Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-04

find lawyers fully capable of securing
redress for their wrongs. 1t is almost
beyond belief how far some men will
go In getting the last farthing from the
poor and ignorant. 1t is to fight this
that these societies have been estab-
lished. The one in New York, In the
thirty-odd years of its existence, has
recovered for charity clients more than
a million and a quarter dollars and has
handled more than quarter of mil
lion cases. It's services are always avail
able TO the poor who have been
wronged, and these people are learning
that fact more every year. Nearly all
the more progressive cities have these
aid societies and they have proved
Godsend to the people who have NTH
erto been preyed upon by poverty Vul-
lures.
One of the leading charity institu-
tions of the country is the New York
Charity organization. This body of
friends of the poor has been active for
little more than quarter OF a CEN
tury, and in that time has helped It's
millions. 1t founded the Provident
Loan association of New York, which,
during the recent financial stress. lent
$40, 900, 900 to those who needed little
aid to help them through their hard
times. IT was from this organization
that Messrs. Devine and DeForest were
sent to San Francisco to help the
stricken city get on its feet. The work
of Devine, who was practically placed
in charge of the relief work of the city,
was about the most gigantic task Of it's
kind ever undertaken In this country.
The relief work at the time of the GEN
eral Slocum horror was also superin-
tended by this organization. 1t Is in
teresting in this connection to note that
several cities, notably among these be-
ing Baltimore, have permanently organ
ized boards whose duties are to take
care of the local relief work in any
great national disaster.
Chicago has undertaken a new
method of directing interest In charity.
The Chicago city club has arranged to
erect a $4,000 building to be devoted to
its work All young men who are in
terested in civic betterment may meet
here and find an opportunity to lend a
hand. They will all be given an oppor-
tunity to do such work as their gifts
fit them to do. 1t is planned to vitaiize.
through this agency, all of the latent
force of the young manhood of the city
and to try to give to every young man
of ideas and purpose an opportunity to
take part in great and far-reaching
effort to make conditions there better
than they are today. st. Louis is also
taking a somewhat new stride in Its
campaign for the betterment of the
conditions OF its poor. II has estab-
lished a school of philanthropy. and
here charity is to be reduced to an
exact science. Just now this school is
investigating the results of outdoor
charity in various counties In missouri
and also the cost of living In selected
families of workingmen. Other ques.
tions will also be considered and the
results made known through the char
ity publications of the country.
One of the most important works Of
the charitable organizations OF the Dig
cities is to look after the new Ameri-
cans. OF the more than a million who
annually come to our shores there are
thousands who are without much else
than a soul and body and desire TO
do something. Especially among the
women there are dangers that beset
their pathways at every point, and they
would go down in the struggle but for
those who lend them hand. chicago
has recently organized a work which
gets In touch with the Chicago-bound
immigrants as soon as they land at
Ellis island, and watches over them
with a fatherly care until they get
properly located in their new sphere
The charity problem is more acute at
| this time than IL mas Deen III many
years. Financial depression has left
| thousands out of employment, and as
the high prices of living had left them
hut little for the rainy day that has
oyertaken them they have to look for
| helm from the outside. Cincinnati came
| to the rescue of her unemployed by
making appropriations for certain mu-
nicinai work. Several thousand men
who would have otherwise been with
| ont a thing to do were given the means
| OF tiding over their period OF enforced
! idIeness 1t is estimated that there are
at least 10000 idle people in chicago,
and double that number in New York.
ReIieY has not been slow, however, and
now that the time is coming for the
resumption of contract work on most
public improvements and the ike, IL is
expected that conditions Will soon ap-
proximate the normal.
The Salvation Army estimates that IT
gives shelter to 10000 homeless people
| every night of the year. Its industrlal
department has given work to thou-
sands until they could get something
better to do. Are you Willing 10
work?" is the test question 1t appnes'
and the man or woman who answers
ives" will usually find a place through
| ;ts efforts. But the one who is not VIII.
inc to work will find himself out or
| something to eat at their hotels, Tor
| their guiding maxim is that he VINO is
| not willing to work ought not 10 De
given anything to eat.