The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-18

MlsDsRECTED DENEFICESCE.
When Alfred O. Croxier. iecturing be-
fore the national conference Of chart
ties and correction recently. said that
much Of the charity Of today has no
destination. no engineer. no rails to run
on. no brake. plenty Of bells to adver-
tise its approach and too much STEAM"
he told truth which most residents Of
large cities can spend some time reflect
Ing over. Charity without system. with
out business-like organization and ex-
pert administration. In like an engine
trying to make Its way in the mud.
Giving to . person who don't deserve
II. or giving to . person without sug-
costing that he try to deserve II, affords
sop to weak consciences and gives LENT
ency to degradation. Growing lazy II
easy when It has no uncomfortable con-
sequences: indifference to any aims or
purposes Ii the immediate follower Of
laziness; moral irresponsibility Is the
next sequence. A subsequent evolution
into personal Nth. social deterioration
and criminal probabilities IL Inevitable
As Mr.. Croker puts ii concretely:
"A young man calls at your door asking
for aims IT IL his nrst appeal. He knows
he h doing wrong. He feels guilty and
ashamed. But you are an easy mark. You
vfU ~ fzft rt,n.e -
cold victuals Yeu have boasted that you
never Yet anyone leave your door hungry.
He II enboidened by the easy succesa He
rejects how much easier II was to beg that
meal than 20 earn IL. Al the next place
his story 10 smoother. his lie more plausi-
he"
The victim In such q process need not
be young. neither need he be solely Of
the male gender. Old men when re-
duced to the edge Of poverty have In
creased incentives for mendicancy be-
cause Of the years Of encouragement
that lie behind them or the future ef
comparative incapacity that lies before
them. Girls are induced "a be negligent
Of honest effort by being encouraged 10
depend upon the weakness Of sex. the
power Of beauty. or similar gifts Of ma
ture Women. successful In the seeking
Of aims in instants OF emergency, yield
the more readily TO emergency and rear
their families In impotent conceptions
Of the means OF meeting difficulties.
Charity compounds its own obligations
by every indiscriminate gift The per-
son who once gets without earning
Loses the sense OF obligation and asks
twice for aid where formerly he hest
tated 90 ask once The dependent and
solici,ous inclination Is intractabe IL
given an initiative, Only one method
Of restraint and regulation Is possible.
and that II the systematic incubation
Of opposite conceptions and opposite
principles. II a man II inclined 90 Sc
cure his food by begging II. he must be
taught that he cannot get /, by that
method. II a cripple is inclined to use
his frailties TO elicit sympathy and gain
an unearned support. he should he
taught that his appeals Will be futile.
II woman Ia poverty seeks the relief
Of her family Of children by begging for
the clothes and feed and fuel given By
church societies and kindred organixa-
,ions, she should be taught that more
permanent ana efficient relief Is TO be
found by more honorable means.
The individual In shortsightea who
| thinks that by his mite contributed 10
the chance petitioner he can alleviate
distress or improve conditions. II would
be- as easy to bale oat lake Nothing
but organized effort, guided by trained
teachers and experienced observers. can
/ siad The way 10 ineafeaie those things
which the needy must realize 80 10 The
means Of their hesterrnsns. and which
/ the unsesersinS and the lazy sua the
hsggars snaxt acknowledge e. - their
obligation 10 seeisty Infinite stacy. In
finite labor. Infinite pairs yet remain IN
b. undertaken before the problems cs
poverty and rauperssna can be so'vei
II Is better Ger individuals e. isavs them
- the greater organizations. the asso-
elatea charities and their affiliations
and 60 contribute their means ard shetr
support - those organizations Instead
81: directly ts she elements which ;hose
Institutions ssek - senest