The evening times., 1895-12-06

|
| little old farm in the Emerald Isle, he went
| to Belfast. There he became q drug clerk.
| As apprentice and night clerk he began 10
| study the whims and the origin Of the
| whinis aud fancics OF humanity.
With a brother lie crossed the pond and
| went to Wisconsin,, where he entered Law
renee College. He worked his way through,
| laboring during the vacation, on Satur-
days, and on holidays.
| Then he entered the Wisconsin State Uni
| versity and was graduated In 1894, when
| he was awarded the scholarship emitting
| him to a course in practical sociology. The
| headquarters of the class of which he
| was member were in Cincinnati, and DIR.
Ayers of Johns Hopkins University was
its leader. With his fellows he visited in
stitutions in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.
studying the workings OF State and munich
pal governments under the State labor conf
| missioner. Mr.. Wilson was assigned to an
investigation OF the Sweating SYSTEM"
and tenement house plan of Cincinnati, and
| made q report TO the State authorities.
He was called to Toledo, o., as general sec
| retary OF the Humane Society, and the De-
partment of Associated Cha arities, and re-
signed the position to come TO Washington.
There will be a board meeting of the
Associated Charities tonight, and the new
secretary will be present for the first time
1.-THE association shall not be an iDdi-
vidual il must lie working many" said
Mr.. Wilson, wheninterviewed by The Times.
Il believe an association cannot do tho
best work if it continues 10 be an aims
giving society to any extent. The success
ful societies in other cities are the non relief
giving ones. / may be radical, but be
lieve am right aud practical.
WORK OF TIE ASSOCIATION.
"The object OF the work of the Associated
Charities In large cities is to harmonizc and
bring into Co operation the benevolent forces
of the community. Its business should be
to make thorough investigation or all
cases, and then seek the sources from whence
relief should come. Now, 1 will explain
that.
There are some families that dra W from
three or four sources. They may he a
member of this church. for instance and a
beneficiary OF that lodge and some other
benevolent organization at one time. Each
is willing to do the proper thing. and each
renders aid without the other knowing IL.
That is manifestiy not right. Pauperism
is encouraged. You often hurt a man by
giving to him.
"Iu the few days that 1 have been In
Washington i have visited n number of
homes. Only a day ago lady came to me
for aid. / Investigated. In an unguarded
Instant she let out TO a member Of the as
sociation the Information that she had been
reported to them her condition. They were
mortified to think that one dependent on
them should seek public charity. They called
special meeting 10 consider the case, and
on iDvestigat ion found that the woman had
been regularly getting help from a number
of sources.
"Now. don't believe any family with an
able-bodied man in 1t should be helped ex-
cept to get work. We must not foster iD-
dolence. II people know that they are
going to be supported they will wait for
IL and VIII drift in from other cities. BE
careful OF strangers. Think long before you
help them.
"You will see men come TO your door at
10 O'Clock at night They are sly. They
know you are in your warm house then,
and they have played on the chords or
human sympathy too long not to feel
certain they will win your aims. OF course
they have tale prepared.
Now, no person changes from q state
of independence tu one Of dependence in six
hours. They come at the late hour on
purpose. In the day they were living on
the heart chords they pIucked the night
before. Tonight they are preparing for to-
morrow. Send them tn the mission, where
they will be cared for, IL they will work"
WHAT HE WILL DO.
Mr.. Wilson spoke with great earnest
ness, showing be felt it to be bis couvic-
ton. Turning again, he continued:
"Yes, l supposed you would ask what
my plans are. Well, we propose Ia have
In record history of every poor family
in the District. 1t matters not whether
they have ever been assisted by the Asso-
ciated Charities or not. 1t is To be a ref
erence list.
'Then we will have cards to distribute
to whoever will take them. These cards are
To be printed in duplicate that will be sep
arated in the middle when used. In the
blank space is given the mans name and
address, and the card is to introduce him
the associated charities. The duplicate
kept by the other person is also filled out
with the name and address, and is mailed
or sent to the association. II you want to
make a recommendation or contribute
something for the person named, you can
state so on your end OF the card. In any event
your own name is also on the card.
Experience has shown that only about
one out of every four of the recipients of
these cards ever take them to the associa-
tion. The paid agents look up the name 4
and address ON the card you have sent in
and in very many instances they find that
a fictitious address has been given. Where
it is found to be all right the agent will
investigate anddeterminef from what source,
if any, help should properly come, while
they frequently find that no help is really
uctutus 1utSe Gurus are 10 De ulStrlDuteQ
among all that will use them.
SYSTEM OF VISITS.
Another branch uf the proposed work is
to develop a system of friendly visiting
as far as possible. We Will get volunteer
visitors tn dcvote one or two hours a week
to calling un family and then let them
do it continuously. No aims are TO be
necessarily given. Let the visitor e, all
the time TO the same family and become its
friend and adviser. He or she will grow
confidential with them, and by personal
influence reform and elevate the house,
hold.
"This will, of course, take time. The !
visitor mnst not drop out In summer. He
must go then and cunduct an educational |
work, teaching the needy une thrift and |
economy, and assisting him to prepare for !
the winter"
How ab,ut the colOred people, that
form so large n proportion Of charity's |
wards In Washington
"They can be taught. They love novelty. |
I would introduce the family savings bank |
In the summer, where pennies and nickels