Supplementary to the suggestions for "Local Quarantine Organizations"
beginning on page 169 of _That Last Waif; or, Social Quarantine_,
several good ideas have been received.
A successful "boss" in politics, whose methods have been invincible in
promoting the interests of his party says: "There is some good man or
woman in every city block or ward who will be your resident
representative. He or she will know the immediate requirements of his
beat or detail in the matter of quarantine suggestions, and will give
you all the information you want. District your community in as small
sections as possible, find the right person to assist you in each
section, tabulate your need for the prevention of neglect, estimate
reasonable cost, and then demand it of the City Council or Town Board,
and you'll get it without a kick. If your movement is all right, as it
seems, the 1/100 dues by your quarantinists will be more than you will
want for your purpose till the council acts, but any 'boodle' body, as
people call the progressive governments, that I know anything about,
will do it for you as quick as a wink and they won't want any 'rake
off' either. They will be the first to join your order, as they can
understand a 'sweep,' and they know the needs. Everybody will vote to
give the babies a chance. Put me down anyhow; I'm with you for all
I've got."
The above suggestion is excellent. One serious and earnest person in
any community can start a movement to district his or her community
and get co-operation in each district. The politicians will help you
if your aim is single and if the welfare of the children, on
non-political and non-sectarian lines, is your high purpose. DO
THIS FIRST, AND KNOW THAT GOOD POLITICS AND RELIGION WILL BE THE FRUIT
OF THE EFFORT AS SURELY AS LIGHT DISPELS GLOOM OR DARKNESS!
The above method is in use in many German cities for philanthropic and
educational work and secures for the community practically a
quarantine from disorder. The "five household" method of division and
social supervision was the ancient method adopted in Japan, to whose
influence is undoubtedly due the marvelous discipline, on social
lines, and the immunity from disorder, that the Japanese enjoy more
than any other people.