New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-14
PAWNSH0Ps A GOOD THING
Foor Men Should Have a Place to Get
Credit as Well as Rich Men"

robert W De Forest. president OF the Charity
organization Society # Nev-Yo-i, believe +i,st
me 'awnshop is very useful Institution. In an
Iu1I ess Yesterday morning before the Summer
0chool or Philanthropy he limited his statement
however, by adding that the pawnshoD should
ehirse a fair rate of interest. 7 think" he said
lhat the pco- man has much right to use his
"oIIo"lnG capacity and 7-ouey on his furnit:rre
or other Possessions as the rich man has 10 make
use Of his credit at the bank"
Mt De Forest believes that every poor com
borrow IAN
member Of The class asked WHY the C,bortt,
DfSaE'@ation Society did think It best 20 IN
ci4ae such places N the scope Of Us work
because said Mr.. De Forest such a work is
regular business and must be conducted on F,-el-
ness principles. II we were 20 lend money with no
business idea in view. with 10 certainty cf over
having the money returned, well and good: that
would be within scope From a sentimental
reason the Charity Organization Society couldn't
90 WHAT II PrOvtd mt Loan Society does That *
Loan"
Does mat society discourage borrowing ques-
uohed Mss Mary BirtwelI. general secretary Of
the Associated Charities OF Canbridge Mass WIN,
was m charge Of the meeting. When 9 man
comes 10 US in Boston and wants to borrow money
We investigate the conditions and try to fni some
o'i'er way out for him II a finds that he
can always get money TO pull him out .s INV
trouble by merely giving something in his house as
him - '
ChHke the Boston Society the Frovadeut Loan
society or New-York does nothing to discourage
borrowing Whenever competent security IS given o"
SAID MI De Forest "a loan is made Our society
does not Investigate the conditions Of the case
That would be considered intrudns
Another question that up during the dis
cussion was, Does the employment agency fall
within the scope Of the Charity Organization So
cietr?"
As long as there are any good employment agen-
ces in thu city. that is not work for the Charity
Oreanlzat on." said the president There are 50
many difficulties on the practical side"
MISS blrtwei gave an illustration of one of these
oimcniues. A poor woman came 20 the Asso-
GATED Charities in Cambridge one dav not long
age. she said. with a note from newspap per
man Of Boston asking a position for her as a
scrHoVoma0- We got her a place. and soon the
newspaper man, encouraged by the success OF his
note, sent another. this time asking US 10 find a
years Of high school could work during the sum
mer. until school opened again. That girl had
other resources, and it was decided that it Vas
not the place Of worker IN the Associated Charl-
ties 10 spend time IN hunting position for her
Before these discussions Mr. De IL rest gave 2
Eaniza-.on Society
Il take the purpose OF a charity organ! zation to
with complete knowledge % conditions and
SURROUNDINGS and of the resources for aid rs D,ssi-
bic The vital principle OF such orEariZa ton
and the vital force behind a. Is its mobility. II
must be subject 20 the power OF growth and OF
scope Of q charity organization society for al
lines and places. for by doing this Il would lose
ties have some common essential features; a.! must
proceed upon knowledge Of individuals. character
and the resources Of the community; all must
apply their knowledge. and all must sive unreHit-
t.uE service