Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-10-28
thorough Investigation Brings a
Sad State Of Facts to the
Surface,
WHAT BISHOP SOLOMON SAYS.
asc an Extremely Difficult One to
Meet on Account Of Habits Of Life
Of Both Parents

by purpose Of calling attention to a
esporate situation IN which the man
lcr OF the lives Of a number Of helpless
hlldren are affected
From Investigation today It appears
hat the condition Of the family Is as
crlous as represented, and that there
acute need Of Immediate action by
ocletos Interested IN charitable and
escue work But It further appears
hat help to the deserted wife is not all
hat il needed, for the family furnishes
good subject for sociological study IN
he sources OF poverty. as well as COM
aratyely crmlnology DestltutIon Is
here in the home. but not only IN fin
nee for neighbOrs Of the family de-
lare that the shack In which the fam
~ resides has for over a year been too
lthy for human habltatiOn and that
he desire TO keep 1t clean I'm what has
zen lacking They further declare that
beer busts' have occurred there IN
which a barrel OF beer was consumed 10
ne evening. both parents equally IN
uging, and then ending the evening
fith a public display Of lnebrlatlon.
Further than this II Is claimed that
fel meaning neighbors have secured
FORK for the husband, and that he has
cfused to work. Light labor has also
zen offered the mother which she, too,
,as refused, on the good grounds, possl-
~ that she was physically unable To
% so.
A gentleman employed on the Rio
lrande Western Railway said today
] know this family They lived In a
hack near the depot before moving to
heir present home. one day the WOO
nan came 10 me, and stated that they
Vere IN destltute circumstances, aud
leeded help. ] gave the man a Job a.
eCtlon hand. He was worse than USE
sss, and ON his first pay day | found
i'm In a saloon glorlously drunk, and
lad 10 discharge him. The family lived
hen amid the greatest sQualor and
nth, and II Is eminently unfair 20
bishop Solomon to state that ne had |
efused 10 investigate their case or Of |
er them help. for II is q difficult case !
% help except by taking the children |
way from ,he influence of their par
nts,'
HUSBAND DESERTS
The family Is that OF James platt. |
md resides at No !, Morris alley j23 |
vest Fourth North street A month |
so the husband and father deserted |
Ms family. consisting Of wife and Ave |
hildren, the youngest a babe of ~ |
months. He left no coal or groceries |
n money TO pay bills, according 10 the |
vOman'8 statement, and she Us now |
orced to appeal for public aid i'm order |
O live. One daughter works at a candy |
actory and two boys have employment |
n bowling alleys. Their combined |
arnings are not more than a nominal |
mount.
SOME OTHER FACTS.
In the womans statement the charity
ystem Of the Mormon" Church was
mentioned, and It was assorted by her
hat she had been refused aid by Bishop
Alfred Solomon Of the Twenty
ward, IN which her home Is located. II
properly carried out by the ward OFF,
ers the Church charity system Is such
hat no case Of this kind could remain
mnotlced, and unknown tW a ward
Bishop, Two organizations are charged
with the duty OF making frequent calls
II all homes Ia their distrlcts--One Ia
he Teachers quorum. and the other
he Relief society. Both organizations |
ave ample means 10 help any really
hurch, members or non-members.
The help Is SO given that & is not
nown outside OF the visiting members
{ the organizations, and the ward
Bishop.
A LONG STANDING PROBLEM
In this case, Il now appears that the
Rmlly has presented problem To the
Wo societies Tor long time. and IFS
onditon has been the subject of FREE
uent discussion In councils. Blshon
olomon had brought direct attention
the famllys needs 20 the Relief So
tety, and to the Teachers quorum, and
9th have tried TO help the family for
period extending over year and n
lalf It's peculiar situation In which
Is poverty resulted from the fact that
he husband would not work. made the
Intending OF help difficult for the Nor.
non Church does not encourage that
ind OF aid which develops and encour.
ges paupersm, II believes In having
very physically able person pay his
fay from the cradle 10 the grave. II he
rants 10 make the journey and its pol.
oy In this regard is strongly supported
y economic principles II Is for that 5
eason only that direct financial aid
as been withheld IN this case while I'M q
ozens OF others in that neighbOrhood ]
has been given. 4
WHAT THE BISHOP SAYS.
Bishop Solomon said this morning
lhen shown the statement OF the
MOTHER that she had sent her little =.
aughter to the Bishop 10 ask for aid.
nd that he had answered that he
didn't want 10 come down and look ,
tter poor folks In dismlssug the sub
'ct' ut isn't true, FOR ] have never
en- any member Of the family recent. Il
:. The little glrl has never called at
Ny house, or on me anywhere, and |
ave never spoken to her for over %
car. ! am very sorry for their condi-
on, and we have long tried to do some
ning to better II. Soon after they
ioved there about Is months ago,
'ent down 10 see them, and 1 was slck.
ned by the filthy way In which they
hose TO live. ! then called the atten-
ON OF the Relief society TO their case.
ma asked them TO try and help the
imily TO improve It's condition. From
ne report OF the ladies who visited the
cine i seems that they were not met
kindly spirit but instead were or
,red on the place with a great deal OF :
lie language, ANA told not to set foot
pom II again. The man and woman
ere both addicted 20 drink. and
ny money given them would 20
this manner The husband would
OF work | did not know of his recent
esertlon Of his family Ever since
ley moved into the district complaints
ave come to me from neighbors ON ac-
ount Of their uncean habits. and con-
uct on occasions when they were not
lber They are not members OF the 4
hurch, as published-at least they
ave never affiliated with my ward. No
lember Of the family has ever been at
ne OF our meetings. or taken any in
rest In the Church | am glad their
Ondition has become known. and since
ne husband is no longer there immed-
te help win be extended"
The Relief Society took The