The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-07-07
LIVE QUESTIONS.
A Series of Articles Contributed by
Advanced Thinkers.
LONDON is WRESTLING WITH THE
CHARITY PROBLEM.


Mr.. J. Eads How OF Manchester col
Iece. Oxford, sends the following from
London paper. The suggestions are
pertinent and emphasize the inadequacy
of charity. What we need is Justice
kind and universal justice. AL men re-
spond to that sentiment:
cit Will be gratifying outcome of
the visit Of NIr. Robert Treat Paine, the
practical Boston philanthropist, to this
city if it leads to the adoption of his
idea Of organized charity and the doing
away with the serious evils that arise
frori the independent, miscellaneous
and unorganized bestowal of relief. The
experiences of our own Aid and Relief
society in more than one instance illus
trate the necessity of adopting some
such scheme as that which has worked
so admirably in Boston under Mr..
Paine's efficient administration. The
society in question is being constantly
imposed upon by applicants bowling for
bread and work, who when they have
got the bread have no longer any desire
for work. There is no question that
charity should represent work. It may
not always be practical to set up well
stocked woodward, but as far as possible
some kind Of work should be provided
and all adult male applicants should be
made 10 earn their relief. The only per-
sons to whom money is paid should be
women and children. When money is
paid to men, it should be paid in the
form of wages. If money is given to
them without working for it, it is much
more likely to go to the saloons ths.n to
the family.
ssThe curse of liquor should always be
taken into account when dealing with
the problem, Of charity. The money
spent for liquor is enormous in its total.
1t renders the man still more incapable
of work. It reduces his physical and en-
feebles his mental power. AS it makes
him still more incapable of earning
living, it still further impoverishes his
family. It destroys his pride and self
respect and sooner or later makes him
permanent charge upon society, either
in the workhouse or the penitentiary-
The man who is given money without
work nine times cut of ten will spend
it in the saloon, where he can get some
| thing to drink as well as free lunch,
while his wife and children will be
forced out on the streets to beg IN order
to save themselves from starvation. OF
course in an emergency, like that which
confronted the city during the recent
cold spell, sufferers must be taken care
Of by money or other relief.
s.It cannot be TOO strongly impressed
upon applicants for relief, however,
4 that charity Of this nature is only tenn.
porary, and that when the emergency
ceases relief of this kind must cease.
When once they are made to realize
that the help will not be continuous, they
will cease to expect it and will under
stand that in some way they must work
fer money, and the work should be pro-
vided. Once let it be understood that
money would be contributed continuous
", two. thirds of the people of the Unit
ed States wculd avail themselves OF the
opportunity to live without work. The
first duty Of the charitable should be to
organize their charities SO as to avoid
imposition and double giving. The sec
ord duty should be to contribute relief
in the form of wages. The third and
last daty should be to provide the work
When these conditions are satisfied, the
charitable problem Will be we'll on the
way toward solution. =