The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-11-20
GOV. HUGHES PLEA
FOR VICTIMS OF
ENVIRONMENT
New York Executive Urges True
Fellow Feeling
ADDRESSES CHARITY SOCIETY
Our Duty to Not Only Relieve Temper
ariIy, But to Also Better Cir.
cumstanoes.
CHARITY SOCIETY

NEW YORK. Nov. 20. Governor
Charles Il. Hughes, addressing the
Charity Organization society, set forth
true democratic fellow feeling and
hearts full of love" as the essentials
of successful organized charity.
The occasion Of the governors adj
dress was the opening at Carnegie hall
of three days conference under the
auspices of the Charity Organization
society. The conference also cele-
brates the twenty fifth anniversary of
the society, but its more serious pur-
pose is the exchange upon the part of
prominent men of ideas for the better
ment of social conditions.
Governor Hughes said in part:
For we have but little of the true
democratic spirit if we seek merely
freedom of opportunity that we may
aggrandize ourselves and are not keen
~ Jealous for the welfare of all. In
which indeed lies the true interest of
each one They who think they may
dwell secure in citadels fortified by
the gains of selfish effort live In n
fools paradise. Our ultimate securi-
ty must be found in the well being Of
the people as a whole, and patriotic
sentiment will not tolerate the con-
tinuance of unnecessary and remedial
BILE conditions to which may be traced
poverty, vice and crime.
I'VE cannot but realize that large
portion of our brethren are the help
less victims of environment from
which they cannot escape and through
which they are destined to physical
misery, moral impoverishment and
economic inefiiciency. II Is our duty
patiently to consider what can be done
not merely to afford temporary relief
to immediate sufferers. but to change
the improper environment and pro-
mote healthier life.
Nor do we ask for the impossible or
cherish any utopian dream of alter
ing through changes in eXternals our
human nature, with its mingled ele-
ments of strength and wea kness.
II have no Illusions with reference
to the future. I.aziness, thriftlessness,
evil passions and inordinate appetite
will continue to wreck human lives.
But we can replace ignorance with
knowledge; we can give access TO air
and light; we can build barriers against
infection; We can keep our city clean,
wholesome and attractive; we can see
to 1t that human beings may labor I'M.
der decent conditions with proper con-
sideration for life and health and eff
! cheney, and we can make our work for
social uplifting fruitful and progress
sive. because each step will be taken
with accurate knowledge based on
careful investigation, and through har.
mony Of effort there will be a mini
mum Of losses.
But it is of the highest Importance
| that in this work of scientific philan.
| thropy our hearts should be enlisted
| The forces of sentiment should not be
! exhausted In the creation of machin.
| cry. After all, the most powerful re-
generating influence is human love,
| and to attain the highest success all
our efforts must be charged with gen
ulne sympathy and brotherly kindness
1t will be sad day when to prevent
the waste of indiscriminate charity the
fountains of human generosity are
dried up and our philanthropy shall
consist simply of gifts inspired by In
| tellectual considerations.
Nor should any contemplate the
poor as separate class upon whom
aims may be bestowed with lordly
condescension and with the JUNCTION Of
self righteousness. Rather in all oul
organization work must we have moi
only discriminating judgment ant
careful study of complex problems, bu
also true democratic fellow feeling and
hearts full of love for those whom We
desire to help in the best way, even al
they are in truth our brothers, of like
passions with ourselves and our fellow
citizens in this republic of opportunity
and mutual obligation"