The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-05
HON TO RELIEVE THE POOR.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS FOR coz
DUCT OF CHARITY.
Investigation Of the Claims and
WorthineSs of Applicants-lndis-
criminase AimSgiving Not Only

tThe substance OF paper read by Arm
:. Allen. general secretary OF the Charity
Organization Society. at the first OF the
series Of social charity conferences.b
/ want TO make very plain the "V hys'
and How" Of investigation and regis
tration from a charity organization stand
point
know o. no other single point on which
The most studiogs and successful work
ers for the improvement OF the condition
OF the poor are so thoroughly agreed.
The most complete investigation together
with registration is considered by them TO
be an indispensa bic part OF every success
iul plan for helping the poor and IN
fortunate.
ON the other hand there - no single
feature OF charity organization Which Is
80 distasteful 10 the average citizen OF a
community. / am sure that this criticism
OF investigation and registration finds its
source IN ignorance Of both the purpose
and method OF II. II IS looked upon by
many as an unwarranted intrusion into
home life; prying into strictly private
affairs dragging forth and paralling be-
fore the gaze OF the general puoIic OF the
foibles and folies always OF the poor.
and often of the most sacred rights Of the
unfortunate; a process designed 10 salts
fy the morbid curiosity of q Paul Pry.
say these criticisms. SO unjust and I'M
fair, are born of ignorance. Ignorance, III
the first place. of the causes of poverty
and pauperism-and just here let me en-
phasize the thought that the words poV
eyty" and "pauperism, poor and
''pauper" are not synonymous. Pauper-
ism is poverty become chronic. Only an
incurable poor person is a pauDec. lg-
norance, in the second place. OF the spirit
and method of investigation and regstra-
ton. Now what Is il We hope 10 gain
from the investigation of a given case?
knowledge. first. of the actual present con-
dition. An answer 10 the question. Is
the family really needyr II so, what does
il need? If the need is for material re-
lief and urgent is must be (and always is)
Immediately met. Neither here, nor else
where. are persons allowed to starve pend
ing an investigation of their case. Imme-
date relief Is given whether or no. But
the bedrock principle underlying the
methods Of charity organization societies
il that real charity must be cure for
poverty. To intelgentiy apply the rem
edy there must be comprehensive
knowledge of the causes which contributed
to the result The fact needs TO pe kept
constantly in mind that poverty and
paupertsm are abnormal condiuions-the
former a temporary state the latter
chronic stage of the same state. 1t is,
therefore, as senseless for the charity
worker 10 prescribe for a case of poverty
without knowledge Of the facts as for a
physician to prescribe for a patient with
out first diagnosing the case. In a SEN
ience, investigation is the diagnosis Of Il
case of poverty with a view towards find
ing what is the best remedy 10 apply 10
affect a cure.
II only repeat the teachings of the great
ers when / declare emphaticaily that the
sole purpose of the investigation end the
permanent record is the increase and not
the decrease OF Charity-the increased eX-
penditurc of time and money In the
vice OF the unfortunate the rescue of a
large number OF children from dependency.
and even downright material relief In food.
fuel. clothes medicines, shelter, etc. OF
an increased proportion of the human be-
ings. who. 10 invert an official phrase.
need relief rather than discipline" Oe-
yine.)
! want 10 declare as emphatiealiy how
ever that material relief given without
investigation in its effects upon the aver
age recipient Is infinitely worse than none,
Better not give at all than 10 give un-
wisely II you haven't time to find ont
the real need. in ninety nine cases out OF
100 it Will be positive kindness TO refuse
aims.
The further fact needs emphasis that in
Ves;iga,ion is not process OF labelling GER
tain persons worthy" and certain others
unworthy" These are technical terms
understood by the skilled charity worker.
but unfortunate selections because mis-
understood by the great mass OF people.
In the eyes OF the real lover Of his kind
10 man or woman il really unworthy. The
lower down in the scale OF human degra-
dalton one * the greater his need-the
greater our debt To him. He may not need
alms-often he does not-but ne does need
something and the whole purpose OF an
need and give him that-not something
else.
And just here Is good place 10 point
out the limitations OF investigation. hope
none Of uS viii ever forget that il Is not
an end hut a means. and a means wholly
unwarrauted and unjustitiable If IL does
10 more than investigate. Unless W. are
willing and able 10 supply the need. or see
that il IS supplied we have no business to
ke she investigation.
80 much for the Way or investiga-
ton Registration is simply a means OF
preserving in permanent form the results
Of investigation. X would be scarcely nee
sssary II the poor aud unfortunate were
not numbered by the thousands
Specifically now as To the How go There
Is certain amount Of information needed
iu all cases and this is usually covered by
the questions Ia the printed forms used by
AL societies
Date. case No.. Detlsi3n........
VISITOR. Onice No ......
Surname .--..- --..--- OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
g. 49,. -. .rt, y ts.-r,- y '''