The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-03-01
The Late Charity Concert.
WHEELING, Feb. 2S, 1878

Editors InteiiissucT:
My card Of Yesterday was all that any
reasonable person should have wished.
In ii l stated that all the funds Of the
concert had not (at our last meeting) been
distributed; and therefore full report
could not be made. But our books are
in the hands Of the Secretary, Mr..
o'Kseffs, and are open to inspection by
any who are interested in the matter. l
deny that the public at large have right
to know how the money has been distrib.
uted; this information is due to the ladies
and gentlemen who gave the concert and
to those who patronised 1t, and 10 hsn
only. Does the writer, "Many" belong 10
either Of these classes? LEO, he can get
all The information on the subject that hc
may desire. But the conference feel IN.
der no obligation to furnish report
Of their proceedings to every auony-
mous writer who may demand 1t,
and who perhaps did not spend
a moment or q dime to promote
the success Of the concert; and for that
reason l was fully justified in asking the
name Of the inquisltor, or inviting him
10 call and examine our books. l know
one public gentleman Of the city who has
in private circles manifested world Of
curiosity 10 know something about the
distribution Of this fund; yet he ,Oas not
at the concert, aud did nothing to for.
ward the interest OF the poor in this
matter. What business have such:persons
to trouble themselves about the manner
in which the proceeds are distributed 2
I showed you, Messrs. Editors, two
OF our order books, one filled by myself
and the other by member Of com.
mittee OF the Ladies' Aid Society, which
works. In connection with the conference.
Full half the orders issued from these
two books, were, as the stubs indicate, In
fayer Of non.C Catholics. To your ques.
ton, how you were TO know that these
parties were Catholic or Protestant, I re-
piled by suggesting the only proper
course: Let those who are interested
take the names and residences OF the poor
who have been relieved and test per.
sonally the accuracy OF our statements.
The regular weekly meeting Of the
Conference will be held on next Sunday
evening, when, rs President, I will ap.
point q committee TO prepare full report
Of The receipts OF the Concert and their
distribution. This will not require much
time, as an account has been kept Of the
persons assisted, the kind Of aid given,
and their religious creed, !. O., whether
'Catholicor Protestant. Then due notice
will be given; and I shall be glad II
"Many," or any othes parties who desire
information, will name the day or days
when thcy will accompany onr committee
from family to family, and from house to
house, and verify the correctness OF their
report, This will require considerable
labor; but by making in person the yisi.
tation Of the poor throughout the city,
they will learn more and more the needs
OF the distressed, and the very great labor
Of the members Of the Conference and
Ladies' Aid Society, whose duty It ID TO
visit in pairs, not singly, every applicant
for aid, and investigate the merits OF the
application. Experience in,distribudng
charities confirms the necessity OF taking
this precaution, in order mott 10 DO i'm.
posed upon by the undeservfpg.
This Is the only proper course which
suggests itself to my mind, for he would
be heartess who would ask that the
names Of the poor relieved should be
spread before the public. Poverty u al
mieiortuns, but It 70 not crime TO bel
thus branded BY the stigma Of public mo-
The Standard need mot fear, how much
soeyer II may desire, . row about the
matter. Such iiems come with bad
grace from the only paper In tho city
which charged the poor Tor advertising
the concert. Respectfully,
JANIS F, CARROLL.
.