The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-04-07
BABY PLANS SHATTERED
BY CRUEL AND UNFAIR
REPORT MADE PUBLIC

I Secretary Jones and his 10000
club committee are entitled to all
the credit there is in organizing a
boycott on woman who is trying
to take care of handful of or.
phans and disowned waits.
| At the time Jones published a
misleading report on the Orphans
Home of Spokane two benefits had
been arranged for the home, one
by the Shirley company at the
Auditorium April 8, and another at
the opening of Natatorium park
April "a.
Both these were volunteered and
the prospect was like glimpse OF
heaven to the little ones at the
home.
They were going to be able to
see a real show once in their
lives. E
And they were going out among
the trees and grass and flowers,
with the music and wondrous
| sights at the park.
Baby plans and anticipations you
couldn't enumerate nor appreciate
unless you have been an orphan
child were builded about these
two prospective events.
Better than all, especially to
Mrs. Dey and the women working
with her, was the prospect of food
in plenty and funds to continue in
the work she wants to devote the
rest of her life to.
But one day some men came out
to the home and one of them-a
small man with big eyes and little
head-talked great deal. He was
extremely anxious to know all
about the orphan home and espe-
cially interested in ascertaining
how much money came in and how
much Mrs. Dey got of it. Among
other things he learned that she
didn't get any.
Delighted at this show of in in
terest, Mrs. Dey told everything
she had time to about her work.
She told of her hopes, in spite of
lack of organized support and
necessity for constant labor, to
build up what she called a Con
zaga for the orphan child" mean
ing an institution where instead of
being merely fed and sheltered I'M
til adopted the orphan and the
waif could be reared, trained and
sent out tot career of useful citi-
zenship.
| She wanted no more children
than she could take care of in this
way and she was willing to agree
to any plan to this end. She sug-
gested that some reliable business
man downtown receive all money
contributed to the home and pay
all bills. She didn't ask cent of
money for herself; didn't even
want to handle it.
| All she asked was to be left to
receive and soothe and care for
the tiny outcasts brought to her.
The little man with the large
eyes looked very wise at al this
and assured Mrs. Dey that they
were there in unofficial but friend.
ly capacity to learn what she need.
ed and that his report on the mat.
ter would undoubtedly have great
influence.
Then the committee looked into
the accounts, went all over the
house, saw the children come home
from school cluster eagerly about
the table, say grace and eat in or.
phans' gratitude. The dinner was
nothing luxurious but 1t was nour.
ishing and the same exactly that
their guardians ate.
Then the committee came away,
the little man still looking very
wise.
A few days later the report that
was to have great influence was
ready. The plans for the benefits
had gone on happily and even
something good was expected from
the little man with large eyes.
Surely he couldn't say anything
against a work like that after see,
ing It.
| Upon this expectation fell re.
port cunningly designed to hurt
the home in every way possible, II
! kept entirely away from the splen.
did features that had ben demon
strated and by inference when not
by actual statement discredited
Mrs. Dey and her institution.
1t was not a report. but a form
of comparison designed to nullify
Mrs. Dey's efforts and close her
home in the interests of the Home
Of the Friendless. The latter IL
far too worthy an undertaking to
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