The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-03-10
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the United States. 1t began IS years
ago. as a committee Of the Social Sci
ence Association. But it soon outgrew
its mother and in 1877 II started out
in business for and by itself. Since
then It's growth, III numbers and infiu-
ence, has been steady and now 1t has
about $500 members who pay small
annual fee, and 1t comes in touch with
many thousands more who attend its
meetings from time to time as it may
happen to meet in their neighborhood.
The meeting this year will be In May
at Richmond, Virginia.
One OF its most useful and unique
features is that It brings together on
common platform, officials OF the
States and cities, representatives of
all kinds of voluntary societies and In
stitutIons and a host OF private per-
sons, who are actuated by philanthro-
by and good citizenship, but have no
official positions.
Because It is called Charities and
Correction" some folks think 1t is only
concerned with the relief of the poor
and the punishment OF criminals. But
the conference, long ago. found out
that relief-charity is a very small part
of the whole. 1t still thinks of relief,
but far more OF prevention and recon.
structIve charity. It goes away back
OF Immediate causes and finds that
some Of the causes OF both poverty
and crime are remote and inhere In
bad social conditions, and It asks how
those are to be relieved.
1t finds that intemperance has much
to do with poverty and still more with
crime. so it is concerned with the
drink evil. 1t finds that ineficiency
leads to all kinds of evils. and so it
regards educational reform and stands
for such school training as shall make
every boy and girl capable citizen.
1t finds that the slum is an effect e
poverty and cause of more distress
and of crime, so the conference at
tacks the housing question and devotes
committees and sessions to neighbor.
hood Improvement. 1t finds that an
exploited child grows up to be shift.
less, useless man, so 1t has something
to say on child labor.
1t finds that decentralization. shift
lessness and inefficiency are caused by
poor food. impure air and overcrowd.
ing: so It tries to set up standard Of
living and It says that low wages are
often the cause OF both poverty and
crime. When it is studying low wages
it discovers that there are industries
which are truly called parasitic" be.
cause they give back less than they
take from their workers, who must
therefore depend for a part of their
living upon something else than the
industry which pays them starvation
wages.
1t finds that poor people are often
shamefully defrauded by sharpers un.
der the forms of the law, SO 1t fosters
and promotes legal protection of the
poor. 1t sees that the best help any.
one can get is help to self-help; SO
questions of employment adm training
come to the front.
Sickness is one OF the greatest Of
all the causes of distress; so the cure
and the prevention OF tuberculosis and
other contagious and preventable dis.
eases interest the conference.
No matter how much may be done
by private persons and voluntary agen-
cles. after all the States and the cit.
les are the most important sources Of
charity. So the State Institutions for
the insane and the detectives. the
county almshouses and the relief work
done in the townships are among the
most important things to consider and
to aid to the best possible administers.
ton.
The Conference prldes Itself on its
free floor. Every one is invited to its
sessions. Member and non.member all
are equal. Only two conditions are
attached to participation; the speaker
must have something to say that he
believes in; and he must know how TO
say It. InsIncerity is the one unpar-
donable sin and its close kin is yer
bosity.