Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-18
DIVISION OF FORCES
Differences Among Workers in Aid Of
the Blind.
OPEN POSSIBILITIES THREATENED
Local Organizations Separated by
Clash of Interests.
VIEWS OF EMBE R S

VIEWS OF EMBE R S
Figuratively speaking, this is n story of
a fruitless attempt of charity and philan-
thropy to travel along the same road to
common goal Literally viewed. 1t is mere
ly an account of the smothered differences
and threatened open hostiities between the
American Association of the Blind to Pro-
mote the Education and Employment Of the
Blind, and the Aid Association for the
Blind of the District of Columbia, two sep
arate and distinct organizations occupying
common headquarters at 915 street north
west. That there are divided interests behind
the three-story red brick walls at the num-
Der mentioned will surprise many
The existence, object and needs Of the
two organizations were brought almost
simultaneously before the Washington pub
lie, which noted the similarity of titles ana
purpose, also the obvious identity OF loca-
ton, and looked upon the occupants Of 913
E street as one happy family in benevolent
work for the blind. The big words in the
titles are too similar as to sound, and the
little ones as to size, for the average con-
tributor to note the wide distinction marked
by their slight difference.
But it is there, and the two associations
which Started out to work along the same
lines, with flowers of fraternal love and
Christian charity blosoming all along the
path, find themselves on opposite sides Of
wide gulf, with an existing GOODNESS that
blghted all the shrubbery of fraternal love
and Christian charity. Recent meetings
have been held-frequent and lengthy-in-
stigated by some of the members Of both
associations who hope for an early recon-
Citation, but even the most heated discus
sions have failed to abate one degree of the
existing frigidity The rector of a prGmi-
nent church has been pressed into service
as a peacemaker, and 1t is not unlikely
that the Commissioners of the District will
eventually be called upon to settle the diff
ferences.
Recital of Facts.
,rbesa ,re t,e foo+s ,eod,n, I'M n the
.,.... .aIo..,e - - lit.
threatened oeclaralon OF an open spnt,
gathered In a pafnstaking questioning of
both sides The American Association of
the blind to Pronnote tho Edncation and
E-..,o...t =. 49, OIL. a., -
f4inpios iiiei. VI eiIe oiiu 10 an oisaiii1"
ton of which Mr.. F. E. Cleaveland, blind
lawyer OF Hartford, Conn, is the head
worker. Its work is philanthropic rather
than charitable, for 1t aims to make self
supporting and self-reSpecting members Of
society Of the adult blind, who have here
tofore been turned over to their friends
II they had them, or out In the streets If
they had not after finishing the course
of education In some one of the numerous
schools for the blind
Mr.. Cleaveland, who insists that in all
boards Of directors of blind institutions
t tne pit f4 smoulo nave IalI Iepresenta-
shops in his home state and obtaining a
good-sized yearly appropriation from the
s.a.e LOT lhe WORK, came 70 washington
event,,.ii oh,sbin, unsL 90, anu
haps an Industrial home. which should
serve as a model for the whole of the
United States Associated with Mr.
CIeaveland are Dr. H. N. Couden, the blind
chaplain of the House; Dr. Bischoff, the
blind organist; besides a number of in
fuential men who can see
The Aid Association for the Blind of the
District of Columbia has for its president
Mrs A. G. Bracket, but was promoted
and organized by Mrs Alice Underwood
Hunt, with the primary object of estab-
digent blind The society has a board of
managers composed of twenty ladies, and
any one who will pay 80 cents a year to-
ward the support of the home may become
an honorary member of the association.
The admission fee to the other organiza-
ton is ST.
According to Mr.. Cleaveland's testimony
the promoter of the aid association evinced
an early objection to what she regarded as
an encroachment upon her particular field
of charitable work, but after several
lengthy confabs she was brought to see
that the work of the American association
would be only one of benefit to the 200 blind
in the District Of Columbia.
So charity and philanthropy started out
with clasped hands.
CI,.b of Jnterest..
-
But because philanthropy got some suo-
scriptions which were meant for charity,
and because charity pocketed a three-story
hricl with a 1arpe-sized mortgage attached
o,.eA WIN :" l- 80 ~ SIS
aIter tne aonol naa peen lio'ee ny d re-
cital OF pniiahthrops Piahs VI prog ess'
the Two iost step, refused 10 speaA anu are
about 10 traVei along separate pains.
When the Ala Assoclatlon received tne
g1ft OF buliolns Ior us nome. the Ameri-
can ASSOCIATION was onereo, IN consldera-
ton OF 1air rentai: tne use OF rooms On
the second moor Tor us WORKSHOPS anu ior
a ~hlle aHalrs Went on snooiniy.
Several benevolent lndlViduais ana re"
societies furnished rooms FOR the nome; an
office was htted up on the nrst moor ana a
matron established tnereln. Machinery ana
appliances for proommak1ng and the PRINT
ing Of job work were placed In the work.
shops on the second floor, materials pur-
chased and work begun; the outlook was
ch and the heneficiarieS haDDy