The Minneapolis journal., 1902-10-25
CHARITY WORK HERE
General Manager jackson of the As
sociated Charities Gives His
Impressions.
City Known for It's Liberality-Use
of Organizations Not Gen.
eral Enough.

James F. Jackson, general manager Of
the associated charities Of Minneapolis,
recently arrived from New York city.
where he was connected with the charity
organization society, cited In an inter-
view to-day several incidents which
tend to throw significant light chari
ties in the flour city. Mr.. Jackson, who
was requested by The J.ournal to
compare the charitable status Of Mime
apois with that Of other cities. said he
could not satisfa actoriy express himself
on the subject for the reason that he has
been in Minneapolis too short time to
understand thoroughly every feature OF
| the situation. He said:
| The citizens Of Minneapolis are re-
garded as generous people; generous In
their support Of charities, which by their
results have proved their right to exist.
| They are also, 1t Is understood. generous
in their contributions to strangers and to
charities concerning which they have lit
| tie or no knowledge and which they aid
without availing themselves Of informa-
tion which it Is the business Of the as
ISOLATED charities to give request.
"Within the last week two illustrations
of this fact have come to my attention.
In the first instance woman went to
| the pastor of church which she did not
| attend and secured from him a general
| letter requesting contributions toward the
amount necessary to transport the appl1-
> cant to her former home in Europe. One
of the persons to whom she applied re-
ferred her to this office, and the matter
being investigated. the pastor acknowl-
! edged that the woman was not In his
parish, that he did not know that she
ought to go. In fact. But although he
acknowledged himself totally ignorant Of
the facts, he had in his official capacity
issued a general letter indicating that he
was familiar with the situation.
| yesterday we were asked by a ST.
Paul charitable society to make the Min
| neapolis end Of an investigation of a man
| who was canvassing St. Paul for the
| support Of charitable institution which
| does not exist. This man bore letter
| of ecommenda ton from active busi.
| ness man Of Minneapolis. who acknoWl-
edged that he knew neither the purpose
Of the appeal nor the solicitor, except
that he had previously applied for contri-
buttons Fortunately. the business mans
! Endorsement Of the alleged organization
did not wholly avail with the st. Paul
municipal judge, who fined the man for
securing money under false pretenses.
Awakening to Situation.
However, an awakening appreciation
of the situation IS shown by the prompt
action. taken on r h h J ur n a Is sug
gestion. by which the Commercial Club
arranged with the Associated Charities.
on request of the business men affiliated
with the club, to investigate all applicants
for contributions to unknown organiza
tions or individuals. This action was
based. not only on business economy, but
also on the theory that charity loses none
Of It's kindness by being entirely wise.
"There is also a rather widespread
feeling in other cities that In Minneapo-
lis much aims is given by organizations
which are not large enough to employ the
Of fvo{1 to nd NH otn1, 40
not avail themselves Of the information |
and experience at the command of such |
central organization as the Associated |
Charities.
U7nfortuna tely, several illustra tions Of |
this have come to my attention. in the |
few weeks I have been in Minneapolis |
One case was that Of woman who was |
left by an insane husband to support sew
eral children. The Associated Chari- |
ties had consulted several interested So
cieties, and it was arranged to secure an |
ample, regular amount to supplement the |
womans earnings. But one small So !
ciety declined to enter into any such
arrangement. and a friend of the wom-
an insisted on giving such an amount as
ultimately to make the woman dependent. |
After time the friend became Disguised
with her proteges but meanwhile she had
induced others to care for all the children, |
thus depriving the mother and children
Of their mutual relationship, and leaving
reasonably able-bodied woman for whom
1t was possible to receive necessary sup
elemental aid. without the care Of any Of
her children"
A Case In Point.
In the course Of the interview the tele-
widow was not now in need, and the AS
sociated Charities to investigate the con-
dttion of an elderly widow. The lady
stated that she would be glad to aid If
there were need but she wanted an inves-
tigation by one who was not only con-
siderate but trained and stated that a
few months before an applicant had made
representations to her of dire need which
later turned out to be wholly fictitious,
and she did not want to run any risk Of
fostering either the lazy or the designing |
A few hours later it was shown that the
widow was not now In need, and the AS !
ISOLATED Charities will present the facts
to the natural sources Of supply, who will |
guarantee provision for her future needs |
Mr.. Jackson says the large ca stern cities
congratulate Minneapolis on Its freedom
from endowed charities, which are lack
ing in that healthy stimulus resulting
from the need to appeal to the public for |
much or all Of their aid. Mr.. Jackson Is |
much encouraged by the reception which |
he has met from the charity workers and |
the citizens Of Minneapolis, and he Is |
looking forward with anticipation to |
hearty cooperation with all elements Of |
the city that make for better citizenship. |