Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-12
REPLIES TO CRITICS
Frederick L. Siddons Defends
Associated Charities.
ExT0LS ITS RESCUE WORK
Accepted Position Of Director Only
After Inquiry Into the Boards
Methods.

| Frederick l.. Siddons Of the local bar,
who is member Of the board of di-
rectors of the Associated Charities, de-
clared today that the critics OF the or
| ganization did not understand the work
which the association was doing.
"A few months ago." Mr.. Siddons said.
Il accepted election as a member Of the
beard Of directors, not, however, without
| first giving the matter as mature reflec-
ton as I could. l should not have ac-
cepted the appointment IL the organiza-
ton had been one for mere aIrnsgiving.
for while charity in its narrower sense.
and as expressed in the idea OF giving
aims, may render useful service for
the moment. 1t has never appealed to me
as in any degree solving the problem OF
poverty, and too often indiscriminate
giving infficts injury, rather than good,
on the objects Of doles, and indirectly
on society itself.
Charity Which Helps.
1.-THE charity which really helps, if it
should be called charity. which I doubt,
| Is that which seeks to rehabilitate the
drifting members of society or those who
are in a fair way to become such; to find
employment for them; to endeavor to
cheer and brighten lives that have been
darkened by a poverty which has fallen
upon them in many cases-1ndeed, IN
most cases-through no fault OF their
own; to revive hope and to cultivate
spirit Of courage and self help and Oh
thrift.
ITO endeavor to improve the environ
ment which poverty produces is great
work. 1t will not solve the problem OF
poverty. but who can measure in dollars
and cents the value Of a rescued member
Of society? And this is the work that the
Associated Charities is doing. To do !.
! successfully. we must nave men anu
women who are moved not by the attrac-
ton of salaries, but who are inspired oy
love Of their fellow men and women ana
by a desire to help, as best they may. IN
a work OF regeneration and rehaolilta-
ton. Yet they, too, must live.
Important to Society.
"Jn nv opinion. such work is of in
finitely greater importance to society as
a whole. and to Its individual units, than
that which consists In giving a meal to
hungry man or woman today and send
ing him or her on to either some other
charftably disposed person or institution
or to inevitable social ruin. The Asso-
ciated Charities pays its agents. not by
any manner of means what they deserve
and need. and the work that these self
should receive only the hearty praise
and cooperation of every man and wom-
an who believes that society is under
heavy obligation to those whom the un-
equal distribution Of wealth the chang
ing Industrial life and have made appa-
rent failures in the struggle for existence.
MANY of the men and women who
compose the board Of directors OF the
Associated Charities have long since won
the confidence Of this community in their
Judgment and discretion. They give of
their time and OF their means in the do
ing OF q work which. though 1t will not
solve. as have said. the problem Of
poverty at least is not pauperizing, to
use that much-abused and hackneyed
word, the objects of their workout,
rather endeavors to restore them as use
full citizens and members of society,"