Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-04-08
PLAN TO AID THE POOR.
Grover Cleveland Would Estab.
lish Charity Clearing House.
NEEDED BY ALL LARGE CITIES

Former President Says Rich Men
Would Support It Nobly-Help I'm
fortunate to Self Support. Not Keep
Them Dependent, He Urges.
In the midst of congratulations on
his seventy-tirst 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. j. 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 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. few hours before
to eat the birthday luncheon with him
and to tuck their gifts into the pockets
Of his comfortable sack coat
81 have a splendid boy, and have
much pleasure in him." said Mr.. Cleve-
land. "We have great times together.
1t is great to be father. Yet when I
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
4 ALL
There is something big that can be
done if 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 proper charity organization
1t should be an organization that will
i reach where it ought to reach, not half
4 way nor half heartedly
81 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 | 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 wher
he gave anything. whether it was little
or much. it would be sent through the
proper channels and reach those who
need help. He would have the salts
faction of knowing that the none,
was not being used to further this
ones or that ones self patented wa.
Of dispensation.
II feel deeply about this, and wan
to tell you that If such an organizatio,
as wish to see established should b.
brought into being it would not lacl
: support. ! could go over list of ricl
men who would support it nobly. Til
rich men Of our country are not har,
: hearted. They are not stingy. The.
want to give. and they do give. blu
, they are not satisfied. They would Civ
. so much more If they were assure,
: that those for whom their gift was in
tended received it.
There is something that have lon
: wanted to see destroyed. and that
this contented dependence Of the poo
: that we see on every hand. Our S
called charitable dispensations are re
sponsible for it. This dependence /
the thief of self respect The poor ar
J not permitted to help themselves. Yo
know 1t. and l know it. Once the
:, come within the ken of the charit
workers they are robbed of their initia
!. tive. They are made dependent 1t
= not question of how long the fathe
4 Of family has been a drunkard tina
should be decided first. but whethe
there is coal in his cellar and whethe
his wife and his children have food il
the cupboard. You can get hold of tn
Il fathers soul afterward.
: ut is the poor who are really kind t
n the poor. They do much to help on
e another. They keep one another aliv
e and think about one another. The
IS could teach many a lesson to whic
% those who think they understan
e things might well give heed with prol
It it."
4 Parachute Thriilers.