The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-02-11

sion to give earnest consideration 10
this or that feature of the work. and
felt that great Improvements are pos.
sibe. Sometimes perhaps you have
felt that great deal of your work
and worry was thrown away or does
not show very much to shape per-
manent and beneficial results, there.
fore nothing can be more valuable
than that those practically engaged in
the work should assemble ana give
their experiences.
The proceedings Of your annual
meetings have taken a wide range,
and for the past few years have shaped
some very important legislation for
The benefit of the people of this state,
specially those that have been IN.
fortunate and have, either through
their own faults or through the sure
and never firing law of nature. have
become SO demoralized in mind and
body that the community in which
hey reside have deemed ii advisable
rom a moral, economical and humane
standpoint TO separate them from so.
cicty and from their own home cir.
Gle of relatives and friends and ser.a
them 10 the poor house.
You have met again for the pur-
pose OF discussing various matters
pertaining TO the good of society, and
his unfortunate class of our fellow
len and women, and ascertain wheth-
e or not, we are doing all we can
o make them comfortable and con.
tented during their miserable existence
IN earth, or Is there anything NOR,
hat could be done TO better their
condition.
When Webster. in his dictionary, de
lned the work poor, he quotes the
'Npression of Benjamin Franklin, our
great statesman and philosopher who
aid 4 have observed, the more public
PROVISIONS are made for the poor the
ess they provide for themselves"
In my humble opinion this expires.
ion is altogether too broad for tho
present enlightened age OF course,
ge may anpb this 10 very few pee
lie who will take advantage Of o,n
ienerosiiy.bnt IN general way II doe
,oI lit the times in which we live and
hope this saying Of Franklns will
lot influence your future action as to
Helping the needy. hui act in harmony
With the old saying, Better let ter
sullts ones escape than to hang ont
innocent"
Among the many hopeful evidences
II progress and enlightment Of thi
Twentieth Century are the great or.
limitations, such as this convention.
or Instance, on comparatively small
Gale as yet flor think 1t should be
iationaD all dealing with problems
nd conditions affecting the well be-
ng of society many OF them sad
lening and not free from perplexity---
till not hopeless. There is comfort
10 be found in the belief that all
teforms for the good of humanity
IRE possible and IL is well to preach
hem at all times, but don't neglect
0 practice them.
When your honorable chairman ask.
d me to come before this convention
Il State Supervisors hesitated, for
! felt that three years ago, in your
'onyention at Joliet ! had said nearly
III knew about managing a poor
arm or poor house, and matters in
General that came under my observa
ion regarding the supervisors and su
ierintendent, as well as the inmate
therefore, will now endeayor to be
EXPLICIT, practical and brief as pos
I sble
! You. as supervisors. are men close
y in touch with the people, especial
| y the poorer classes. than any other
,fficer, either elective or appointiye
lou know the people of the township
,yer which you preside, with an in
imacy impossible for any officer OF
nc law You know the good citizens
nd the bad; the man who provides
yell for his family; the man who Is
! lex or so unfortunate as not TO be
lble to provide Tor his family; and
he man who Is SO deprayed and wick
| I'd that he refuses TO fulfill that duty
| You know the widow with her little
It first and after that can stand alone
ind the one who is Lacking in health
,r courgae or industry ana wants helr
all the time.
The man who must know all these
ietails and be able to act upon them
IS he should, must he man of broad
mind, kind heart, and good sound prac
! ieal sense. lie must also possess
enough imagination TO enable him &c
inter into and understand the feel
ngs Of persons who have been nn
fortunate. The supervisor is so close