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"THE CITY AND COUNTY
FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS" of San Francisco
 REPORT OF THE SOCIAL SERVICE
DEPARTMENT
MRS. HENRY SAHLEIN, CHAIRMAN
It is with a sense of hopefulness that I submit this report
for the biennial just closing - hopefulness, for the spirit of
service is even stronger in the community today than in the dark
period of the World's War through which we have passed.
In recapitulation of the events of the past two years that
came under the direction of your Department of Social Service,
I needs must touch upon that time in order to report that during
the month of June, 1918, the two last dances of the long series
planned for the entertainment of the enlisted men in the camps
in and around this city by our Federation, were given and carried
off with the éclat that marked the earlier similar events.
One was given under the auspices of the New Era League, the other
directed by representatives from all the various memberships
in the Federation and known as a Federation affair. How long
ago this all seems, owing to the events that have crowded into
the interim!
As an outgrowth of the war period has come, we believe, more
than the temporary establishment of the hostelry at 2524 Lombard
street, known as the New Outside Inn. The membership of the Federation
has become familiar with the activities connected with this enterprise
through the reports rendered at the five conventions held since
its inception, and so I will merely state for you today, glimpsing
conditions, that there are indications that the patronage of
the Inn will continue as it is still serving some of the class
for who it was first called into existence, namely, the parents,
wives, and other relatives of the invalids at the Letterman General
Hospital, besides the reconstructional Aides employed there,
who have found at the Inn a most delightful home. The place,
also, serves as a transient lodging for discharged officers and
soldiers, as well as sometimes for entire families of the same
while in this city in transit often to or from the Philippines.
It is to be hoped that we will be able to continue this work
that has
proved so valuable, but the question comes - Will it be possible
without
a subsidy? From the treasurer's report, you learned that the
subsidy
ceased with the non-existence of the War Camp Community Service.
I
reiterate, it is to be hoped that it can continue, that the receipts
will be sufficient for its maintenance, to make it the first
of a chain
of Hostelries or Clubs to be known as the Federation Inns.
You remember that it was voted at a recent convention that
the House
Committee of the Social Service Department establish a home for
employed
women and such to be called "Federation Inn." Your
Committee has not
been inactive in this matter - the city has been well surveyed
for
suitable quarters; in fact, it has been expected from time to
time that
these quarters had been found when some unforeseen development
terminated in every instance, unfavorably, the plans for the
time being.
The establishment of a new Club or Inn where young business
women may
have a safe, pleasant and inexpensive home is being received
with great
favor and interest by a large number of representative people
as well as
the representatives of influential organizations. "Something
really
worth while," said one who is usually pessimistic over any
innovation;
"Something progressive and practical" - and that is
the prevailing
spirit encountered when it has been explained that the idea along
which
we are working is to conduct (let us make it plural) clubs on
a self
supporting basis for the permanent accommodation of the wage
earning
young women of this great city (and it is said that there are
twenty-five thousand not living under the family roof), these
young
women who must board and who experience difficulty in finding
comfortable and congenial places within their means - and for
whom we
wish to provide such a hostelry that each resident shall find
many of
the comforts, much of the liberty, as well as the sympathy and
inspiration of home life.
The stumbling block has been, generally speaking, the present
H. C. L.
To be explicit, the maintenance of the houses available would
be too
great for the members that could be accommodated and would mean
that the
balance would be listed on the wrong side of the ledger. The
price of
labor makes prohibitive alterations and additions on some of
the fine
old houses that would allow of extension and that are offered
for rent
or for sale - and, consequently, it is with great regret that
I find
that I am not able to report today on accomplishment in this
matter, but
it is with satisfaction that I can emphasize that the spirit
of
co-operation has been aroused and plans are under way to provide
for a
stock company for this undertaking.
Let us consistently look forward to the fulfillment of this
plan. We
have the vision, let us hope that the coming year will bring
about
conditions that Federation Inn will cease to be an idea and become
a
reality.
It appears in the scheme of things that other matters along
the line of
social service which have been acted upon by this body has been
related
more or less to the leading purpose upon which we are concentrating,
to
wit: the Endorsement of the Consumers' League, which is now operating
one large store in the Mission and another on Russian Hill, and
has
already proved its raison d'etre. I repeat that this is in line
with our
primary interest as co-operative buying may be an item in the
general
economy of the prospective plan for the Federation Inns.
Further, the Salvation Army Campaign was participated in by
the
Federation owing to the fact that the drive was to raise a sum
of money
to be devoted to the purpose of erecting a building for housing
employed
girls. Five teams, therefore, lent themselves sympathetically
to this
cause and worked diligently, securing three thousand one hundred
and
seventy-two dollars.
Another matter that was carried through the Social Service
Department
was the circularizing of all the clubs in the Federation, as
well as the
clubs throughout the state, through the respective district conventions
on the matter of disseminating the fact that the Children's Hospital
of
San Francisco has provided for a six months course of training
for young
girls wishing to become nursery maids and that the Chairman of
the
Social Service Department stood ready to act as a bureau of information
to those wishing to learn particulars. It is to be hoped that
young
women from all parts of California will become interested and
that the
school for nursery maids in this Western state will be able to
send out
the efficiently trained nurse-maid having an equal standard with
those
who have been graduated from the two large and famous schools
in the
state of New York.
As service is the key note of the Social Service Department,
I have
taken a deep interest in this matter and believe that much kindred
work
might in the future be conveyed through the same channel.
I cannot close without thanking the few faithful delegates
who ever
responded to my call, in particular Miss Fedelia Jewett, whose
interest
during these two years has never lessened. I needs must mention
my loyal
co-workers of the Outside Inn Committee and with the deepest
regret,
touch upon the passing of Mrs. Eugene Bresse, whose generous
spirit will
long be remembered not only in the aid she lent on this committee
but in
the community at large. I wish to thank Mrs. Hanson, who with
her many
public and private duties, managed to act as secretary and chairman
pro
tem and who has loaned her office as the general meeting place
of this
committee; Mrs. MacMaster, with her ever ready and helpful suggestions;
Miss Unger, our treasure, whose weekly visits to the Inn helped
to keep
affairs running smoothly and systematically; Mrs. Hertz, chairman
of the
Hostess Committee, a position that has been filled with the necessary
tact; Mrs. A. L. Weil, who has lent much time and good judgment
in her
capacity of chairman of the Purchasing Committee; and Dr. Castle,
who,
notwithstanding the unusual calls upon her, always arranged to
respond
to my requests for her aid and advice.
My sincerest wish is that we may continue to see many years
of service together.
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