The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-23
CHARITY IS CRUEL
Offers Premium on IdIeness,
Pauperism and Vice.
Startling Statement of r. P.
Pratt of Charities Conference.
GIVING is NOT VIRTUE
GIVING is NOT VIRTUE
Army of Tramps Encouraged by
Charitably Inclined.
Right Way to Help Poor is to
Furnish Employment.

Charity is not kind" said R. P.
Pratt, superintendent of the poor in
Minneapolis. Mimi, discussing the sub
ject of general donations. There is
nothing in the world" he continued,
more cruel, selfshly, thoughtlessly and
persistently cruel than charity. Nothing
that so makes for the undoing of men,
women and little children; nothing that
offers such a large and easily won pre-
MUM on idleness, shiftlessness, pauper-
ism and vice. 1t is so-called charity
which turns poverty which may be hon
est and respectable into pauperism, up
roots the motive of thrift, Smooths the
path to degradation, rewards idlenesS
destroys self-respect and self-reliance
and turns people in the path of dis
honor.
THE largely increasing army of
tramps in our country is hired, paid and
supported annually by the charitably
inclined; it is clothed, fed, equipped and
besotted by generous public. Instead
of snug satisfaction over a basket filled
at the door there should be more fire.
quent tears of bitter penitence for help
ing soul downward. 1t must needs be
that offenses come, but woe unto those
through whom the offenses come.
Charity as usually practiced is not
virtue but a vice. In the economic
world there is a general trend toward
cooperation and con- ination. Compe-
tirion has been seen to be the most
costly, wasteful and extravagant; un-
profitable alike to employer and en-
ploye. However much we, may question
the effect of this movement on the pub
| lie at large there can be no question
regarding the advantages of co-opera-
| tion in charity. The absence of method
| is perniciOus and defeats it's own ends.
Intelligent charity is the only kind
worthy the name.
investigation is the foundation of
| true charity and the use of the results
| of the investigation by all givers is the
only sane method. Tt is absolutely es-
| Sential and must be thorough. It is
| sometimes costly in time, patience and
| money, but most things of value are
| costly. Men and women are making of
charity a study and a life work. The
! administration of charity is a profess
sion in which wisdom, skill, intelligence
and experience are combined.
| Better far than promiScuOus visiting
| is to put your strength, wisdom and
| heart, and if need be, aims, into a few
| homes. My experience has been that
the best work after relieving immedi-
ate distress is to bring a poor family
and family in more fortunate circum-
stances together and leave them to
grow into mutual confidence and mutual
| happiness.
There is such a thing as misusing
charity, making it only harmful; and
there is such a thing as by wise meth
DDS and a judicious course making it
| blessed both to him who gives and to
| him who receives.
| Il believe that the best way to helI
the poor is to furnish them employment
I believe that every city of 200, 900 popu-
lation should have a factory combined
where the unemployed could be fur
niShed work when it became necessary
for them to ask for aid-they would moi
then lose their independence and self
respect"