The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-05


where all was despair. smiles and
Laughter replacing tears, words of love
instead of curses: sobriety, purity and
piety instead of drunkenness, vice and
irreligion."
General Discussion.
The discussion of the general topic
presented by the three papers was lead
by Mr.. John e. Dougherty, of Brooklyn,
who took up the phase of adequate
relief, giving an interesting account
of the problems of New York City with
its clnigrant horde. He also discussed
the rental problem as faced by all
charity workers in great cities, speak
ing OF the Importance of keeping tn:
family together and having roof over
their heads and arguing that each in
dividual case should be treated on its
merits, rather than by general rules.
Mr.. Bggs, of Baltimore, said that
entirely too much Importance was
given to the distribution of material
relief of temporary character, The
| theory of our society,"" he continued
| SIS of reconstructing and making the
| family self-sustaining. Simply to take
a family up and carry it a limited
number Of days and then drop it does
no more good than to take dime out
of our pocket and pass II to the street
corner loafer Dirt, poverty. intemper.
ance, vice, these are cffects-some-
where back of it all is a cause BY
patience, care and tact we must find
this cause. When 1t is removed. the
effects will disappear. We must make
the families feel that they are mem
bers of the community, decent and
self-respecting.
TOO many people regard charity as
sort of equation In which there is a
| family on one hand and dollar groc
cry ticket on the other
! The Three Glasses.
| Mr.. Conner, of Dubuque discussed
| the work of charity as seen in city
of not over $4,000. plans which he ac-
| knowledged would not always be suit
able or feasible In larger cities. The
| speaker found three classes of poor:
Gods poor the devils poor and the
! poor devils" distinction which pro-
| duced a laugh. 1T is the third class
that requires and should have the most
attention." said Mr. Conner. These
are the people who Will soon be self
! sustaining and who need relief through
no fault of their own" The speaker
advocated the plan for having the
societies OF st. Vincent compare their
relief rolls with those of the city
and other organized charities. TO
prevent imposition and duplication.
holding that this by no means violat-
1 ed the pledge of the st. Vincent or
| eanization in which every name of a
| person helped is kept entirely private.
Mr.. Daniel McCann. of Chicago, dis
1 cussed the visiting of poor families in
| their homes, telling of the work Of
Catholic probation officers in juvenile
| courts.
Mr.. James r. Reilly prominent
lawyer of Harrisburg. Pa. discussed
cooperation with other charitable or
foundations. both of other churches and
of the State. advocating a confidential
leAchansc of the names of those who
were being helped
The Paid Agent.
Mr.. j, A. Doyle, of louisville, told
lot the cottage system which prevails
in that city, in which there are no
Islums the working people generally
downing their own cottages in the
Isuburb3
/ DR., Charles r, McKenna, of New
York, discussed the Justification of the
appointment of paid agent In large
Icities, step which the small town
ORGANIZATIONS have considered most
doubtful
Mr.. William II. Hardy, of Boston,
thought the paid agent necessity
saving that each individual society
instead of doing a miscellaneous char
ltS, should not take. under its care
more families than 1t could Investigate,
study and look after property.
Mr., j. l., Hornshy, of st. Louis,
thought each conference should cover
the work of its own parish before going
Ioutsidn
Bishop Kelley closed the discussion
In a characteristic speech, saying thar
the helping OF one poor person In the
-, Vincent manner was II better sermon
than was ever preached. This is a
laymars work, he said. The priests
and sisters have their duties. The out
! side charity of the parish is for the men
and the women among the congres ga
tior.
Afternoon Session.
Reassemblins at $3.50 o'clock. the
convention did not have so large an
,attendance as at the morning hour bat
the discussions proved, If anythinl;
: more interesting than those earlier in
the day, The general topic, "Depend-
cnt Children" was treated in two able
: papers, tie first being on Placing
Orphans and Destitute Children in
! the Homes OF Foster Parents read i,y
II DR.. Charles 4, McKcnna, Of New York.