The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-08-31
JULIUS RosENWAI.D's; CHARITY.

Julius Resenwald, the Chicago millionaire is now
receiving praise and commentator for his gift of
1857 900 to various charitable institutions and to
John D. Rockefeller's university: = 49,, =.
Charity has come to mean gifts to persons too
far in the power Of egalized robbers to be able to
help themselves: Mr. Rosenwald's charity comes
under this heading Also In the long run all such
gifts turn QUITO be gifts to~the robbers (although
not 50 intended) rather than. to the victims
After Mr.: Rosenwald's money will have been
spent for the purposes given there will be just as
much poverty and misery in Chicago as there was
before. If his gift has the effect Of making any
individual better off it is certain that somewhere
also some other equally meritorious individual will
be that much worse off: This is inevitable, Charity
must either take the form of gift directly handed
over to an individual denied the opportunity to-
help himself, or must be- means of fitting person
to do work which he otherwise could not do In the
first case, the benefit Of the gift ends with it's
sumption. In the meantime it. has tended to
pauperize the recipient and that effect, unfortunate
ly, does not end quickly In the second case, it
fits the beneficiary to dispace some one previously
employed, and only transfers the need of charity
from individual to another. In either case no
progress has been made Poverty.breeding condi-
tions have not been disturbed. Privileged classes
continue thriving on the labor Of Others.
Mr.. Rosehwald had the opportunity to make his
gift a real benefit to humanity. He might have
given just tenth as much as he did, but directed
~ ~ Help Ine Work OF puCClng an END TO ROBBERY
of workers. He would not in that case be the re-
cipient of extravagant praise from the sources he
is now getting it. Perhaps he would get no praise
at all from any source. He would surely receive
groans and jeers from :upholders of robbery But
while he might not be getting any praise he would
be deserving of all the pleasant things that should
be said Of q man who has not failed in his duty
It is possible that he did not realize this fact
when he decided On the useless waste Of the enormous
sum he has just distributed; OF course he had the
opportunity to learn better But it is difficult for
an'in the position Of the ordinary millionaire to
contribute money for purposes not approved by those
in the circle in which he moves. Even though he
realizes asaany with brain and conscience must
that IS missing chance to help destroy the cause
Of involuntary poverty, it.: requires extraordinary
moral courage to- brave the opinion of ones social
circle It is easy to show millionaire that the only
way he can use his money to benefit humanity is
to use it to destroy the evils which make charity
seem necessary. But if nature has denied him the
moral strength to do what is right, regardless Of
public opinion, he must not be judged too severely
if he evades profting by the lesson. ~: -.
So let us hope that Mr.. Rosenwald will be left to
the full enjoyment of all the praise and flattery
that will come to him on account Of his gifts Posi-
bly, some time in the future he will make use of the
opportunity to learn better and will not lack the
strength to act accordingly. - ..:*