The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-04-29
PLAN TO AID THE POOR
Grover Cleveland Would Estab.
fish Charity Clearing House.
NEEDED BY ALL LARGE CITIES

Former President Says Rich Men
Would Support It Nobly-Help In
fortunate to Self Support, Not Keep
Them Dependent, He Urges.
In the midst Of congratulations on
his seventy-first birthday Grover Cleve.
land. ex-president of the United States,
found time and interest the other day
to discuss public questions at the Ho-
tel Lakewood in Lakewood. N. ]. Mr..
Cleveland became almost enthusiastic
as he dwelt upon certain phases of ma
tional and civic life and made a fer
vent plea for the poor of the country.
He also spoke in behalf Of children,
whom he loves. His appearance belied
his years, as did the vigorous sound of
his voice and his stride.
Asked to talk on public affairs by a
representative Of the New York World.
he said:
There has been too much excite.
ment, too much exploitation. Peace
must come. There must be reassur.
ance. There have been troublous times,
but unless l am mistaken and have al.
ways been mistaken in the character
Of the American people they will come
safely through.
"What a great people ours are!
Where Is the emergency to which they
have not risen? Consider them as bet.
~erogeneous, If you will; consider them
from any point Of view. No matter
what condition has ever confronted
them, they have met it according to
their lights, and they are good lights"
Casually the conversation turned to
children. Mr.. Cleveland's four young
sters had been down from Princeton.
with their mother, a few hours before
to eat the birthday luncheon with him
and to tuck their gifts into the pockets
OF his comfortable sack coat.
II have a splendid boy, and l have
much pleasure in him." said Mr.. Cleve.
land. 1--WE have great times together.
1t Is great to be a father. Yet when l
think of the little children it makes
me sad. My thoughts are always with
them-the thousands without homes.
the thousands with only half homes
and lacking influence and inspiration.
l wish I might do something for them
all.
"There is something big that can be
done If only the right man would come
to the front. Yet I am wrong in speak,
ing Of what an individual might do.
He might lead and direct. but what we
need In New York, in all Of our large
cities, is a proper charity organization.
1t should be an organization that will
reach where it ought to reach, not half
way nor half heartedly.
II have in mind-I have thought Of
this countless times-a charity clearing
house. just as the banks have a clear.
ing house, through which everything
belonging to this sphere will pass.
know we have charity organizations.
but I do not mean that kind. They are
not thorough. This clearing house
have in my minds eye would be the in
dorser Of every proper and noble thing.
A subscriber would know that when
he gave anything, whether it was little
or much. it would he sent through the
proper channels and reach those who.
need help. He would have the salts
faction of knowing that the money
was not being used to further this
ones or that ones self patented way
Of dispensation.
Il feel deeply about this, and l want
to tell you that If such an organization
as l wish to see established should be
brought into being it would not lack
support. I could go over a list of rich
men who would support it nobly. The
rich men Of our country are not hard
hearted. They are not 'stingy. They
want to give, and they do give. but
they are not satisfied. They would give
so much more If they were assured
that those for whom their gift was in
tended received it.
There is something that l have long
wanted to see destroyed. and that is
this contented dependence Of the poor
that we see on every hand. Our so
called charitable dispensations are re-
sponsible for it. This dependence is
the thief Of self respect. The poor are
not permitted to help themselves. You
know 1t. and I know It. Once they
come within the ken Of the charity
workers they are robbed Of their initia-
tive. They are made dependent. 1t is
not a question Of how long the father
Of a family has been a drunkard that
should be decided first. but whether
there is coal in his cellar and whether
his wife and his children have food in
the cupboard. You can get hold of the
fathers soul afterward.
1T is the poor who are really kind to
the poor. They do much to help one
another. They keep one another alive
and think about one another. They
could teach many a lesson to which
those who think they understand
things might we'll give heed with prof.
It,"
Parachute Thrillers.
Among the latest thrillers is the
triple parachute lean. in which ono