Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-01-07
BAD FOR MIR. KRUSE
He is Charged with Being
GruH and Abusive.
HIS REMOVAL IS DEMANDED
BY the Charitable Women who arc
Thrown Into Contact with Him
in His Official Capacity.

There 10 no organization in the city
that 10 dong more for the many cases
Of cesttutlon than the Children's
Home Society. tits composed of about
fifty ladies, and its ultimate object 10 10
found chiidren's home. For the pres-
ent its members are working among the
distress cases that are brought 70 their
notice by the trusnt officer. the physi-
clans, and teachers OF the city. The
only help they can depend on is the
money sent them from Redmond's
opera house. The managers of that
house send them one-tenth OF the
Sunday night receipts.
Insaised by Ksuss.
The day before Thanksgiving one of
the ladies Of the society received note
saying that il some one would call At
house, q case OF distress could be
found. The note was signed &C. W."
The lady called and found al Engiish
family, which consisted of . father,
mother and two children, in need OF
everything. The father had over
worked and was sick from EXPOSURE;
the boy, on whom the family depended
for little help, had been hurt and
was sick, and they were without the
necessities of life. The ladies of the
society provided for their immediate
wants, and a doctor promised 10 call 70
see the sick man. When the doctor
went there that evening. he found they
hadn't even candle for light, and he
couldn't see the sick man on the bed.
When asked why they hadn't applied
to the city for supplies, the family sai1
that they had and that Mr.. Kruse had
been 10 see them. but that he had been
SO insulting and abusive in his language
that they would rather starve than call
on him again. About that time an
other poor family came TO the notice
of the society. This family had q
very sick baby, and when the English
woman heard of it she insisted OH
going down and taking care of IT until
it died. Afterward she got chance TO
GO out nursing for week, but at the
end of the time she was taken very Ill
with the grip, aud is still sick in bed.
A Pathetic Case.
The case Of tho family whose baby
died, Preferred TO above) IS q sAd one.
The father, who is quite an old man,
has been sick and out of work for some
time. "Mr. Kruse went to investigate
the case, anu as seems TO be customary
with him, was cross and disagreesble.
The family Is educated, refined, and
has seen better days. When the baby
died, the thought Of buryrng It in the
'Potter's field nearly drove the poor
mother distracted. With heart fullof
sympathy and tenderness, ono OF the
ladies Of the society took entire charge
of affairs and had the little one buried.
in her own familylot at the cemetery"
s'I'ii tell you how Mr.. kruse investi-
gates," said one lady. ale goes TO the
house, asks few questions in snarly,
disagreeable voice, aid finishes by say
ing in gruff way, "Well, spose III
have to send you something.
Kruse Is Not . Fit Man.
"I'm very glad that, public attention
has been called TO Mr.. kruse and his
methods" said another lady. "I've
had a great deal Of experience in work
ing among the poor for the last few
years, and l boldly make the charge
that Mr.. Kruse is not q fit man for the
place he occupies. One time last fall !
went TO HIM and insisted that he pay
more attention TO certain cases. He in
| formed me that be would like TO see
the man or woman that had any
authority to come In there and dictate
10 him what should he done; that l.
there was such person that he would
get out of the Office. Well, | looked
the matter up. and found that the
city charter said the common council
| bad authority over the city director of
| the poor. Another time innsted that
he send more supplies to worthy
woman whom / knew about, and he
deliberately told me he wouldn't do IL.
| The next week the woman wrote me a
note, saying that he bad cut her off
entirely.
| some OF Hts Impertinence.
"Of course went down to see about
| It'll am not afraid of him--and he de-
MED II, said he had told her if she
could do better elsewhere she was priv
ileged - try IL. In one instance 4
| wanted 10 see how much he sent FAM
| ,ly, and he refused 10 let me sec the
books. The city attorney told me the
public had a right TO see the books, 20
told Mr.. Kruse | intended 10 see those
books, and | went behind the desk and
| did sec them. I've had several such
| experiences with him, and don't think
] know of single poor family 10 whom
he is not gruff. crusty and curly when
they go for their supplies or ask him
for anything. Then he doesn't use any
sense about the kind of supplies he
sends. He does Mt investigate TO know
Just what the wants are. For instance,
If there is sickness IN family, tbey
need more fuel and light, and their
wants sare not the same as when in
heslth. But know of one case where
,ahy and its grandmother were both
sick at the same time, and 40 ils that
some one had 20 be up ell night with
them. and all that Mr.. krnss wonld
give them was one quart OF kerosene
every two weeks. 1t seems an out
rageous shame that when the city gives
so literally for its poor thas when tbey
spply for what they have actual need
they should he ili-trcated and abused. =
Ordered Fresn th. Once.
Yesterday afternoon an old lady -
vesr~ of age came into the Office ol
fHK Herald and told n ptful story oi
the way ske had been treated while
tfyifg z 20 ret help from Er. krase. Al
one 'sme her hnslss nd wssa wealthy mar
OF this city. bat misfortune came and
De lost everything Driven 90 ct
tfsSnes. sire st last nppiIed 10 Mr.
krNse's oii3cs. where she had 20 wai
sonle hours hefore tefare env attention
| wss paid 10 her. Nhfn ne did attend
30 her he vas 80 ugly that sire fei
hearthgoken. She stopped n The c.iy
| eomptroiisrs ofire and soif
| hsm Of tbe treatment she hae
4 a a - 1.