs. Wolf said that as a representative of the Women’s Joint Congressional Committee she had attended and spoken at the hearings on the World Court and the Child Labor Amendment, the bill for equal representation of women and the measure for a separate Department of Education. She appealed to the council to redouble its efforts in the future to make an intensive study of the condition of women in industry so that the organization can render efficient service to working girls. Greater cooperative action in securing legislation to better the conditions of women and children, in and out of industry, was also urged by Mrs. Wolf.

The work of the Council to aid Jewish immigrants and its endeavors to introduce Jewish education into rural communities was presented at the first business session.

Reporting on the work of the Immigration Aid Department, Miss Florina Lasker stated:

“Hardly had the first Quota Limit Act May, 1921 gone into effect than the Department was called on by individuals and agencies here and abroad to help solve new and complex social problems created by the adoption of the new law. Refugees bottled up in European ports appealed to us to secure assistance from relatives on this side of the Atlantic, members of families, cut off from each other by the rigors of restrictive legislation, cried out for service; migrants actually on their way to the United States or awaiting visas under the new law asked for help and advice. In addition, we were called on, as here to fore, for service to deportees, as well as for miscellaneous types of services too varied to enumerate.

“During the fiscal year 1923-24 nearly 2,000 cases were handled by this Bureau, the following year 2,026 cases were under care; while during the past year 2,591 cases have been handled. Over 2,000 field visits were paid by this Bureau during the past Triennial period; more than 4,000 callers were interviewed at Headquarters; while over 34,000 letters were written and more than 700 telegrams and cables sent in connection with this work. These figures greatly exceed those prevailing during the previous triennial period, showing a tremendous increase in the volume of work.

“Over 4,500 inquiries have been handled by this Bureau during the past three years. Many of these came either from persons abroad unable to enter the United States, or from foreign organizations or relatives in their behalf. Similarly, inquiries in great numbers came from individuals who hoped to be admitted to this country or from relatives seeking their admission here.”

The work of the Council among the rural communities was reported by Mrs. Eckhouse.

“We have spent over $75,000 for our rural program during the past three years. We are expanding our program to reach the 15,000 Jewish women and 40,000 Jewish children on the farms of America. Our efforts in behalf of the families of the Jewish farmer have included visits to the farm house, for purposes of instruction in matters of hygiene, English, citizenship and personal problems. We have organized Rural Women’s Leagues to bring the scattered families together for their own advancement and for cooperative work for their rural communities. Through the assistance of these leagues, religious schools and synagogues have been established. Our program also includes the children in the schools and the young people, whom we have organized into Young Folks Leagues. To many of the families that have been in need, philanthropic assistance of a wide range has been rendered, and employment secured.”