The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-12-14
'5l[vlTION ARMY
WILL FEED 500
FAMILIES
Will See That No One Lacks for
Christmas Cheer - Much More
Poverty in the City Than
Last Winter.
Kettle Collections on Street arc
Falling Of and Will Be
Discontinued.


This Christmas, as usual the poo'
OF the city. including adults and chii
dren. will find generous ana kinuiS
Santa Claus in the Salvation ARMY
Col. Charles Miles, head OF the ioca'
corps. assisted by his wife and large
stan OF officers, is now making ar
rangements for the big distribution OF
delicacies which will be made by the
Army. and when ne has completed MS
task T. Is expected that every worthy
family in Detroit and the immediate
vicinity will be provided for.
The colonel has thus far received
the names of $50 families, said to be
In need of aid, and he will make
careful investigation OF each, les-
there be among them some who are
not entitled to help. In addition 10
these. the colonel expects TO provide
fer at least $50 more, making over
oy0 in al, about 100 more than last
year. limit, however. is to be set.
: Col. Miles says the Army will provide
for a. who apply for provisions for
Christmas dinner.
The army is to give each family a
basket, containing a .icken, pound
of coffee, can of tomatoes, pound OF
sugar, can OF milk, box Of cereals, po-
tatoes, apples, celery, bananas, bread.
candies and other things, enough for
five ..eople. For the distribution OF
these baskets the Army Is working
in conjunction with the Associated
Charities. so that there will be no
duplication or unfair apportionment.
The baskets will be given out at the
Citadel on Saturday. Dec. "a, between
and p m.
Christmas Tree. Too.
Besides the giving out OF the bas-
kets, ...e Salvation Army Is going TO
provide a big Christmas tree on Mon
day evening. Dec. rs, in the Citadel.
Michigan-ave. and Second street. This
tree Is :or the children OF poor par
ents exclusively. For each child there
win be q fine toy, bag OF candies, an
orange and an article OF wearing ap-
rarel. II is the hope OF Col. Miles
that not q single child shall be over
looked or forgotten. for he declares
that he will. see to II that there Is
something on the tree for all who
come.
TT ia our aim,," said Col. Miles to
The Times, that no poor family
worthy of support shall be neglected
this Christmas. We want to provide
. basket wherever 1t is needed, and
we are particularly anxious to remem-
her every child of poor families at the
Christmas tree
where does the Salvation Army
gets the money to provide food and
Christmas tree presents for the poor? p
was asked Of Col Miles.
From the citizens" he replied.
We make an appeal by letter every
Christmas season. About a month
before Christmas we send out a let
ter to about 5000 leading citizens,
telling them OF our plan to feed the
poor and enlisting their financial sid
before Christmas, We send out a sec
ond letter. only, however, to those
who have failed to reply to our hrst
appeal. We regret to say that many
do not comply with our wishes; not
more than ten per cent Of the letters
sent out are responded TO. The
total amount received at Christmas.
1909, from Detroit people to whom
the army appealed for funds, was
1898, while the sum OF s775.54 was
collected In the kettles located on
the downtown streets.
To Cut Out Kettle Collections.
by the way, believe, IL | am IN
charge of the Detroit district next
Christmas, shall discontinue the
kettle system OF getting money. The
suffering which the women undergo
In watching over the kettles in the
cold weather Is too great. for all
theirs ID to show for II. These wo-
men stand over the kettles from s
o'clock In the morning until 6 D. m,
every day for three and four weeks
before Christmas, with only an hour
on ut noon. They are members OF
our corps. but we pay some OF them
Tor their suffering. No one gets
more than 81 day. however, and
some. including my wife and daugh-
ter. who sometimes do service, get
nothing. In addition to the returns
being small, the women often have
% bear some uncomplimentary re-
marks. Last year, as have pointed |
out. the kettle collections were only |
ytINp4. This year the amount will
fah short OF last years by at least
one-third.
Thus far, this year, the daily col
lections from the twelve kettles on
the downtown streets have averaged
only $50.
Too Many Drains On Public.
"But, mind you, / am not complain
Ing or blaming the public for the
poor showing. I think the people Of
Detroit are doing very well by us.
The difficulty Is, there are too many
drains on the public pocketbook
Then. too, people cannot very well be
oxpected to stop and toss a coin into
receptacle while they are struggling
along the streets with their arms
full OF bundles. Taken all in ALL the
kettle system Ia not satisfactory, and
We shall, feel certain, try to get
along without II after this year"
ufs. Miles, wife OF the colonel,
who has watched over a kettle in
Detrolt and other cities. says that a
Htto newsboy In Chicago showed her
~ ;deepest sympathy she has ever
fro1lv od from the public. AS she was
~ n<I1ing. shivering In the snow on "a
Xr6<t corner, the wee newsie brought
nof ave newspapers and placed them
|Muf1r her cold feet. This protection
&u1 the snow and Recovered side
~n|x ala much to relieve her suffer
x che said
ppxerty Has Increased.
CA Miles, when asked about the
ill.,.