The herald., 1897-07-09
IGNORANCE
AND DRINK
The Two Great Causes of
Poverty
AMERICAN COMMON SCHOOLS
THE PLAIN REMEDY FOR THE
FIRST
AMERICAN COMMON SCHOOLS
Adjustment of the Treating System
the Next Step-National Char
ity Conference Convention
Associated Press Gpecial Wire.


TORONTO, July S--The National Con-
ference of Charities and Corrections
convened this morning and was in ses-
sion until 1890. Alfred o. Crozier called
the organization to order and read the
report of the Committee on Organiza-
tion of the Bethel Relief society, De-
troir, Mich, speaking on Practical
Charity and Jewish Methods" said in
part:
THE subject which 1 wish to discuss
is twofod.
THE first. how to prevent the need
of charity. and the other, how to dimin-
ish the causes which augment the num-
Der Of those who ask it. My experience
has been that two causes are paramount
In bringing about poverty. The first rs
Ignorance. the second intemperance II
we can wipe out these two curses, it will
diminish poverty. In order to diminish
the number in the future of those asking
charity we compel, under our rules,
every child of school age to attend the
public schools, before we allow their
families any assistance from our char
Fity funds. and experience has taught us
that this element is growing up to be a
better class of men and citizens and be-
come support to their parents and rela-
tives. And We're the despotic countries
today to stop sending in their paupers
and ignorant people, we could dissolve
our charity organizations inside of ten
years.
And I recommend that this organiza-
ton, which has won renown for guiding
such great charitable work. adopt this
same rule, that is to lend assistance only
to those persons who are willing to have
their children educated, so as to be fitted
for the battles of life with the same
equipment which we have. Our aim
should mot be SO much how to administer
charity. as to- make charity more and
more unnecessary. Let us attempt to
diminish the springs which feed the riv-
ers of poverty.
In Detroit We also discourage send
ing our poor to some other community,
and at the same time we object to other
cities sending their poor to us. Let each
city take care of its own people, is our
maxim 1t must be our aim to make it
possible for those who are needy now to
live in self-dependence and in the future
to rise continually in the standard of
living, in proportions to the development
Of their social needs and desires.
'The second cause which aggravates
and promotes poverty is intemperance.
While the Jew is not as a rule subject
to that deplorable vice, nevertheless in
charitable work our hands are combined
with yours, and we suffer through its
Il -rA 49, 4
there is one avenue still open. A great
many methods have been tried and test
ed, but one in particular 1 wish to rec
ommend, and it Is to inculcate the prin-
ciple in operation in Germany-that is.
to stop the treating system.
''The Massachusetts statistics Of labor
show that of 1920 cases of poverty or
pauperism investigated nearly one-half
of them are traceable to the use. or rath-
er the abuse, of liquor. We must there
fore conclude that if we root out intem-
perance, pauperism will decrease. True,
there are other causes for poverty, such
as evil society and unhappy surround
ings, but remove the first two causes,
ignorance and intemperance. and you
will greatly diminish the number of pau
pers."
In the afternoon Miss Frances R. Morse
of the Associated Charities of Boston.
Mass. spoke on "How Can We Further
the Organization of Charities?" before
the New York section, and said, in part:
1.-The working principles of charity
organization are the same as those by
which we try to shape our daily life
in relation with the people about us.
Just as in these relations we must try
to apply to the question in hand all the
sympathy, intelligence and moral
strength which we can command. and
as with our friends, when we interfere,
we should fully recognize our RESPONSE
bility. Philanthropic work must be rec
ognized as interference with other peo-
ple's affairs-often justifiable often be-
neficent, but still interference--and we
must make the interference helpful.
10 further the extension of the char
ity organization idea we should, first,
make each large charity organization
society a well equipped center of infor"
nation, with a committee of the board
of directors in close relation with it; Sec
ondly, make our cooperation with other
societies more sympathetic and thor
oughgoing; thirdly, publish more and
write in important daily papers from
the c.. c. point of view"
DR.. Philip w. Ayres, general secretary
Of the Chicago Bureau of Associated
Charities, spoke on "Investigation--Its
Benefits and Dangers" saying, in part:
Investigation covers four main points
first, to learn what is known of the ap-
plicant in the registry or what other
societies may know of him. Second, to
visit the applicant in his home. Third,
to secure the statements of neighbors
and local tradesmen in the vicinity, in
so far as this can be done without in any
way injuring the standing of the fam
lily in the community. Fourth, to look
up the references given. The benefits re-
sulting are those which always follow
knowledge,
Some people say that.asking ques-
lions is red tape but the absence Of
or erff