Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-03-23
PLAN TO AID THE POOR.
Grover Cleveland Would Establish
 Charity Clearing House.

Charity Clearing House.
 In the mast ol congratulations on
 his seventy first 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. MT.
 Cleveland became almost enthusiastic
 as he dwelt upon certain phases of na-
 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 l am mistaken and have al- ways been mistaken in the character of the American people they will come safely through.
 What a 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 1t according to their lights, and they are good lights"
 Casually the conversation turned to children. Mir. 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.
 T have a splendid boy, and I have much pleasure fin him." said Mir. Cleve- land. We have great times together. It is great to be father. Yet when think of the little children 1t makes me sad. My thoughts are always with them-the thousands without homes, the thousands with only half homes and lacking influence and inspiration. l wish I might do something for them ail.
 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 a proper charity organization. It should be an organization that will reach where it ought to reach, not half way nor half heartedly.
 'l 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 when he gave anything. whether 1t was little or much. it would be sent through the proper channels and reach those who need help. He would have the satis- faction of knowing that the money | was not being used to further this ones or that ones self patented way of dispensation.
 ''I feel deeply about this, and I want to tell you that if such an organization as I wish to see established should be brought into being it would not lack support. I could go over a list of rich men who would support 1t 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 If they were assured that those for whom their gift was .n- tended received It.
 There is something that have long wanted to see destroyed. and that Is this conteu;ed depeaeeaee of the poor that we see cn eveTY hand. Our sa called charitable dlsrsnsntIous are re- sponsible for il. Thss dependence is The thief Of self respec;. The poor are not permitted to help themselves. Yon know f. and I knOE fl. Once ta.g rome within tke ke1 os the charity workers tfey are robbed of their inisIa. i've They are made deaenjeat. It is lot q question of how long the father 'f a family bas been a drunkard thst lhould bc decided first. hsit whether here Is coal In his cellar and whether lie wife and hia children hs,a fa,.s t,, he cupboard. You can set hold of the ather's soul aftervaui.
 Tt is the poor who are really kind 10 he poor. They do much to help one mother Tbey keep one another alive nd think ah-sat one another They ' ould teach many a lesson to vhfch hose who think they understand hings might well give heei with prof . t- p