Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-05

Oeeh ehecteu, tneir promoters and chief
supporters 10 nearly every case having
been the same men and women. Out of
the old City mission at Tenth and Capitol
avenue. founded twenty-seven years ago.
has grown the most Of this work, which in
1892 became the Associated Charities. and
during the eight successful years Of lie
existence. food, clothing. transportation
and like assistance was rendered the city,
poor to the extent Of about $40. 900. with
o Laughland as general secretary the
city was divided into districts under the
supervision OF various persons. BY which
System accurate account was kept Of all
applicants for assistance. Working in CO.
operation with the county. most satisfac-
tory results were accomplished with great
saving Of time and expense to all con-
cerned.
End Of Associated Charities.
With the organization Of the many other
institutions for the support OF which the
public has been called upon. much OF the
support was withdrawn from the Associated
Charities. especially after the existence Of
the "Kash X" fund. an anonymous annual
subscription OF 81 600 became known, peo-
pie depending upon this to carry the work,
and finally two years ago the association
suspended It's operation. Since thin an in
formal organization, known as the City
Charities. supported largely by influence
Of Dean Fair. has served as a collecting
and distributing agency Of food. clothing
and the like.
In speaking Of his experience in the work
OF the Associated Charities. Mr.. Laughlond
said: "Of all the agencies that operate
against the efficiency OF organized effort,
that of individual assistance In supposedly
deserving cases ls greatest. In spite OF all
the warning that can be given. klnd-heart-
ed individuals will dispense their assist
ance as they choose without proper inves-
t~igation. and will. of course. be imposed
upon. The harm done is not so much in
their loss. but in the encouragement their
method gives to the shiftless who will i'm
pose upon people rather than work. Il is
this sort OF so-called charity that supports
the tramps OF the country. II ie a we'll
known fact among the experienced and or
ganized charitable workers that the great
majority OF the house-to-house beggars OF
money and food are professionals. who not
only live themselves by this means. but
cooperate with scores Of other impostefs
In a systematic means Of living without
work They employ a regular method Of
spotting and marking the houses where peo-
pie are easy where the Just out Of the
hospital or the religious dodge and the
general hard luck story will win from in
experienced women the money or food.
Children Is Professionals.
Another and the greatest OF all mistakes
is that Of giving to the children who ap-
ply for food. clothing and money. for they
are but the tools of their dishonest elders.
and in giving to them one not only aids
their undeserving parents. but helps to
make auper of the children as we'll. II
was at the recent conference Of
Charities and Correction that 80 per cent
OF the children beggars formed habits OF
dishonesty and shiftlessness. and eventu-
ally became paupers themselves.
The manner In which children Of all
ages assist in imposing upon the charitable
public is shown in the following incident
which occurred In Omaha several years
ago: General w. w. Lowe, who resided at
that time at Sixteenth and Harvey streets.
noticed each morning, regularly at 9 o'clock.
q wagon containing several children, drive
up and hitch in the alley between Howar
and Harvey, Just of Sixteenth street. Inn
mediately the children would scatter, each
with a basket, but always to return by
IL o'clock with baskets filled with pro-
visions, when the wagon would load UP
and drive away After watching this per-
Torrance for several weeks, General Lowe
decided to investigate 1t. Accordingly the
wagon was followed to It's destination in
the vicinity Of Tenth and Marcy street.
1t developed that the horse, wagon and
children all belonged to the prosperous
proprietor OF one Of the best patroniEed
eating houses for the depot and railroad
employees and that he compelled the chill
dren to beg for the greater part Of the
provisions for which his patrons paid him
we'll.
There are even now several families
who keep their children out Of school. even
In the most severe weather, to beg for
clothing. In fact, the more bitter the day
the more active are the children, their
pitiful stories, together with their scanty
apparel, rarely failing to obtain the de-
sired clothing. which they take home to
their parents, who are second hand cloth
ing dealers.
work the Real Test.
"of all the means that have been employed
for testing the men who apply for aid, the
woodward lie the best. II a man is really
In need and willing to work he may chop
or saw wood, for which he is paid, and he
is privileged to cut as much Of II as he
likes. This is not only & test OF the mans
Willingness, but a source Of income as we'll,
for there Is always ready sale for the
wood.
The ability to judge these cases comes
only from experience. An amusing thing
happened the late Henry NJ. James, at
that time superintendent Of the city
schools. who was one of the willing help
ers In the work of alternating the suffer-
ings Of the needy and preferred the evidence
OF his own eye to the red tape Of the reg
ular investigation. when he had assist
ance to give. A case brought to his at
tention was that OF . family in the north
part Of town. whose destitute condition
made immediate help necessary. He vis-
tied them personally and after hearing
their story and being convinced that they
we're deserving. drew an order upon the
Associated Charities for food. fuel and
clothing to the amount Of about s12. He
was we'll pleased with the dispatch with
which he had served the case. Not long
afterWard another case came from this
family and Mr.. James being unable to
attend to it. an experienced member OF
the investigating committee went to the
house and soon recognized the applicants
as impOstors. During the winter this same
II a.