The Portland daily press., 1900-01-06
A Salvation Army Off
GERS Opinion.
What Others Say About These
Statements.

At the regular monthly meeting Of the
Salvation Army Aid society which was
held few days ago Staff Captain Smith,
VINO was In attendance, made Q rather
startling statement in speaking OF the
charitable institutions of this city. He
said that Portland had more poor people.
according to Its population, than any
other city which he had ever visited and
that the work Of assisting these poor peo-
pie was not carried on In an effective
manner. He strongly urged that some
thing te at once done to remedy such
conditions. stating that this wac tbs
worst season of the year for the poor and
that no time should be lost.
"I have been stationed In nearly every
state of the union on this side Of she
Rocky Mountains," said Captain Smith
In talking with reporter Of the PRESS
or Eriday afternoon. my travels have
been, therefore. pretty extensive and
can truthfully say that there certainly
seem to be more poor people who are not
properly looked after In this city than In
IN place in which have ever been. This
ls Of course according to the population. i
believe that this condition Of affairs
arises from the fNot that the several
charitable institutions take altogether too
much time In investigating cases which
are brought to their attention. A poor
person win for instanos. go before one Of
these institutions and explain his needs.
He will be listened to and then his case
will be turned over to special commit
tee whose duty 1t 10 to make surs that the
person really needs assistance, so that the
society will not be imposed upon. This
matter of Investigation 10 all right 10 It's
way, but oftsntimes IL happens that so
much time Is spent In making the in
vestisatiou that the poor person who has
waiting and has besn literally forced to
seek other places tor aid.
eve of the Salvation Army do not 60
about helping the poor In such methods
as this. We hasten to help . man when he
10 down. We don't care anything about
his past Our plain duty is to help him
out Of his present predioamsnt and to
offer him salvation. No time is spent in
Investigation, although Of cours, 1t is
past record Of the man. II he continues
to keep coming to US for help. we will Of
course sse that he is as willing to help
himssif as We are ready 10 help him. This
policy of aiding has been pursued BY the
Salvation Army for twelv. years and 1t
has been proven to be n suocess.
During the last few days, in this
stretch of very cold weather men have
come to our barracks and have told us
that they had been to the charitable In
situations ana that from them they could
get no help. Able bodied men have been
among this number who have made these
calls upon Us, The officers Of the charit-
able institutions, when thes, able bodiau
men have gone to them for heir, have
quite naturally had their syss opened.
These officers meet the calls OF this de-
soription with the argument that q
strong, robust man should not esk aid of
anybody; and even II the robust man
should explain that 1t YVES utterly impcs.
sibIe to obtain work, the officers of the
ipstitutio' would be more than likely to
say that they would hardly ts justified In
giving l IS 5 iance to such people On the
other hand, q drunka-d who may 20 to
thess In Institutions s1oh are the stories
have come to US during the last few days.
This Is wong and 1t oaus man after
he has go fairly on hts feet, to curss S, J.
ciety an marty in round terms. The
worst oi all Of these cases which have