Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1905-12-29
In THE NAME OF CHARITY.

A gratifying and at the same time dis
quoting feature Of the Christmas observ-
ances In all OF the American cities Monday
was the generous provision Of food for the
poor and homeless. II is heartening 10 re-
alize from the news reports Of great dinners
given by individuals and organizations and
the sending Of baskets TO the homes Of the
poor, that the real spirit Of Christmas is re-
cognized and that there 10 the disposition on
all sides to apply it practically TO gladden.
the hearts Of the victims Of bad fortune.
But the aggregate OF those who are thus
fed through charity on Christmas reveals
condition which must cause concern to all
thoughtful people. The charity problem is
OF vast proportions. 1t involves elements
affecting the very life of the whole people.
Why should there be such povertyP Why
should men fail 30 utterly in the racer
Students of this problem offer various an.
swers and suggest wide range oil remedies.
The socialist proposes distribution OF the
wealth OF the world. The scientific charity
worker proposes education and organiza
ton. The industrial employer has one rem
edy, the workingman another. Perhaps the
men and women who are engaged In efforts
TO help the poor to help themselves are the
best judges OF the magnitude and the diff
calrOs and the demands OF the situation.
There are poor people in the world be-
cause there are men and women who lack
the character to Asht and the competence TO
work ~ we'll as the opportunity. 1t Is not
all matter Of the lack OF chances There
is plenty OF work for all, If the potential
labor could b. applied to meet the demands.
With the railroads clamoring for helpers In
the line oil unskilled labor, with the farmers
bewAiling their lot In not obtaining hands to
till the land and harvest the crops, with fac.
tories falling TO fill their orders because OF
insufficient operatives, this spectacle Of enor
nous numbers OF unied, homeless people
In the cities must be regarded as evidence OF
an improperly distributed population.
For this unequal distribution the greatest
part of the blame lies upon the sufferers
themselves. They will not leave the cities
The newcomers from Europe prefer to herd
together with their own kind instead Of 60
ing west, where there is urgent need for
their services. The native. born Americans
Of certain class and temperament would
rather SILVER and starve In town than accept
work at good wages on the farms or the
railroads or In the factories.
Such as these constitute the real charity
problem. The men and women who are at
work, earning enough TO live decently, are
not 10 be commiserated. When Skilled char
ity workers approach them 1t is for the pur-
pose OF teaching them 10 make better use
OF their opportunities, and 10 learn the lesson
Of success. The vitality important truth has
been learned at last by the generously in =.
clined that promiscuous giving is a deterrent
rather than help. Just 30 In measure the
occasional feeding of these homeless thous-
snds OF the city in the name Of charity is
harmful In certain degree, however beau.
tiful may be the motive and however help.
full momentariy the gift may be to the lndi-
vidual. What is needed by this CREST army
Of men and women who dined Monday at
the expense of the churches aud the clubs
and the charity organizations and individu.
ais Is the realization that there is more in life
than the mere meeting Of the immediate
wants Of the body.
The real charity problem In the United
Stated is unquestionably complicated by the
constant inflow OF immigrants from Europe,
certain percentage OF whom soon join the
ranks of the chemically idle, the incapable,
the vicious and the eager takers OF aims
Washington Star.