New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-26
DESERTERS OF FAMILIES
Michigan Brings Them to Terms
Through Legislation.

ITO questions are not. for how many have we
tos,7d employment. how many have We placed in
,-e,it,f:.ons now many have relieved. but.
,.hat difference mas It really made that We gave
,.s-r ANYTHING did everything FOR them. What are
-. definite tangible results? Do they live a bet
80 honoe2 Do they wear better clothes? Are the
children being better educated? Is the family bet
-er u because Il has known US? Il so, IL was
adequate relief that We gave
A. these words from DR.. Edward T. Devine, sec
-.tarv OF TIE Charities Organization Society, the
,s,ia,al Conference Of Jewish Charities which was
sars6ering Adequacy OF Relief" its morning
session yesterday. broke into applause, with muir
,,u-s OF Good That's it-'' We'll said,''
every charity worker must be a social philos-
,n4r continued Mr.. Devine. we can't leave the
reat problems OF the day 70 others TO solve. Either
,rA must ge1 a philosophy of his own or he must
borrow il from some one else We can't afford to
continue one social work unless It helps the
rsat movements and causes Of our time. We must
- satisfied that our charity is worth while, else
:. -,rs- change II to what is worth while
And again there was applause
Bur Dr. Devtne was not the first speaker. Indeed,
~ was the last \ pleasant send-oT had been
give, 10 the whole mornings earnest discussion BY
he words Of Nathan Blur:
we Jews can safely trust in American This
,.o,,r+-r founded by Washington. Adams and JEFF
,a-zon: which went through orgy Of blood in
I've c-z-I War such as no other country ever went
.E-os,zF-a country which is pledged TO political
and religious liberty
.sTIrase lack Of work no male support and IN
s,fHcient earnings are in their order the para
mount sources Of the distress which are called
on 20 relieve" said Solomon LowensJein assistant
manager OF The United Hebrew Charities Of this
c.-v .eTubercular cases are Of ell the most
troublesome. yet there are none which demand
more prompt and adequate relief.
..rf IA 90 cases handled by last veal 1852,
nearly 10 per cent were Of deserted wives. "a sort
a. shudder ran through the big audience at the
tremendous percentage) We have never been
able n establish the relation which exists be-
tween desertion and OFT system Of charity
whether husbands 90 Tot mora readily desert
their families because they know relief VIII be
given. and whether there may not be collision
between the husband and wife. that that
sistance may be given. n either case we cannot
allow the probably innocent wife and surely limo
cent children suffer"
The whole charity problem lies in tho words
adequacy % relief " declared Max Mitchell,
sruerinteadent % the Federation OF Jewish Chart
ties in Boston in the discussion that followed.
Perhaps this IS one reason why our efforts do
not meet with greater success-the relief we give
is not adequate enough-no one has sufficient
Funds 10 make il adequate"
Z Rubovits superintendent OF tho United Hebrew
Charities, in Chicago thought that adequacy of
relief was a comparative term. "A
asked ne for 50 cents What can you DO with thatg
7 asked. But he said II was enough. and went out
and bought some shoelaces and sold them out in
The course Of the dav Then he paid me back That
was adequate relief I have known 500 TO be
given in the same way, and II not adequate"
That women workers are essential In relief work
was brought out by B. Greensfeder. secretary of
the United Jewish Charities in St Louis Grocer
1es and money not enough without any sym
pathy. and these women peculiarly fitted 10
give"
The Rev. Leo n Franklin rabbi OF the Temple
Bethel. In Detroit interested the audience greatly
by telling how Detroit had handled the deserted
wife problem. The officers and committees Of the
United Hebrew Charities drew up a bill making the
deserton Of wives a felony in Michigan and this
they succeeded IN getting passed by the State
he was brought TO terms. Now we have in hand q
man who had gone 70 Chicago leaving his family 10
SnIt Tor itself as II could in Detroit. Since that
DIV was passed ne SENDS egulariy on the first of
every month his instalrnenr Of money. He knows
mat Il ne does not he will be brought 70 Detroit
and PIT in jail"
We incline 10 believe every needy man the
creator q MS own misfOrtUnes," was one Of the
reInaIks o. BOTS Bogen, superintendent of the
lnlteo jewish Charities, in Cincinnati, whereas
genera ne e the victim OF misfortune Later in
MS speech ne stated that Of the one hundred and
MY OF so new that had applied 70 his society
from March 10 April 50. ninety-One had been less
t-1au a year IN The country.
Having disposed al least temporarily Of the ''ade-
euacA O IeleIs the conference next turned its at
sennon 70 the subject How TO Help the Tnskilled
MIS- lillian Elnstein president Of Emanuel Sis
teThooo. and William Kahn. nnanager OF The Jewish
Agricultural and Industrial Aid Society being the
SPEAKERS Mrs Einstein. in presenting the subject
OF Women WIKI Children . ouofed CsrroiJ n
Nriglrs statement that all enpIoyTnents are now
Is omen 10 women 10 men.
the women with whom We deal" she objected
A1ieF reviewing the means employed in several