Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-20
HAS PLAN TO AID The POOR
Grover Cleveland Would Establish
Charity Clearing House.

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, y. ]. Mr..
Cleveland became almost enthusiastic
as he dwelt upon certain phases of ma
tional and civic life and made 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 am mistaken and have al
ways been mistaken in the character
of the American people they will come
safely through.
What great people ours are.
Where is the emergency TO which they
have not risen? Consider them as het-
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. I'VE have great times together.
| 1t Is great to he IL father Yet when |
| 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.
| / wish ! might do something for them
all
| There is something big that can be
done il only the right man would come
to the front. Yet / 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 1t ought to reach, not half
| way nor half heartedly.
Il have in mind--I have thought Of
this countless times-a charity clearing
house. just us the banks have a clear
ing house. through which everything
L halo ,nrt,, To hi e.,1to
know we have charity organizations.
but l do not mean that kind. They are
not thorough. This clearing house
have I'm my minds eye would be the in
dorser of every proper ana noble thing.
A subscriber would know that when
he gave anything, whether it was little
or much, 1t would be 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
J to tell you that il such an organization
as wish to see established should be
brought into being it would not lack
support. l could go over a list CT 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 il they were assured
that those for whom their gift was In
tended received it,
There Is something that have Ions
wanted to see destroyed. aud that II
this contented dependence of the poor
that We see on every hand. Our Sc
called charitable dispensations are re
! sponsible for it. This dependence Il
the thief of self respect. The poor are
not permitted to help themselves. You
2 know 1t, and l know 1t. Once they
come within the ken of the charity
workers they are robbed of their initia
+ tive. They are made dependent. 1t Il
+ not question of how long the father
] Of a family has been a drunkard tina
t should be decided first. but whether
there Is coal in his cellar and whether
e bis wife and his children have food IL
i the cupboard. You can get hold OF tn,
+ fathers soul afterward
''It is the poor who are really kind Il
the poor. They do much to help on,
another. They keep one another ally,
and think about. one another. They
could teach. many lesson to which
! those who think they understand
: things might well give heed with prof
: IT."