The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-08
AID ADULT BLIND
STATE SOCIETY MAY BE
FORMED IN NEAR FUTURE.
Meeting Held Yesterday with William
P. Martin neutrality-suspicious.
Speakers Heard.

The organization Of a State society for
the aid of the blind of New Jersey Will
be effected in the near future. A meeting
was held in the Free Public Library yes
terday afternoon, following a preliminary
session in Hoboken, last week, n a COM
mittee of three was appointed to CONFER
with. those who attended the Hopoken
meeting, for the purpose of arranging for
a large meeting, to be held either in New
ark or Jersey City, when all of those in
terested in the movement will form them
selves into a State society, with county
branches. At the Hoboken gathering Mrs.
Caroline b. Alexander, of Castle Point,
Hoboken, was appointed temporary chair
man, tc act in that capacity until the So
ciety is formally organized. The commit
tee Of three, appointed yesterday, con-
sisted of rabbi ELI Mayer, of Paterson,
chairman; Miss c.. A. O'Neill, of Newark,
and william Fellowes Morgan, of Short
Hills.
The committee was appointed by Assem-
blyman William p. Martin, who presided
during the latter half of the meeting. Mr..
Martin made q few remarks, telling those
present to organize first, and then get
accurate information regarding the num-
Der Of blind in the State, etc, before ap-
pealing to the Legislature. He declared
that the Legislature would not be doing
its duty by the public If it acted on such
a matter without facts.
An effort will be made to secure statis-
tics Of the number of blind in Essex and
Hudson counties and other parts of the
State. so that the society will have cor
rect data with which to substantiate its
rIao 10 fHo State I aUfclofuro for tho m
pointing of a commission, the purpose of
which will be to find out the exact prob
lem Of the blind In the State. with a view
to establishing an industrial home or
workshop.
The speakers included Assemblyman
William p. Martin, Arthur w. McDougall,
superintendent Of the Bureau Of Associated
Charities; Miss Elizabeth P. Dunning, of
the literary department of the Overlook
School for the Blind, in Philadelphia; Mrs.
Victor Parsonette, of Newark; Edward G.
Baptist. of Jersey City; r. ~Eigeltinger, of
the local Y. M. C. A; the Rev. Robert
Love, of Plainf1eld, and Rabbi Mayer, who
presided until MI. Martin entered and was
given the chair.
Mr.. Baptist said that a committee has
been appointed at the Hoboken meeting
to draw up a resolution to be presented
to the Legislature asking for the appoint
ment of q commission and an appropria-
ton of $500 to be used in obtaining statis-
tics, The resolution was to be drawn up
by Mrs. Alexander and A. Dippell, of Ho-
boken. Mr. Baptist added that any matter
they could obtain could not be placed in
proper form for consideration for this sea-
sons Legislature, and urged that all pre-
liminary work be done during the year,
So that when the following Legislature
c%onyenes deflnit action may be imme-
diately taken.
Mr., McDougall thought it advisable to
get a commission appointed by the Legis-
lature to investigate conditions, rather
than to form a private society, unless the
members of that society SHOULD have time
and money enough to make a commission
unnecessary.
Letters were read from Assemblyman
George g.. White, Everett Colby, Charles
j. Fiske, Mayor of Plainfield; the Rev.
Adolph Roeder. of Orange, and others, sig
nifying their willingness to support the
project. Mr.. Martin said that Sheriff
Frank H. Sommer n Lathrop Anderson
were also willing to Join.
The names of those present were taken
by Algernon Osborne, the temporary sec
rotary, to be forwarded to Mrs. Alexander
as charter members.