The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-26
ABOUT MIR. DODLEY.

SEATTLE, Dec. 70.
To THE EDITOR: In your ISSUE of Sunday.
25th inst. "Rosh Lookesh,"< writing Of the
Bureau OF Associated Charities, makes the
following criticisms of its superintendent:
AS to the superintendent, Mr. Dooley, cannot
say that agree with his method and style of
work The writer saw the practical working OF
the Elberteld plan In Hamburg Berlin, Dresden,
Breslau, Vienna, Lemberg and many other Euro
pean cities, and has read some current litera-
ture upon the subject OF the scientific giving of
charity. but the comparison is5sery untavorable
to Mr.. DOoley.
He (Mr Dooley, reminds me. OF Moses, who.
after taxing the Jews out OF Egypt, attempted
to govern them in every de all and soon found
himself SO hampered that he WIS in danger OF
making botch OF 1t. until kjs father in-law,
Jethro, came to his rescue and advised him to
adopt System OF referring details to district
judges and apply his own time to the most i'm
portant matters. (By the way, this is the first
instance in Biblical history, 80 lar as know, OF
partial elective RovernIneiEt) Mr.. Dooley
strikes me as attempting to do everything and
accomplishing but very little
would judge him to be man intensely i'm
practical, meaning we'll and all that sort OF
thing. but not having the executive ability to
sytematize matters and set other people to work
There 10 no need for additional paid help, as
seems to be the opinion OF the superintendent
Certainly he cannot do all the:work aud do it
we'll, but some OF the ladies COS: Id we'll help him
dol it. cannot say that Gag approve OF his
system of keeping the booksand records. AS
stated before, Mr.. Dooley's willingness, en-
thusiasm and honesty OF purpose are not ques-
toned, but as to his ability have my doubts
may be mistaken, but then, for the sake OF the
poor, give my opinion for shat 1t is worth
Your correspondent preced.s the foregoing
with an admirable epitome of Francis G. Pea
body's paper in the December sorum, describing
the German method OF poor relief inaugurated
some thirty-nine years ago. known as the Elber-
field system, which is slowly bul surely teaching
the Germans "the tradition that a man in q
modern state shall not live to him
self Alone" and that "a part of good
citizenship lies5in bearing others burdens
The Germans, after thtrty-nine years
experience involving many faielres in teaching
this doctrine have finally system almost per-
feet. sit would be folly" az Rosh U1kesh
writes, ito expect to elaborate. punctilious a
system in our rapidly growing and busting
American cities" 1t is SINGULAR. therefore,
that your correspondent, adI1itting the diff
Guilty involved, should have. penned the first
paragraph OF the foregoing criticism.
Your correspondent also writes as follows:
The seattle Bureau of Associated Charities
was organized in February. 1892, and for the
first six months did the best X could. but made
no successful attempt at systemizing matters
IN August It's present supeEi Dtentent, Mr..
Dooley. took charge OF affairs rad set to work at
once at organzing and systemlsing things. At
present all municipal and privase charities work
in harmony with the bureau.
Every word OF which Is trae. The bureau
with its first superintendent she writer made
an absolute and unqualified failure fronA Feb
ruary TO August, until its present superintend-
ent was engaged. 1t had no board OF friendly
visitors. 1t failed to secure zhe entire conf.
dence OF either the city or county officials
Today, however. il has ovet ninety ladies
in active service, which will ven.
ture to say exceeds asy other city
IN the United states. Philadelphia has
population OF i,000,0 900: New Cork near 1000
900. In the December Forum ia. Ries, in writ.
ing upon Especial Needs oi t-e Poor in New
York" is authority for the siaement, ain New
York ten years OF constant effort have hardly
succeeded in drumming up 200 whilst in Phil
sdelphis there are LOO friendly visitors. Bos-
ton has Go; Seattle, IN proportion, out ranks
them ALL
As to he 81 perintendent's ab.lity to put these
ladies TO work. your correspondent writes en-
Enthusiastically Of their labors as5ollows:
An idea OF the committees work can pe-hsns
best lie furnished by menticnng what they
have done this week As a SPECIAL Christmas et.
fort They have procured and: carried presents
10 600 poor children and 20 macy adults IL ia
also well 10 state, and state itat the request OF
the ladies' that the most unpleasant task that is
! usually connected with the procurement of
gifts has been almost entirely 9hviaied by the
extreme generosity OF our citizens All re-
sponded with unstinted hands 20 the request 10
give, Aud as result eeye5l dozen pairs OF
stockings have been dled, ana ever 500 pac ages
of fruit, nuts and candies hAvesJee dis .ribu,ed
These bundles have been carried by tue Ladies'
TO the houses OF the poor. sEd oasny heart has
earnest workers than the ireS2nts.
Charles ". Eliot in his papers wherein Poru-
lar Education Has Failed" al!.des 10 the rarity
OF ''!he faculty OF drawing correct differences
from recorded observations, a fact OF which your
sunday correspondent Inadvertently gives an
example.
Il Is absolutely essential - the success OF
the work undertaken by tae -bureau that the
community has confidence irz the ability and
Integrity OF the So per ntendeat: Tee following
emansting from various soLrcs,s, Including men
eminent in the work OF reiormF.ion. with world
wide regulations, who certs!nls should be q a.
flied 10 judge the illness OF <hs man for the
work, will speak for itself:
William Ts!isek fSecretsry eoward Associa-
ton, London. during last tw7enty-nve years;
among foremost Of living .u,seorities on prlsop
and rsfornstory QuesiinnsL
tCopy oi 80. f-crp. aUato<v letter1
"LoNpcS, >eEt n Der : Isss
"De7r W. Dooieg: / SEMI you herewith BY
BOOK -post . copy OF my book, genealogical and