The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-05-08
VAGRANCY TENDS
TO FILL THE JAIL
PROCEEDINGS IN ATLANTA OF
THE SECOND DAYS SESSION OF
THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF
CHARITIES AND CORRECTION.

Atlanta, May 1.-THE second days ses-
sion of the National Conference of Chari-
ties and Corrections was opened this
morning with an invocation by Bishop
Benjamin J. Kelley of Savannah. The
general subject of the day was County
and Municipal Institutions Outdoor Re-
lief and yagrancy;" and the committee
upon this branch of the work, through
its chairman C. L. Stonaker of Dem
yer, Col, presented a report which recon-
mended the advocation of a provision by
law in each state for an inspector oil
county and municipal institutions.
1.-THE development of public interest
can likewise be advanced, the report
says, Through the establishment of
state board of charities with advisory
power or by volunteer societies such as
the State Charities Aid societies of New
York and New Jersey"
William II. Allen, general agent Of the
New York Association for Improving the
Condition of the Poor, delivered an adj
dress taking as his subject Social Para
site or Social Product?'
The salient portion Of his address Is as
follows:
"One phase of vagrancy affects a great
number of people and represents a grea.
menace to social welfare. the source and
support of the Individual vagrant and the
stronghold of disease. I refer to
the vagraney Of giving, that tramp phil
anthropy, that superficial samaritanism,
that vagrant interest in ones fellowman
which purchases elf-complacency relief
from annoyance, reputation for generos-
ity and spurious mortgages on mansions
In, TIC clxiea from vendors of hard luck
stories inventors of mutilated limbs and
exhibitors of moral and physical detormi-
ties The real vagrancy Is the yag-
rancy of intellect and sympathy, whether
the gift be a mite or million, which at
tempts to obtain satisfaction entirely cut
of proportion to the thought and time eX-
pended In giving; which confuses aims
with Justice and relief.
ut is the recipient who is wronged. not
the giver It is as uncharitable and as
reprehensible for an individual unlicensed
citizen on the street to prescribe for
vagrancy as for hydrophobia or typhoid
fever.
Our problem is primarily to convince
and correct this citizen-giYer rather than
to convince and reclaim the tramp. We
shall never be rid of the man who would
rather beg than saw wood; we may nope
to get rid of the man who would rather
give a nickel 10 a DeeBdi IMAM s1hU hiiA
to an agency which can make him self
supporting"
other addresses upon the general sub
ject of vagrancy were given by Miss
Alice c. willard of Chicago James f.
Jackson of Minneapolis, James Forbes OIL
New York and former Mayor Livingston
Minis of Atlanta.
During the afternoon sectional meet
ings were held, devoted to the discussion
of various phases of the general correc-
tional problem.
The evening session was devoted to the
discussion of Estate Supervision and Ad-
mlnistration of Charities and Correction.
The report of the committee on this
branch of the work was presented by its
chairman, Prof Frank w. Blackmar OF
Lawrence, Kas
general discussion of the report fol-
lowed. participated in by George S. Rob-
inson of Des Moines, Ia, and James 70.
Hegg of Elizabeth, N. j.
The concluding speech of the evening
was delivered by former Governor Benton
Mcmillan of Tennessee upon the subject,
Needs of the South in the Administration
of Charities"