The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-12

tickets. This. year certain newspapers have
begun the old thing again, and We are over
TTbh sv With .R%p,,esnSn =, from eonn.. SELL pr. f. wen q;
them are immlgrants. Most ofthem have been
here for several years
strict police regulations and abolish the sonp
kitchens. So far as families 10. the calls made
on us are not heavier than those OF last year"
The Journdl soup house has become such q
nuisance tuat the Charity Organization Society
has made a formal protsst rgsinss y; as loIl.w %
nate distribution OF free food now carried on by
wise those VINO really care for the welfare Of the
poor not to contribute to the relief fund by
This ia no new question. Such distributions
81 food have been frequently made In ne past
tributors. But experiences has as frequently
demonstrated their harmful effect. .
serious. The most oSviou. Is IT,. utter lack Of
inquiry Into the real needs OF those TO whom
take the names Of sppiicants. Any one may
come as many times as he can get INTO line. and
all are Welcome to come At least three times
rests the possibility Of a sensational Item, a
memorandum may he made, and perhaps 2
no prstsnse Of Intelligent action based on
either an examination of the applicants at the
&c fe p sb at V To- re Il ,n 70 his G.t oSiecti sa' that ao% only
those W tho are really hungry will apply at . pu bile
station OF this sort, or that one may Judge from
the appearance OF applicants that they are in q
starving condition. All experience OF charitable
relief unites 10 demonstrating the utter falsity
Of such assumptions. IL Is those who are not In
need whs are most importunats.a and who under
such n method OF distribution secure for them
selves eIy What was Intended f95 the nsedy; Tss
Of Itself to condemn II In the eyes of any physi-
clan. pastor. settlement worker. trade unionist.
periencs in dealing with the relief OF restitution.
Another objection which we arc inclined to
proportion Of the applicants are children. There
Is nothing TO prevent several children OF the
same family coming At once. each child receiv-
tive Of a starving family. Many of the children
are of school age. and should DO in school. But
food depot is tho repeated lesson which IL gives
them In pAuperism and dependence. The posi-
s nli.b ,nlq by 10, 10 ' Free s9 9oas depS 81 can Sh'' Ssvar a be an.
timated. but neither can II be exaggerated; II
Is the heaviest Indictment against tho whole
Tine latest report OF tho Society for the Pro-
%yention, Of Cruelty to Children refers 70 Ave
trstes by the society for commitment. They be-
longed TO . band OF vsgrsnt boys. most of whom
were without homes or the desire for one, and
all of whom subsisted almost exclusively by
begging food and sleeping In areaways. engine
rooms, or like places. Il is feared that these
on the plan adopted by thi. food depot offers the
most direct ENCOURAGEMENT TO vaerancy OF this
and abet vagrancy and crime.
"A Clergyman who works and lives on the
east side In the midst or the population for
whose benefit the food 10 given away recognised
In tho line children Of q family in his own con-
1regation which was known by him not to re-
quire II.
Next In Importance to the consideration Just
presented 10 the bad effect of tempting Offers Of
this kind on those who have thus far remained
self-dependent, but have had a hard struggle to
trsnp..' : y.sra az and .hiftie.. fsm Hpts 's arc
supplied with unearned food unnecessarily 1t
would still be objectionable. but II IL far worse
that honest and seif-respectinE working people.
who are temporarily, straitsned in their in:
by fsring posters that an emergency fund
has been created for their benefit. Before their
eyes 10 paraded daily In bold type q tempting
bill OF fare. to which they are invited without
II they were not prosperous. Many who will
resist the temptation TO get something for moth
ing for q day or two may finally succumb to re-
peated and urgent Inducements. II Is far easier
TO undermine character In this way than 10
sometimes supposed. and II 10 partly because of
this influence on adults who have not been de-
pendents, but are In danger Of becoming so. that
this protest Ia made.
Not the least consideration 10 the effect of
such distribution OF food on tho community. II
OF tramp. and Migrants. who are thus encour-
aged TO idleness and crime and add to the bur-
den OF our criminal courts and public institu-
tions.
whether there 10 or is not an unusual
amount OF destitution this winter IL beside the
mark. Tho greater the destitution the greater
the obligation to exercise care and discrlmlna-
tion In distributing what 10 given for charity.
"R. w. DE- FoREsT. President.
EDWARD T. DEvISE. General Secretary"
Other organizations arc likely to follow tho
lead Of this society and protest against Mr..
Hearst's advertising scheme.