New-York tribune., 1907-01-19
DR.. DAY ON THE POOR
IN TILT WITH STOKES.
Deprecates Philanthropic Efforts Be
fore Syracuse Alumni.

Chancellor Day of Syracuse University and Mr..
and Mrs. ]. Phelps Stokes crossed swords in un-
premeditated debate at the dinner OF the Alumni
Association of Syracuse at the Hotel AstOr last
night Mr. Stokes spoke early in the evening. and
was followed by Mrs. Stokes. formerly Miss Rose
Pastor They spoke poverty and the conditions
of life among the poor. pointing their words by
references 70 their life the East Side, and. IN
Mrs Stokes's case. 70 actual experience among the
poorest of the poor.
Chancellor Day spoke later and grew indignant.
apparently, at the remarks about the poor. He
said he did not wish to enter into controversy.
but that in his opinion the poor were treated at
least well they deserved and often better.
THE corporations are not large enough; the rail-
roads are not big enough he said. He went on
to deprecate many forms OF charitable and philan-
tropic efforts. and said the poor were lazy. His
hearers by no means unanimous in their ap-
prevail
The Rev. William Harman Van Allen president
of the Boston Alumni. presided. Meyer Prinstsin.
the famous broad jumper. was the recipient OF a
gold watch.
Chancellor Day said:
poor wage Garner? The wage earners get enough
nor whdt kno 1nSy t dO SnG bave bse among them
and have studied them know that they are tho
in this city; know that they the chief causes
blame is put ON the hard hearted corporations We
should OF the philanthropy which we
e make ahe them hfe help pnd the@seVss
Too much charity breeds laziness know ,Sssr ser
tain men who get much as they can Tor as httIe
as they can do. And know men who would ,la35 nG5
they might get to work too soon.
great cry is put up IN behalf or tne wage
once asked of a contractor why he asked so high
price for a building. He said II cannot get
won't allow mechanics 70 be made nowadays-every
man climbing over the other to assist his . own W
despOtism that rules to-day than labor unionism
1t is hndrance itself 70 the advance Of man.
distress they have found and the terrible nfictiOn
tenements II is well TO remedy this evil but there
are many other things we must do for the poor
acorn didn't make many big oaks. neither does one
little imp create all perditiOn.
large things, large corporations The corporations
are not large enough. the railroads are not big
merce and traffic and instead OF being dscouraged
H reasb the % ~ fnsy should be- given free rein
Ihe poor are being better taken of by the
greater extent than in SIX other large cities put to-
have been holding my own up till the present
Mr.. Stokes said:
tlement work I have followed it Tor several wears
school and taken my degree was Impressed with
the necessity of taking up the work OF studying
through the East Side in the hope Of getting closely
porons m tS@eh OF Th the the life and abOrs Of the typical
fact that 1t unusual position FOR me 10 take
as man OF wealth. but resolved 70 study the
needs OF one type OF man and woman one type Of
life and being
Mr.. Stokes went 10 describe at length his
experiences among the in the district IN which
he was working and described the various condi-
tions which he found and the remedies he and his
associates applied for relief OF the distress He
told OF the fight he and his associates made to
have water put in the tenements and their Efforts
20 effect better sanitation He made a strong plea
FOR the poor and lauded the work OF the charities
and philanthropic movements in which he Is inter-
ested.
Mrs Stokes practically followed the outline OF her
husbands address. She said:
don't like talk OF Settlement work but Of
settlement results A woman once said: What a
pity II is that young people take up Settlement
work only 20 come out half baked Socialists.
entered half baked Socialist and came out a
whole one. There is great necessity for Settlement
work The oppression OF the poor is evident.
One-half OF the wealth OF the country goes to 10
per cent OF the people. and the rest must content
themselves and live as best they can. The prob
lem is increasing every day, In spite OF the ehari-
ties OF the phtlanthrOpists / sOmetimes wish that
all charities could be wiped from the face OF the
country. so that might what the poor could
or would do 10 really help themselves.