Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-05-05
Charity wo'ks's Of United States
b Meet h vighla Capital.
Il 10 q Conference Which Is Fraught
With Great Good to the Entire Ma,
tion--M.ny Distinguished Men and
Women VIII Be In Attendance.

ty-fIfth annual conference Oh choiA''"
aud corrections. the sessions at which
will open ut Richmond on the even
ing OF May 9 and continue until the
18th, will mark another forward move
ment In the great work OF social re-
form. Fifteen hundred official dele
gates from every state and territory,
of the union will be in attendance
These earnest men and women VINO
are deyoting most OF their time 10
i bettermcnt OF social and Industrial
conditions will discuss in meetings
open to the general public every es-
sential element that enters into the
social and Industrial fabric OF the
nation will be thoroughly discussed.
The good which follows each an
nual conference always has made It.
SELF al once apparent In renewed en-
thusasm and better methods. Every
good thing and every bad thing de-
velOped by charity and reform work.
ers throughout the country are gone
over fully and frankly. The failures
are discussed as freely as the sue
cesses In order that any mistakes
may be corrected and bad methods
superseded by good. Some of the
most prominent and influential men
and women in the country will be- in
attendance at Virgnia's capital city.
Essentially. this conference Will lie
composed OF men and women who re-
cognIze and personally apply the doc
trine o! the Man of Galilee-"I am
my brothers keeper" And everybody
| who has examined into this work
even casually knows that these peO-
pie are not mere theorists. They
have accomplished very substantial
results along lines OF practical help
! fulness.
The rescue Of the children OF the
nation is the primary purpose Of these
organizations. Sometimes, in order
| to bring this about. apparently harsh
methods are used But little unpre-
JUDGED investigation always will dis
close the fact that there was nothing
really harsh in the method adopted,
unless 1t be that It's application was
not wisely managed The conquest
of poverty and incompetency is one
that may we'll call forth the best that
Is in the patriotic men and women
of America. The warfare is a great
, er one than ever was settled by force
OF arms on bloody field OF battle-it
takes hold Of the vitals OF the nation.
A cure for poverty and incompetency
| Is what Is sought by true reformers-
not merely an opportunity to tenn
pOrarily relieve the needy.
Therefore, the forthcoming confer.
noes at Richmond is fraught with
nossibiRfies for great good to the en-
tire nation. The charity problem as
such Is just now more acute than it
has been for many years. With the
, financial depression Of last winter
came large falling OF In contribu-
tons to this work. Nobody is to be
! blamed in this matter. inasmuch as
many Of the hest citizens Of every
community where organized charity
Ia doing its beneflcent work found
themselves utterly unable to contri-
butte TO the work. In some cities the
municipalities stepped into the breach
and made appropriations for extra
work that gave employment to >
great many citizens.
Thomas w. Muiry Of New York.
president Of the Society, OF st. Vim.
| cent de Paul, also is president Of the
conference. The society which he
represents undoubtedly Is the largest
organized body for charitable pur-
poses in the world today. II is very
fitting, therefore. that the vincentians
should meet in Richmond . few days
In advance Of the conference Of char
tiles and corrections, which 10 made
NJ Of all the organized bodies. The
elaborate plans ior the entertainment
Of the conference are practically com
plted and a record-breaking attend
ance IL anticipated. Aside from the
large number Of ofbcisl delegates
many hundreds Of interested persons
will be present At the sessions. The
LADIES' committee. composed Of prom
! inent women Of tine Old Dominion
capital, Mrs. Claude A, Swanson, wife
Of the governor. will look after mat.
,ers Of entertainment In . way known
10 the hospitable Southern hostess
The fun membership q the ladies'
committee follows: MIS-. B. l. Pur-
cell, chairman. MIRA. A. Beirne Blair.
Mrs. r. II. Calische. Mrs. Samnel Cob.
en-, Mrs. NJ. A. Chambers. Ars. c. v.
Meredith. Mrs. Ciaude A. Swanson.
Mrs, d. p. Munford, Mrs. J. Calvin
Stewart, Mrs. Charles NJ Ferreil. Mrs
J. Taylor Ellyson. Mra. Burnett Lev
Is. Mrs. f. c. Minor. MS. G. r Bol-
ing. Mrs. Alfred Gray. and Mrs. c. p.
Iawford.
Mrs. swanson has invited the mem
bers Of the conference TO . reception
at the home Of the governor on Fri
day afternoon, May 9. . Everybody h
welcome TO attend this reception. No
formal Invitations have been issued.
pIt all are requested 10 wear the con
ference badrr