The Washington herald., 1913-02-09
SIX THOUSAND BEGGING LETTERS
SUGGEST UPLIFT CLEARINGHOUSE
MIionares Mail and What 1t Reveas-Do College Presi-
dents, Bishops, and Civic Workers Offer New
Problem in Mendicancy?

I may stand as peers, is no longer a Wis
| ionary ideal, but necessity.
The clearing house plan is logical and
/ feasible. Its work should involve a two
| fold activity-with and for both appealer
and giver. All letters Of appeal, sent d.
rectly TO il by the appealer himself or
| by the receiver Of many appeals, who
does not want their usefulness to be
lost. would be studied as the 5000 letters
of Mrs. Hartman were studied The ef-
| fort would be. fifirst. to discover the
nationwide needs disclosed by parallel
/ evidence, and. second by means of mil
| lion tiny wires Of contact with receiving
stations connected with the central dyn-
amo, to relieve individual needs at their
sources.
In the service of givers the collected
information, definite, accurate, and COM
plete, would be offered as the basis for
new kind of giving. a giving dependent
not upon whim, nor accident, nor sud-
den emotion, but on actual and proven
needs, the vitality OF which has been
gauged. Philanthropy would be given an
opportunity to view all of city's or
a States relief problem, to view society
instead of societies, education instead OF
educational institutions.
Conditions themselves could be at
tackled instead of the hydra relief prob
lem, which Is but a symptom OF these
same conditions. After all, this gtgan-
tic problem must be a governmental
one." writes DR.. Charles Mccarthy, OF
the Wisconsin Legislative Reference IL
brary. Private philanthropy cannot af-
feet the whole social organization. The
force, the organization itself, the govern
ment that controls society, must meet
socIety's problems instead of helping TO
create them.
efficient government is potentially the
greatest OF all philanthropy. What Is
the use Of giving millions for education
II inefficient public officers. by wasting
millions. create ignOrance?" says NJ
Allen. why gifts for scientific research
II inefficient government prevents the ap-
plication OF truth? Why hope for clean
liness and virtue II inefficient govern
ment tolerates filth and rewards vice?
Whether government is creating or cor
recting evils. a clearing house is bound
TO reflect"
Like the seIsmograph. which delicately
charts every tremOr OF the earth's curst,
so the clearing house, adjusted to the
life OF the nation, would register every
accomplishment of government and its
every DETECTION in meeting the needs of
the people.
THE only agency whose business II is
to be on the constant lookout for unequal
opportunity. for unnecessary suffering,
preventable and durable disease. is gov
ernment. For IL is the only agency
which in a city, county. State, or
nation represents 100 per cent OF the
people within its bounds. Millions OF
dollars are expended annually in the
United States by private philanthropists.
who attempt to do on a very small scale
remedial and educational work which
government should be taught to do by
wholesale. To equalize opportunity for
education. for health, for earning power
private philanthropy requires the active
and efficient cooperation Of government
ITSELF
College presidents and bishops-yss, and
the veriest bcggar in the street-have a
right to present their needs where tho
can under present conditions. but IL =
wrong that the presentation of the aims
bowl should be their necessary recourse.
The voices of thousands raised in the
only means of expression within their
reach offers a mine of invaluable fact
regarding the ineficiency of government
in coping with the needs of the people
governed Letters Of appeal represent
American free speech, and not[American
''mendicancy." Is the voice of the peo-
pie to be heard hereafter? Were the
voices OF the $500 worth a hearing. and
are complaints similarly registered in the
future worth diagnosing?