The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-01-27
EXTREMELY SENSIBLE ADVICE.

we are IN receipt vi communication
from citizen Of T exarkana that contains
an excellent suggestion relative to making
provision for and caring for the poor of the
city, a subject that is attracting attention
in Dallas at present, as indeed it does and
necessarily must at all times in cities OF any
considerable size. We are told upon the
best OF authority that we will have this I'M
fortunate class with us always, and the die
tates OF humanity and an enlightened sense
OF charity lead us oNdo for them all we can
In our city there is not, as in most other
places the 81 re of Dallas, an organization
Tor the distribution of charities, and what
the poor ges comes from occasional spas
modic efforts on the part Of the citizens col
lectively or from individuals who a'e for
the time being touched by suffering and
want, Such course is very unsatis-
factory, however, and but lily pro-
vides for the multitude OF cases Of desti-
tuition that exist in our midst. The true
way to handle the poor is not to encourage
laziness or idleness by muniiicent gifts,
but. ifpossible, to organize some scheme by
which they may be enabled to earn for
themselves the necessarles Of which they
stand III need, and thus become selfsup-
porting. The wise system Of charity is not
TO put the bread in the poor mans mouth,
but show him a way to make it himself.
Poverty is not encouraged in this way, and
the noble aims of beneyolence are at the
same time met. 1t is true, there arc many
whom age and disease haze deprived OF the
power of effort or labor and these should at
all times be objects Of care by some be-
nevolent organization, bat the fact is indis-
putable that the majority OF those in Dallas
who are this winter suffering from cold and
hunger arc not only able, but willing to
work. If employment could be found.
The chiefand almost exclusive fields for Ia
bW in the city now are of course domestic
work and mercantile pursuitsand neither ai-
fords many opportuntie, Tor the class We are
speaking Of. lis here that the senslbleadyice
advcrted to in our Texarkana communiCa-
ton has special force, The writer says; MAY
Isuggest that ifyour wealthy. citizenswould
furnish orprocure, which they can easily do,
sufficient means to build the much talked
Of manufacturing establishments in your
city, they would not only relieve the poor
and render them comfortable, but would
accomplish the end not as an act of charity,
hut n "a proIit Ia ihapnynluop "A from Ia
so per cent. or more on their investments
and at the same time add largely to the
prosperity and general business of the city"
This is exactly the thing we
have been for so long urging
upon our capitalists the establishment OF
factories both for their own sakes, the good
Of the city, and as a means for furnishing
the poorer people of the place with constan.
employment. In such enterprises, of course,
much skilled labor would be required, but
the greater portion Of the help needed could
be found in our midst. The men and
women and children would be afforded not
only opportunities for employment now
wanting, but would, as in other manulac-
turing centers soon become skilled and the
recipients Of good wages. III two or three
large factories, no matter of what kind,
should be erected in Dallas the question
that must recur with constantly increasing
force as the city grows, what shall we
do with or for our poor, would be to great
extent settled. When the laborers are so
plentiful, the profits so marked, and the
field so inviting, II is indeed singular that SO
much apathy as to the matter is mani.
tested. While the object in innugurating
such industries might be far other than II
work of charity, the ends of bonevolence
would be indirectly greatly served, Atten-
ton to the wants of the poor and the crea.
ton of channels Of labor for them by which
they can earn livelihood, are so Intimately
associated in thought that The one must in
variably suggest the other. While the mat.
ter is fresh, II is to be hoped that the
thoughts Of the wealthy and charitably in.
clined will turn IN the practical direction
indicated, for the alienation of suffering,
and the development of greater activity
among all classes.
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