The Winchester news. [volume] (Winchester, Ky.) 1908-19??, 1908-11-09

tons is. not only not right but is pos
Iitively wrong. Personal effort to the
extent of ones ability is the first es-
sential mark of merit in charitable
lbenefieence.
Friendly visiting, therefore, has
added to the benefcence of the work.
Some twenty ladies from six churches
of the city have volunteered to visit
at frequent intervals one or more
families who need and appreciate the
lfriendliness and encouragement these
visitors can give them.
Employment during these seasons
of business depression has been I'M
usually hard to secure, and appli
cants are making a constant call up
on the Charities for assistance in this
line. Positions have been secured the
past year for II persons through the
| department.
The families assisted during the
year constitute II percent Of the en-
tire number of requests. The widows
and widowers number 80 per cent,
those separated or deserted number
| 10 ~er cent, and those cohabiting
number 4 per cent of the entire num-
Der who apply. The large number of
widows is largely due to the result
of old slave families and receive the
kindest consideration from the we'll
to-do white families. 1t is estimated
that 1,577 individuals were included
in the families who applied for as
sistance the past year, and of this
number 152 were transient
Those who have given the subject
Of charitable giving any considera-
ton at all, or who have read to any
extent the views of those who have
devoted their lives to the work, will
realize the evil of mdiscriminate
charity. As Mr.. Milan said:
THE right of this association to
exist depends upon its aim to help the
unfortunate and worthy poor. the
needy aged and the helpless sick.
But in each case to assist them in
coming to seIf-suppOrt and thereby
maintain their seIf-respect. The hap
hazard way of taking up subscrip-
ton or collection for the reported
poor, without regard to the real cause
of restitution or conditions is not
only not right but is positively
wrong"
We understand that to establish an
Associated Charities here will take
from $50 to $50 per month for the
salary and other incidentals of an
experienced secretary. We believe
there should be no hesitation in try
ing the plan. The next four or five
months will be severe ones. Many
will need assistance. The city has
its poor and needy. 1t is large
enough to SUI -ort such an organiza-
ton. The saving in indiscriminate Civ
ing will more than pay the cost of
such an organization.
Our city is growing fast. 1t is not
as it was ten or fifteen years ago,
when everybody knew everybody else
and neighbors could aid neighbors,
who needed a little help. Many are
strangers and their needs are not
known. A person employed to look
after such things can investigate and
see that the little money is given wise
lily. Several thousand dollars have
been expended in charity each winter
by our various churches, our socie-
ties and our fraternal orders. Much
of it was given unwisely since it was
given without adequate investiga-
ton. Wonld it not be better to. sys-
tematize the work and have one cen
trail authority control it all?
AS it is now, some families or in
dividuals will be helped one week by
perhaps several organizations and in
the next week, they will receive no
help at all. Let us get together and
see that the little aid we give is done
systematically. Dependent individ-
uals or families will be found
work, will be encouraged to seek po-
sitions and will, to- that extent, leave
more to be distributed to other needy
cases. The poor will be encouraged
to work, their self-respect will be
maintained.
Winchester is in the froefront as
hustling, up-to-date city. 1t should
talu. hold g this question as it does