The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-01-15
Arduous Duty Is Imposed Upon County
Commissioner Paddock.
Care Must Be Taken That Charity Is
WorthiIy Bestowed.
Years of Experience Has Been Eye
Opener to Him.
Lazy Husbands Who Do Not Supper
Their Wives.
From Fridays Daily.

Few people realize what a problem
nav, what a science it is to know how
to help the poor. Those who preach
reckless and indiscriminate almsgiving to
all who ask and appear to be in need
show clearly that they have had little
or no responsibility in dealing with those
classes of people who live from hand to
mouth.
County Commissioner Paddock, however
who to very large extent mas charge
of the county aid to the poor, knows
that the matter requires the most care
full and painstaking study of every move
that is made in the dispensation of char
ity. During the month of December he
has ordered either food or fuel at the
expense of the county for forty nine
families living within the city limits.
This number is about as large as the
month of December is ever apt to bring.
Yet this January will probably throw
still more on the county and February
and March each about the same number
as January. The county during the en-
tire year pays out for its poor on an
average about ten thousand dollars
About half of this sum is spent for the
poor of Mankato. The rest is for help
sent out to neighboring villages and vari-
Gus other parts of the county.
Of the forty-nine families who drew
aid from the county during the month
of December last, quite number, posi-
bly, forty per cent, were cases where the
head of the house was strong and able but
would not support his wife and children
or at any rate would not do so adequate
" Just because he thought the county
would not dare to let them starve. Time
and again Mr.. Paddock has had expert
ence of cases where man would work
a little while, earn few dollars, quit
and make for the saloons. His money
gone, he would get hungry and come
home and sit down to a table and par
take of the food that was obtained by
his wife. Sometimes she had bought il
with the money she earned by washing
or other household services for Other
people, Sometimes it was food sent by
the county. Perfectly shameless the
lazy husband would sit down to his meal
warm himself, toasting by the side of 6
fire that was only too apt to be con
Stunning county money, the feet that had
Just borne him out of the saloon, in whose
cash drawer he left his last cent. Such
cases as these are the most embarrass
ing to the officer. 1t seems like a hard
choice: Should he let the worthy woman
and her children hunger and freeze oil
should he contribute indirectly with the
public cash for the support of the sa,
looms, breweries and distilleries.
Clothing is also given to needy people
by the county. Such goods are bought
by the county as rule only for women
and children, but there are a few except
ions where aged men are given clothes
The commissioner is often able to pick
up old clothes without expense to the
county and give them where they are
needed
This is Commissioner Paddock's Sec
ond term of office. During his first term
he gained great deal of valuable infor-
nation that stands him in excellent stead
now. At present he is pretty well ac-
quainted with the very poor of the city
and can always tell pretty well where
help is deserved and where it is not. He
always makes it practice to order some
relief whenever applied for provided he
does not absolutely know the applicant
to be fraud. His list of such rascals
keeps growing, however, and it is harder
and harder for person not in need of
county aid to get it, or to get any more
than is absolutely needed. Mr.. Paddock
thinks the poor should be made to lift
the last ounce to help themselves.
One day about two years ago woman
came into Mr.. Paddock's office and said
her husband had left her and that she
and her children had nothing to eat.
Mr.. Paddock ordered food sent to the
address the woman indicated and she
went away. A little while later Mr..
Paddock met the husband, perfectly
drunk, making his way towards home.
About dinner time the commissioner
went to the mans home and watched
the woman prepare dinner. As the hus-
band was about to sit down to the meal,
Mr.. Paddock said: 'Here; you can't
eat there. That's all county grub" So
the man sat in another par. of the room
until dinner was over.
Mr.. Paddock then called the man out
side and told him in plain common Eng
lish words just what he thought of him.
The fellow was good workman and
able to earn good salary when he would
let liquor alone. After that "going-over'
the family did much better and there has
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