Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-05
The Associated Chari-
ties Has Launched a
Campaign to Give
Pensions to Worthy
Women Who Are
Rearing Children.
BY TARLEToN COLLIER.

Of railroad tracks, SCOT lecked shabby
freight cars, drab cinder paths and a farther
fringe of factory buildings.
Her shoulders dropped, as would any WON
ans who IS driven to Improbable work in sup
port of SIX small children, keeping house for
them at the same time and working night and
day with it all But this time there was a
weary, forlorn cast TO the dropping shoulders
that spoke Of more than mere physical ex-
hauston. There were worlds of despair and
hopelessness in the woman's attitude.
The wind that drove the SCOT flakes was a
bit cold and bore the menace that winter holds
for the poor Maybe it was the prescience Of
hardshps soon TO come that had added hope
lessness to the bodily WEAKNESS that was to be
read from the forlorn droop of Mrs Wimberly's
shoulders.
For a long time she sat there. Then the
front door opened, and little girl, dirt-smeared
Of face and dress and bare feet came out and
ran to the womans side. At the patter of her
feet the woman turned swiftly, caught the
child to her breast, Rugged her hercey, and at
the same time began to cry.
Mrs wimbery had come only that day to
realization that she must part with her chill
dren. The daily struggle had become too great
She saw now that it had been impossible, even
from the first The work that a woman of or
binary intelligence, little or no education, can do
is certainly not profitable. And there is rent to
pay and food to buy and clothes, and the chill
wind bore warning of another expense.
And so Mrs Wimberly sat on her front porch
her shoulders dropping pathetically, and cried
Mrs. Wimberly is a real person. She lives
in Atlanta not far from the stockyards. She is
one of an appalingy large number Of widows
who, with big families to support, torn he
tween the prospect of a life Of hardship with
their children, and little easier time that
will be theirs If they give up the boys and
girls.
1t is for just such persons as Mrs. wimberly
that the Associated Charities is asking the
City Council to make appropriation for widows
pensions-a little money each month, probably
enough to pay the rent in some cases. probably
SO, or even $25 in other cases, but a certain
amount each month.
we WANT W mt THESE poor WIDOWS out OF
a condition where they are dependent on the
vicissitudes Of private charity and make per
manent provision for them" explained Joseph
C. Logan, secretary of the Associated Chart
ties yesterday.
The actual need exists in 10l homes. in each
of which there is widowed mother of several
small children, who must work for her living
and must keep the home, often without help,
because the children tiny and helpless.
In each Of the 104 homes there is a woman
who has evolved a spirit Of defiance against
the world. and who is conducting an actual
fight for her children
The Sunday American reporter realized this
He went to one little house, to which he had
been directed by the Associated Charities as
that of one Of the needy widows. tall, gaunt
woman answered his knock. and he asked her
TO let him take the pictures Of herself and
her family.
The woman misunderstood him. and drew
back, dehantly.
what! Take one Of my children?" she
cried. iercey. NO. I'd rather so to jail than
part with one of my kids"
She threw her arms around a boy and a
girl, one on each side, and stepped backward
toward the house door.
She is woman who has six children. and
who for nearly seven years has been working
to keep them. Her oldest child is eighteen
a girl who is a hopeless invalid with tubercu-
loss Of the bone. The next is a boy fifteen,
then a girl, thirteen, who recently have gone
to work to supplement the mothers income
But she would part with none Of the chill
dren.
Not for million dollars" she said backing
away from the reporter. Then, her mistake
explained, she became Immediately humble
with the humility of the very poor. All her
spirit and her energy is conserved for the one
thing the fight for her children.
Explaining the purpose of the Associated
Charities in its campaign for widows pensions,
secretary Logan told of the bitter work that
falls on these widowed mothers.
There is a small class Of heroic
in the community who struggling TO raise
children against obstacles which they can not
overcome without help" he said 81 refer
to widows who are left without means, and
with two or more young children. These WON
en- have bean hand.EvorkiaG helnmatas Of men