The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-02
Even GrOcerymen Helped AS
siSt Destitute Families.
MEALS ARE SERVED IN JAIL
MatrOn Gives Up Private Of
flee to Help Needy.
Mayor Billiards. Plan Brings
Help to UnfOrtunates.


under the direction of Mayor J. B. Bill
lard and Mrs. Della sare, has cost
s179.77 and an additional sum of s72.13
has been used in buying groceries and
a few articles of clothing which have
been necessary to relieve the suffering
of the destitute people of the city. In
addition to this amount the various
bakeries, grocery stores, commission
houses, clothing stores and dry goods
houses have made donations of articles
of food or wearing apparel yhich has
been distributed.
Mrs. Della Sare. the police matron,
has had charge of this work in addi-
ton to her regularly assigned duties q
police matron, and with the assistance
of Mayor ]. B. Billiard and the mem
bers of the police force, she has been
as successful in relieving the suffering
of the destitute of Topeka during the
past two months as has any person or
charitable organization in the city.
Mayor J. B. Billiard was the first
person to mention the establishment of
the soup line. Mrs. Sare, realizing the
good that could be accomplished and
the amount of suffering it would relieve
or prevent, offered to take charge Of
and conduct the charitable venture
This met with the approval of the
mayor and he agreed to pay the ex-
penses of conducting the soup line for
the first week
With this offer from the mayor. the
people of the city came to the relief of
the needy and made donations which
made it possible to continue the soup
line for seven weeks and five days.
The business men and private citizens
have donated literally. A number of
large donations have been received
from people who live outside the city,
and with these it has been possible to
maintain the soup line since January 9.
Soup Line Boon to Many.
Mayor Billiard gave Mrs Sare, the
police matron, $40 to pay the ex-
penses of the soup line for the first
week. The experiences of the mayor
and Mrs. Sare have been unusual dur
ing the time that the soup line has
been maintained. Cases of destitu-
ton were revealed which probably
would not have become known under
any other condition.
The soup line from its beginning
has been a haven of relief for the un-
employed of Topeka. Men and wo-
men, unable to find employment have
found food there The drouth through
out this section of the country last
summer reduced the amount of work
in practically every industry in the
section, thus increasing the mum Der
of unemployed to such numbers that
the country has been flooded with
them. Topeka is not the only city
that has been required to feed an
army of unemployed. A soup line
was maintained in Kansas City and
other cities IN the surrounding states.
Grocers Gave Good Measure.
The money which was used in buy
Ing groceries to send to destitute fam
lies was distributed judiciouSly A
bill of groceries which was made I'D
according to the size of the families
was purchased and in practically ev-
cry instance, the dealers upon being
Informed the nature of the mission,
filled the basket at practically cost
price or at least at a great reduction
from the regular retail price These
reductions have made it possible for
Mrs. Sare to offer relief to a greater
number of families and more relief
than would have been possible 9th
erwiSe. In addition to these reduc-
tions. she has been able to purchase
material for making soup at prices
less than the regular retail price.
The advance notices. that the soup
line would be started at the police
station under the direction Of Mayor
J. b. Billiard and Mrs. Sare, the police
matron, brought out large crowd the
first day that soup was served. This
was on January 9, and the crowds
have continued ever since Of course
these crowds have been reduced rap
Idly until the number of applicants for
soup has maintained daily average
of about twenty-five or thirty during
the last two weeks. Days when bad
weather prevailed probably caused a
greater number to take advantage of
LnG offerings Inan did so during nor
NAL weather conditions.
Fed 100 First Day.
More than 100 persons took advan-
tage of the offerings of the soup line
the first day and the crowd showed
a gradual increase for more than ten
days. Then the crowd began to show
a decline and this has continued. The
soup will be discontinued after today
unless the present storm causes its
continuance
ia line nn al IL
solely for destitute people. Mrs. Sare
established table in her private room
for the accomm odation of persons
throughout the city who were able to
pay for the service. No exact price
was set or charge made but those who
took advantage of the offerings of this
table were permitted to drop a coin
in a pot, which was found in the cen
ter of the table, as pay for the service
Such persons were allowed to drop
q large or small coin in this pot and
through this medium the sum of
S3S.24 was collected.
County officials Help Out.
This table has been popular. City
and county officials and a number of
state officials took advantage of the oc-
casion by eating at this table and do
mating to the pot as they desired The
amount collected indicates that many
contributed literally.
A large number of persons able to
pay the rates charged at the restau-
rants took advantage of this special
table and contributed according TO
Mrs. Sare has been on duty con-
stantly since the soup line was started
Soup was served every day in the
week including Sunday and from noon
until o'clock in the evening. By
adopting this system it was possible
for the destitute to satisfy their hun
ger at least two times each day.
None were limited to one bowl of soup
oft a v0H