Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-12-27

The result of "the woodward test" in
this and some other cities has had the
effect of making even the most tender
hearted thoughtful. 1t is plain that there
are many of the poor and needy who are
willing to be helped without giving any
thing in return, and 1t Ia also evident that
there are many professional paupsrs ready
and eager to take all the advantage they
can of thoughtless and indiecriminate
charity.
The real problem is how help those
who need help in wise way. 1t will not
do to let people starve or ese, but 1t will
not do to damage or destroy in people the
idea that they must help themselves and
not rely on the community for living
Some of the charitable schemes which
are on foot in this and other places are
direct incentives to fraud and pauperism.
They only take into account the fact that
many people need help. They do not CON-
slider that it is not helpful to O man or to
the community in which he lives to give
him the idea that he can live without work.
It Is rather upgraoious in times like these
to call attention to such things, but some
offset to a noticeable and dangerous ten
dency seems to be needed.
Organized charity is a rather cold
blooded affair, according to the notions of
the warm hearted ones who do not know
how much fraudful poverty there is both
IN good and in bad times, but 1t Is batter
and safer than unorganizsd and merely
impulsive charity. 1t does a good work in
separating the sheep from the goats and
giving help with regard to the good of the
community. We believe, therefore, that
the benevolent should use the organiza-
ton which exists here. and which has
more knowledge and skill than can be
gained by individuals without long study
and experience. And private charity
should not be careless and easy. The
effort of all who give should be to give to
the right ones and In the right way. And
there should be as little giving as possible
without some return in the way of work,
except in cases where there can be no such
return expected or properly demanded.
The best charity, and the only charity
that self-respeoting men and women
| want, is chance TO work. The
aim should be to make all the
work possible for those who need
1t. Good work should be demanded and
| fair pay given for 1t. Anybody who can
| give poor man or poor woman even q
| days work should do 1t. In addition to
this those who have money to spend should
spend 1t literally in buying what they need
and thus help to keep things going until
| better times come.
| We notice that the popular relief fund
started by Mr.. Even Mcintyre has been
turned over to the Organised Charities.
This disposition of 1t was q wise one. 1t
will be wisely spent and will not be used
to encourage paupsrism. Those who
think that charity shouldn't be organized
have something to learn. Those whose busi.
mesa It ia to look after both the deserving
and the undeserving poor know how
easy 1t is to do harm in trying to help. DR.,
Stanton Colt, In lecture in-New York or
the unemployed, said: 81 have found in
the majority of the cases that the men suf
fer torture In the hrst six weeks they are
out of work. During the second six week.
they like the loafing, and at the end of tn,
third six weeks they don't want to worl
any more" That is, providing their want,
are being supplied without labor on thei
part. Even one family permanently pan
perized by foolish charity Is big tax on
community, and the danger is great ii
such times as these that peoples hearts vii
run away with their heads and do mucl
damage while intending only good.