The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-13
TO ABOLISH POVERTY.
ADDRESS ON METHODS OF RELIEv-
ING SOCIAL MISERY.
Prof. Smith at the Phfianthroptc
Congress Condemns AlmsgivfnE as
Breeding PauperS and Urges
Raising Standard of Education.

BATTLE CREEK. Nfich.. Oct. E-Tae
Interstate Philanthropic congress began
here tonight Over $3.50 people attended
the opening session The address OF me
evening was given by Rev. Samuel v.
Smith. d. D. professor OF sociology IN the
University OF Minnesota 81 Paul
DIR. Smith opened by stating the convic-
ton that not the common man and woman
alone but society itself must attack the
evils which beset the race. and which ne
summarized as Ignorance. poverty SICK
ness. inefficient tell and an inef1eient snare
IN the opportunities and privileges OF the
world. These evils result from inefnciency
In the individual. the home. the school ana
the state-and especially the mGnielpai
state"
The problems were not hopeless, for in
no are had so much been done Tor the
common people as in the nineteenth cen
fury, and It would be described N history
as .sthe age OF the common people he
described the remedies for poverty as
nsIIiative. curative and preventive Soci-
ETY. could have all the beggars il was VIII
ing 70 feed. and the $40 90, GO spent every
year on outdoor relief was not only Was'eo'
but tended TO perpetuate pauper Glass
This fact had decided some ofticers 20 hsIp
only the child. the old and the sick he
continued:
'.-rhe new methods Of organized charity
demand the federation of charity agem-
cies. The relief agencies OF munlclpaI..-
ties, OF churches. and OF private -.
ties, should have a central bureau wH 80
the entire dependent population OF tne
community. after careful Investigation, IS
nronerIv registered This knowledge IS
the foundation Of all wise and effective re-
lief"
This would prevent ward-heelers from
using public charity TO aid party organi-
cation. He condemned most or the pres
ent agencies to relieve distress as not only
unwise but immoral, and added:
Free lodging houses. free soup. and
most aims giving, belong 10 forms OF SO
ciaIism which are chiefly yallo ana Ndtu-
able for those who prefer ignoorance'
shlftlessness and vice 70 intelligence
thrift and virtue.
The home was the unit of social organi-
cation. In the solution of the child
problem the regeneration of society must
be sought The slurns must be abolished
by municipal legislation and philanthro-
pic cooperation. The schools should
teach domestic economy and have KIN
dergarten. He added:
II plead for more practical drift in pub
lie education. The technical school, as
the foundation for artisan skill, is or SUI
preme Importance.
They must make better citizens before
they could make better institutions lie
questioned the statement that the foreign
born citizen was the great burden or
American municipalities. for they COM
mitted less than their proportionate share
of crime and their children rather more
than their share-in itself a reflection on
American environment. Respect for law
VAS less deeply seated in America than
Europe and the laxity Of police admins
tration seemed to be responsible. Not
only municipal but national elections cor
rupted the citizens. The health depart
ment of the cities should have more au-
thority and be more efficient. He advo-
Gated municipal ownership of public fran
chlses. answering questions as to its econ
omy and efficiency by saying:
Municipal ownership is a question OF
municipal virtue. If our citizenship be
clean, high-minded and intelligent 1t is
a consummate folly TO besfow n'''ii" cred
1t and the profits Of public work upon
private corporations. 1t Is plain that
whatever is done should be accomplished
by experimental and progressive legisla-
ton, rather than by revolution based upon
paper theories"