Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-03-20
NEW YORK
BREAD
LINE

Some months ago editorial reference
was made to the famous 'bread line"
that forms every night at the Fleisch-
mann Vienna Bakery in New York
city. in which Il was shown that but
very few Of the thousands Of shiveriug
applicants for charity were really de
serving Of the bounty bestowed upon
them. And now comes the Charity Or
ganization society with even further
proof Of the correctness Of this view
which seems to be unqucstionably cor
rect. In a recent report on the sub
iect issued by the society. Il is said
that during the last year persistent
efforts were put forth by the joint ap.
plication bureau to reach mon of tho
bread lines In the months Of March
and April $4,000 tickets were distrib-
utcd to them, promising prompt aid
and at least temporary work in the
wood yard TO an who would call. Of
tho total number only 3O5 came. OF
these % per cent were single 10 per
cent were widowcrs. 8 per cent were
married and per cent were dcscrting
husbands Sixty-scven per cent were
under 40 and 8 per cent under 90 years
Of age. OF the iss men who wcro scnt
20 the wood yard, i27 arrived there
The failure on the part Of 80 many 10
use the bureau. and tho fact that six.
ty.one men out Of 1ss who were a.
rccicd 90 the wood yard did not feel
the need Of earning food aud lodging
but could get u more easily In another
way would 20 60 show that tho men
Of the "brcad lines" are In no great
need or that tho application burcau
has not yet been able 20 reach them.
Accepting these figures az true. q
seems that Il - indeed necessary 20
feed tho provcrbial thousand undc.
serving In order that The ono doscry.
Ing may secure food.
Nevertheless any one who has ever
watched this historical bread line
form, particularly on a bitter winter
night, will have considerable difficulty
In believing that the line is maac up
almost wholly of professional aud an.
worthy beggars A. IL generally
known this bakery distributes AZ mid.
night year In and year out, generous
portions of bread 70 every ono that aP
plies for Il, without regard FOR trace,
creed or color" No questions are
asked, che only conditions being that
tho applicants form In an orderly limo
aud wait their respective turns. When
the weather IL cold this really means
that tho "beggar" has got 20 work
not a little before his turn comes. Fro-
quently tho line extends for blocks,
aud Ia order 10 be sure of a portion
tho line begins 20 form frequently
hours In advance OF tho distribution.
Tho sympathetic onlooker, therefore.
Who sees seantuy clothed and extreme
ly hungry looking men standing Ia
line Tor hours Ia Intensely cold woath'
eF refuses % believe that they are not
worthy OF tho charity bestowed upon
them, or In any event ones sense Of
justice insists that they earn the little
they receive An Of which goes 10
prove that after an sentiment Is poor
guide for the practical philauthropist,
aud also explains Ia some measure
why organized charity often fails in
its expressed PuTposes, being eou-
eerned most IN not helping the uu-
worthy than ia giving aid 10 tho real
deserving
As soon AZ the charity has been ''or-
ganized" IL al once proceeds 10 figure
and tabulate aud gather and endie-s
array OF statistics for "reports, aui
10 the meanwhile the hungry aud tho
needy nurse their poverty and misfor.
tune unaided rather than ~ through
the searching inquisition AMI inyesti-
cation impeatiyely insisted upon be-
fore an Organization will grant re-
Lief Afiiction shriuks FROM publicity
and is peculiarly sensitive 20 the hu-
initiation Of eonfessing "a Weakuess,
and il is 10 avoid this that the average
beggar prefers 20 ask for aims in the
street or accept the crust Of bread
given without question, 80 that having
asked and received h. eau disap-
pear in the shadows which the lime
light Of charity thrOWs.-Four Trade
News