Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-27
A PATHETIC APPEAL.
Wearied With Waiting heJOhnstown
Committee Asks for Aid.
THE GREAT NEED is PROMPTNESS
To Inspire the Sufferers With Fresh Hope
to Help Themselves.
A PRO RATA DISTRIBUTION OF MONEY

JoHNsTowN, June 26.-The Johnstown
Finance Committee addresses a letter to all
committees holding funds for the relief Of
the Johnstown sufferers. in which it is
stated there is need for the prompt and wise
use of the money so generously contributed.
The community needs everything, and the
| Finance Committee urges that the
proper way to relieve it is to put
money into the hands of the indi-
vidual members of the community with
which they can supply their needs The
committee says it takes this step only after
waiting as long as it could for the commit
tees throughout the country to indicate
what steps they intend to take, which they
have thus far failed to do. The committee
has been obliged to adopt a plan
will soon have an accurate registra-
tion of all survivors, when its money will
be divided among them. The amount given
each will be small, but will surprise the
people with the hope that the larger amounts
will soon be available, and give fresh hope
to those trying to establish themselves in
their lost employments. The letter is
signed by James McMillen, Chairman, and
Cyrus Elder, Secretary, of the Johnstowu
Finance Committee. 1t proceeds thus:
THE SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS.
The position here is as follows: The working
people are offered ample employment, and as
they are people who own their own homes,
they are sticking to Johnstownsn spite of their
present privations. Our merchants and trades
l,nta
in shanties, or board buildings Of any type.
We have thus on the one hand community
needing enough supplies from the merchants
to enable them to do good business, and on
earnest effort to supply this demand. If we
can bring these two together, and
Keep them together during the next
60 days, our community will again be
self-sustaining. But already the inability Of
the people to purchase is causing great des-
pondency upon the part of the merchants,
which if not speedily checked will cause furth-
er want and hopelessness. There is but one
method to check this, namely: To furnish the
people the funds with which to go to the mer-
chants and make the purchases of that which
will relieve them from their sufferings.
Two needs are before us. First to commence
distribution Immediately. Second, to continue
it on basis equitable to all and satisfactory to
the country.
The registration spoken of above takes into
account merely the number of survivors to be
reached quicklyIby the first distribution. The
above is for speed. Following this the same
machinery will collect close and accurate sta
tistics; so that by the time the good effects of
the first distribution have worn away we will
be ready for fair and equitable further dis
tribution, of further sums secured based. not
upon the number of the food sufferers but
upon their respective losses.
TO MAKE PEOPLE EARN.
Coincident with the distribution we are max
ing all the arrangements here that we can
make to curtail the free distribution of supplies
of all Sorts in order to check two large evils
first, waste of none contributed by the nation.
Immense amounts of valuable material are
coming here, the very things that are not need
ed, while the things that are needed, the people,
as we say, are absolutely suffering for.
Second-To check the demoralzing effect
upon the manhood of our inhabitants. Those
who were good meh before the flood are be-
coming demoralized and upset by the fact that
they find they can Give without work. Nor
must they be blamed after what they have
gone through: it is Only human nature; never
theless it is something to be quickly checked.
A little thought must convince you that no
committee, however perfect, can satisfactorily
and wisely meet the wants Of at least 10000
people when each one Of the 10000 has differ
ent wants.
We will add to this anpther strong argument
in favor of our plan. Granted that the nation
has contributed-say $4,000 The quicker
that money reaches the sufferers the more of
it they will get 1t costs honey to take care of
the organization which distributes. The more
quickly this organzation\ effects its purpose
the greater the percentage of this assumed
million dollars will reach its proper channel.
MONEY NEEDED Al ONCE.
We understand that you are holding fund
devoted for this purpose pending some arrange
ment for its proper distribution. We would
strongly urge you to consider the plan we lay
before you, and we would beg of you unless you
can suggest something better to at once come
to our aid with your fund. Do not wait longer
on the proposed action of anybody else, but act
at once and for yourself.
If you do not approve Of our plan we stand
ready to change or amend it.. WeSstand ready
to do anything that will quickly bridge over
the present suffering of this community. We
urge you to send your funds here for local dis
tribution, and to send with it some trustworthy
representative, whom we will add to our CON-
mittee, giving him full power to speak for the
fund you contribute.
We urge you to send some one prepared to
stay with us for at least go days. if not a volun-
teer, then some one whom you can employ and
~ for hie eorv1nac We ro,h NON