The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-10-13
WORK OF THE ASSOCIATED CHARf-
TIES OF SIT. PAUL FOR
YEAR.
TOLD AT THE FOURTH ANNUAL.
SECRETARY JACK SONS REPORT
GIVES A DETAILED IDEA OF
WHAT'S BEEN DONE.
REPORT ON FRIENDLY VISITING.
This ''New Charity" InauEErated a
Year Ago, Has Met With Success
Had Satisfactory Growth.

The fourth mountaineering of the AS
ISOLATED Charities was held at their
Office, No. 1,004 New York Life build
ing yesterday afternoon. Secretary
Jackson's report, in part, was as fol-
lows:
The fact is now quite generally
recognized that the Associated Chari-
ties impartially works and acts for all
organizations and individuals who in
vite It's services. During the past year
we investigated the condition of 514
families, and reinvestigated $50 others,
chiefly at the request of thirty
organizations, whereas the first year
we investigated for only four organiza-
tons. We now have on file 9,175 re-
ports, of which 3,269 have been per-
sonally Investigated one or more times.
The Investigations discover innumer-
able conditions. Recently an untidy,
barefoot girl, with the inevitable bas-
ket, appealed at a residence for cloth
ing. She gave a false name and adj
dress, but, after some effort she was
located as the daughter of a mechanic,
who is fully able and willing to pro-
vide for his family, and he does not
approve of the begging.
Numerous instances of unnecessary
applications and false addresses are
discovered, but the most satisfactory
work is the discovery of real need and
the effort to reduce the suffering by, in
some way, improving the conditions. A
sober, Industrious man called here to
say: eve were in bad straights when
you hove in sight. You have rendered
us great favors which we heartily ap-
preciate." He had seen better days,
was not used to the way of adversely,
and needed assistance. So on for the
thousand and more families. We en-
deaVor to assist each in such way as
to render him really better Off OF
course, some ones Wrong-doing causes
large part of the distress
The heads of 203 of the 514 families.
seen for the first time, were native
born Americans. The average family
contained 4.3 members and occupied so
rooms; so were illiterate; 1853 had pre-
viously received aid The following
table, showing the decisions reached, is
worthy of note:
1t is interesting to observe that only
five of those aided were members of
trades unions. and that the union
furnished the chief part of their aid
Just before the last annual meeting
there was added the feature of friendly
visiting, which has been a success,
productive of good to the fortunate as
well as the unfortunate After the need
and utility of that work was thorough
ly proven, provident savings was au-
cried. These two methods of work
are quite different, yet mutually help
full, and each is Of marked advantage
in the development of independence and
Self-help.
Though improvidence is not the chief
cause of need, 1t is present in q larger
percentage of the families than any
other one cause. 1t lays such a burden
upon every charity in the city as to
place serious responsibility upon the
Associated charities. It's most effective
remedy is a practical plan to develop
saving; for general application the plan
should be adapted to the accumulation
or savings by people of small incomes
The ST. Paul Provident Fund is Just
such plan, which operates along well
established business lines. The
stamp system, the collection at
the homes, in fact all it's
principles have been approved by
the experience of other cities, and.
be the means of doing great good. We
make this confident prophecy Ing the
light of experience of others
on this line, and of the sue
cess of previous experiments
supported by the cooperative spirit OF
this association. The OBJECT of this plan
is not to develop great property hold
ers. it is to develop the ability and the
willingness to care for ones self and
to assist those who will to provide for
emergencies. The custom of regularity
and of sacrificing a present for a great
Ell future good; the interest in the COM
mon veal that comes with the con-
seriousness Of even small possessions all
tend to improve habits and character.
Careless 20 I,
been reformed by use of similar funds.
The success of this simple plan means
not only less burden on the charitable
institutions and societies, but fewer suf-
ferers from crime and fewer occupants
of prisons than would otherwise be
the case. This accerds with the under
lying principles Of our work. that pre-
Vention, though less sensational, is
pleasanter. cheaper and better than
cure.
The table showing the chief cause of need
is given in full:
No male support (a) ..................56