A Word For Organized Charity

To the Editor of The Reobtke : Sib:- There is no more fruitful field f.r working mischief and harm than the promiscuoua unintelligent giviDg to every demaud for alm3. Acoording to statistics eo'lected by the National Conference of Charities, ody onethird of the destitutiou which appeals to the public attention requires the aid of alms. More than two-fifths of the whole mass of apparentdependence is eufficiently and best relieved by procuring employment for those out of work. They are able-bodied and competent to earn an honeSt livelihood if they had a chance. Not quite one-fourth of the whole has been adjudged unworthy of confidence, by which may be fairly underetood that it properly belongs to the supervisión of the pólice. Id the lace of thee statistics why do men and women respond with money and other alms, without so much as a question, to say nothing of a careful looking- np of tbe case ? The answer is that it is the easiest way. There is an easier, more efleotive and consi9tant way : namely, to send the applicant to the friendly vistor of his or her ward, who will look up tbe ca?e, visit the home and ascertain the actual need. , . Oaly in this way aoes aimsgivmg uswer itt best aims. By the other method the idle are tnaintaiaed in dleness, the dishonest encourged to ply thair dishonest trade and pauperism fostered. The socety known a the Woman'e ChanUble Union representa this work in our city. It is the aim of this society to reduce the aggregate of relief di3tributing to a gyatem and to look after the depressed and degraded. To this end there are fifteen Friendly visitors who give their time gratuitously, and make it their aim not to spend large suun oí money, nor show a loDg roll of dependenis, but to transfer households and individuals from dependent consumera to sell-maintaiDed producers. They ask a better publio support not alone in giltó but in reporting oases of dependence matead of giving relief to everv BDuücnnt without prober tion.