Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-02-12
Soup House Instruction Comes
To a Sudden End
Today.
FENToN ASKS FORGIVENESS.
Yesterday with Other Star Boardcrs
He Charged That Graft Was Boiled
In the Free Soup Pot.

Back of complaints made yesterday
afternoon that the odor Of graft could
be detected In the free soup kitchen %
the Volunteers of America lies a little
tale of human nature, that finds many
duplicate among men who raise
holler."
James T. Fenton was yesterday after
noon the bold leader Of an insurrection
against the institution where he en-
joyed bed for 10 cents per night, and
could receive two fried eggs one plate
of potatoes. one cup of coffee, and four
slices OF bread for 10 cents, or IL the
last dime was gone, could line up for
free soup at the soup counter.
At L p. IN. today James L. Fenton
found himself in the position of a re-
sponsible person, having shot his flight
of charges, and received public atten-
ton. What did James Il. do? He
meekly picked up a telephone. called
UP Capt Mccoy against whom the
charges were launched, asked his for
giveness over the wire, and made q date
to meet him at o'clock, and back up
this movement with a verbal one.
SEEM RIDICULOUS,
To anyone who has seen the Volun-
ployment, the charges of graft seem
ridiculous. for the reason that 300 or
more men are thus kept from absolute
starvation, at a time when there is no
work to point to them, and that the oc-
caslonal ioafer who mixes in for meal,
counts for so small a figure that he is
hardly worthy of taking into account.
al least until conditions change, and
the honest man has chance TO assert
his honesty on the business end of
pick and shovel
The News" has half dozen photo
graphs of the free soup line. To count
the number OF heavy boots that only
the mud worker viii buy and the over
alls that the bum" shuns as signifying
the brand of the laborer. will offer
little insight into the problem that has
come with the end of a hard winter and
no work.
The Volunteers conduct more than the
free soup counter, as they serve regular
meals at nominal figures. but sufficient
to keep man from the feeling that he
Is accepting charity. In this restaurant
men are fed whose physical condition
show them unable to line UP and sub
sist on bowl of soup alone. and men
who are known as laboring men about
whom there Is no question, absolutely
free OF charge, or on credit" The
donations received by the Volunteers
soup, when possible. an4 whom thlT
was not possible they have been used
in the restaurant, and in exchange Tor
meat and bread for the soup depart
ment
CAPTAIN MCCOY LAUGHS.
Captain Mccoy laughed todo,- y,,ten
asked about the graft insinuations.
we expect them" he said. When
you have worked long among the men
who need help of the kind we extend
you viii learn to take lightly their
charges, for they soon forget them, and
do not realize the damage that an idle
word may do l 1--we asked for a com
plete investigation of the workings of
our charity. 1t is a national affair. and
not local one Maud Ballington Booth
and General Ballington Booth are it's
founders and We report to them every
week. l am checked up and am re-
spnsible to Lieut.. Col. A, Wright ~
Denver. He. in turn. is responsible to
Ma Gen. Edward Fielding in Chicago,
and my accounts are gone over by both
of these officials every week"
SALVATION ARMY.
Charges of graft have not yet r,en
made against the Salvation Army. and |
neither has the Salvation Army taken |
any very active part in meeting the |
general situation caused by the hard |
winter, and the creation of large |
unemployed class. Nationally the |
Volunteers of America make O blanket |
charge against the Salvation Army |
that the spiritual side Of its work has |
not been maintained In the past decade |
as 1t formerly was, and the volunteer
grew up as a protest 10
such trend of events, its leaders
-