The Red Cloud chief., 1875-03-10
Prom the Mt. Pleasant Free Press.
TIE scyTEaEaS IN NEBRASKA.
Their Present Need, &c.

New LONDON. Iowa. March /. 1875.
EprroRs FREE PREss Some time since,
New London township appointed me theil
agent to distribute two car loads Of dona.
tions 10 the sufferers in Nebraska. and also
to ascertain while on the ground. the facts.
az far as possible. about the reliability Of the
State and county organizations for the dis
tribution Of supplies. The importance OF
this last mission may be fully realized by
stating that it had been reported that the
State organization was perfectly unreliable
and using the means and supplies placed at
their disposal more 10 advance their own
selfish interests than for the relief Of the
needy. Various reports were prevalent. also,
about the extreme suffering and actual star
walton in MANI Tsrts Of the State. but after
travelling in about twenty counties in the
State, l found that these reports were great
ly exaggerated. l found no cases Of actual
starvation. though very many who were
greatly in need Of the necessaries Of life. and
who undoubtedly would suffer without help
being given them. I arranged for the distri-
button Of the supplies intrusted to me. in
places whore I thought they were most need
ed. and in that way which would insure their
reaching the most destitute. In regard to
the State and county organizations. their
condition and mode Of distributing supplies,
! found at first there had been much cause OF
complaint and may irregularities in their
work; but that they had finally succeeded in
getting efficient. honest and capable men to
do the work and manage the affairs Of the
society. The executive committee and the
workers instead Of drawing their compensa-
ton from the funds Of the society. were gen.
orally officers and detailed men under gov
ernT ent pay. 50 that all the means contrib
uted could go at once where it was intended.
Their manner Of distribution was about as
follows: The secretary Of the State organ.
ization was required to issue monthly sup
plies to county committees. and they in turn
issue the same proportiOnate amount to pre-
cinct committees, who ave q list Of families
needing help. Said heads Of families on ap.
plication on application being required to
@geAkaA q adAAGpeaRR NJ caasih aaf6 ssRt6ys t5pe
Is SO systemised that there can be NO better
or safer medium for distribution than the
State organization. and those who send d.
rect to them at Omaha. may be assured that
they are taking the best course to have their
donations do the most good.
1t is well known throughout the State that
there are many irrespon sible and dishonest
persons travelling through Iowa aud other
States. soliciting aid. who manage to keep all
that m into their hands for their own
personal use and benefit. Some of these on
their return have claimed that they are en-
titled to tho credit Of donations sent, with
which they had nothing at all to do-while
whatever they did succeed in getting was ap-
propriated by themselves. In my travels 1
ran across q man by the name of Kirkwood.
q preacher who had sought and had been de-
MED some responsible position on the LEGAL
committee. and who. because I refused to
credit his reports and recognize him rs a re-
liable and trustworthy person. sought BY
every means in his power. to circulate false
reports Of my work in Webster county. Hear
ing Of this some time after. l addressed a let.
ter OF inquiry TO the local committee in
Webster county, and received the following
reply:
Mr.. D. p. Banohan. Nesc London, Loro:
SIe:-Yours from Omaha, dated Jan. %.
1873. to J. [: Warner. is received. reply
would say that concerning Mr.. Kirkwood.
We do no support his statement, and that We
fully. indorse your proceedings while here.
furthermore. We believe you acted indie
penaentiy IN the matter. after examining al!
applications Of those asking for relief. and by
. personal visit to . number of the needy
among rs. As regards Mr.. kirkwood's con.
dact, We believe him to be a mischief. make.
and have no confidence in him-that his sud-
den departure hom here as solicitor for aid
was more for personal gains and partisan p1r-
poses. than 10 benefit the really needy, AMI
he s considered by q large portion or the
citilers an impostor. and not worthy of the
OF this or any other community.
:. H: JONES.
W. n. RICHARDSON.
IRA SLEEPER.
W. E. JACKSON,
&. u. SMITH,
RED CLorD. Webster Co. Feb. 8 ISIS.
Much complaint has been made that do
nations for private individuals sent to the
State com nittee have never arrived At their
destinations. This is no doubt owing in ey-
cry instance to noncompliance with ~instruc- |
issued by the society for shipping
roods. They have issued . full letter Of in |
'tructions. which should be strictly regarded. !
In conclusion. / would say that the great
urgent preesrs need of sufferers in Ne |
'raska and Kansas. il for seed with which 70
put In their crops. ~ wei as feed fer their
70 enable them to do the work necesa-
y. l have been authorized By the State re-
lief and aiS society. to solicit Of the people |
n this region. still further aid in seed erain
or the destitute; and anything intrusted to
ne viii be promptly forwarded. The people
Nebrask admit that among all the States
'hich have nobly and generously responded
o their distress. Iowa stands the first. That
\ supplies she has contributed vastly moro
han any other State. while others have SON
med their donations to money. / shall Be
leased At n time to make any further ex-
'ianation hal may be rexuired. or 70 give
ny information in W power to any one de-
ring it Up. BANGHAN.