The San Francisco call., 1906-07-02
Strange Interpretation
of Duty by Some
Officials.
Importation of Eastern
Charity Workers
Resented.
Model Camp Is Discov-
cred Where Sane
Methods Prevail.
BY LAURA BRIDE POWERS.

It's the philosophy that has come
down to US from the days of old. the
days of gold" and it's as deep-rooted
in our natures as il was in the days
of Bret Harte, when "weepons" helped
TO shape the course of public opinion.
Therefore in the name of fair play
1t is assumed that the new $4,000 per
year Relief Commission will soon
straighten out the relief fund muddle.
and that relief-not excuses, delays and
promises will reach the people-to
whom the money belongs.
1t is also hoped that the commission
will endeavor to disabuse its corollary
bodies and its employees of the idea
that their business is not How not
to give relief to the needy
That assuredly is the general inter-
probation of the bulky, slow, unbusi-
ness-like methods now in vogue-or in
vogue last weekly the distributing
agents.
There seems to be a well-dehned idea
in certain official quarters that this
s6.000,o0O subscribed by the warm
hearted people OF the nation should be
withheld from as many people as pos
sible so these people may not be pau
perized." And in order to avert the
horror of ''pauperizing" the people-to
whom the money has been given un-
reservedly for their relief-thousands
of dollars are paid in salaries to keep
1t from them-just to keep them from
being pauperiZed"
OF course, everybody appreciates the
deep and tender interest taken by these
administrators in keeping these home
less people from becoming ''pauper-
ized," but isn't it about time that that
sort of associated charities talk
should be dispensed with-at least un-
til normal times have been restored?
The methods now in vogue are the
methods Of the Associated Charities in
normal times, and since the funds now
being dispensed are distinctly not char
ity funds and the people not paupers
1t is not just to decent and self-re-
specting people to subject them to the
humiliation OF the associated charity
methods.
To be sure. there must be system in
work OF such scope. That is obvious
But when system is of such an in
volved character that its object is de-
feated there is something wrong in
the system. And in great degree that
is the condition the new commissioners
will be called upon to simplify
That the system as applied to camps
can be simplified, and humane, sani-
taryeand satisfactory conditions be OBJ
tanned, would beg to offer camp of
that snuggles in Tennessee Hollow"
just below the Preside gate
Here the administration of affairs is
in the hands OF DR.. Thomas. chairman
of the district; Captain Wassail, direc-
tor OF the camp; DR.. Beatty, physician,
and Mrs. Daisy Lyons, a volunteer, who
conducts the school, looks after the
women and babies, the old and the Ill
and all work together in perfect har-
mony.
System prevails-a most perfect sys-
tenn. because IT does all that reason de-
mands. and aids. rather than impedes,
the giving of relief. Here the much
abused soup kitchen" is in vogue, but
the herding-the separation Of families
according TO sex. the feature most
complained OF, has no place here. As
matter of fact, the families are COM
PEELED to dine together as a social and
an economic necessity.
Moreover, the kitchens are clean,
screened and comparatively iyless, and
the food wholesome and plentiful. The
children have special supplies, such as
fruit, milk, as have the old and the i'll,
and-this is no grim joke-they get
them when they need them, not a week
or a fortnight after.
From the foregoing. don't think the
camp is easy" 1t isn't. as the able
bodied men thereabouts will tell you
Audl hSIt 4OENtQ TITO running
down a job. Three days is the time
limit for idle men. mo work no tent, y
is the law laid down by the camp di-
rectors, and as result there isn't a
loafer about.
There are, however, lot of idle
women, as in every camp. and this
constitutes the only problem not solved
in camp 2.
AS an antidote to grumbling and
fault finding-of which. alas! there is
always too much cause-I commend
you. friends. to camp of district /.
1t will interest you-and you. too. Mr..
Commissioner
1t has been comforting TO such of us
for needy old folk--and couldn't by any
manner of requisition, hypnotism on
cajolery-that the chances for future
success are bright. A pair of thieves
have been nailed and caught selling
4e0 of them and jailed. They will thus
not have TO be reckoned with further,
and their fate may be a lesson to others
who may be tempted to traffic IN the
supplies of the people.
Everywhere that clubwomen and
business women gather they are ask
ing. why are so many professional
charity workers imported from the
East to do reifef Work
Who imports them?
Are there not enough intelligent
women in San Francisco to do this
work?
IL salaries are to paid-and these
carpet-baggers are all under salaries
why not pay them to needy and capable
San Franciscans?
Are trained charity workers neces-
sary for the work of registration and
investigation? Or cannot any trained
mind, guided by a kind heart, do the
work?
How about the 100 school teachers
who are to be consolidated out OF their
positions7 Wouldn't it be well to de-
fer from sending a request to New
York for more trained workers-as has
been done-and give these teachers a
chance?
Sentences Automobilfst to Workhouse.
MINNEAPoLIS. July In his cru
Ill