The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-02-13
HOSPITALS AND CHARITIES
BY Frank Parker .stockbr,dge

BY Frank Parker .stockor'ose
Are the hospitals in your town ru'
as public institutions or as charities
You see the difference, don't you?
Al charity gives to those who have
. nogclaim on it, without hope or expec
tation Of reward,
"A public. institution is something
that the whole community owns ant
shares in and can get the benefits Of
without loss Of self.respect.
When hospital is run as public
institution, everyone in the commun
ity Is entitled, as right, not priv
lege, to its services In case Of illness
or accident.
That's the new. idea OF hospitals
new in this country, at leasL-that the
very best Of them should be the ones
which the. whole community owns and
operates for the benefit of everyone in
thesccmmunity.
That's the kind they have III New
York, for instance-&he great great
Bellevue hospital, on which the city
has spent millions and is spending
still more millions, without Il cent Of
prlvate contributions. Cincinnati is
building that kind Of Hospital
model institution that will embody the
best features of the hest European
hospitals.
You see, the new idea--the Ameri
can idea-44is to do away with charities
as rapidly as possible. We have
learned, for one thing, that indiscrim
4nate giving breeds paunerism ant
that organized charities are. too prone
"a. set up. restrictions that result, unin
tentionally, in often denying aid It
. those who need and are entitled to 1t
to say nothing Of the equally Stron2
Tendency TO absorb an undue proper
ton Of the contributions Of the chari
table in administrative expenses. But
NC are beginning 70 learn, too tha'
IN American there ought. not TO be any
occasion for charity-,qhat every cast
III destitution not dpe-tO illness Or the
Voluntary acts Of the victim is more
6f a disgrace TO the community that
permits it than TO the unfortunate
saBerer,
So, on the one hand, American com
munities are solving the charity PROB
lem by pulling together in business or
ganizations-like the one in your 'o~F
ito bring about degree of prosper
ity that will enable everyone in th'
town ito earn living, And on th'
other hand they are beginning to pro
vide for those who are accidental!
he temporary victims of disease, acct
dent 81 incompetence, help that is no
given as charity but as the right o
lie Individual who Is member o
community, providing 1t. The mn
hieinal hospitals gone in this class
So as the municipal lodging houses
Where a certain amount Of work is re
apired Of those who would sleep il
Sthem. So do the free day nurseries
E,hich some towns have established al
community institution; the municl
Bal employment bureaus that other
Have set up; the homes for the oil
Ind infrm which all our almshouse'
onght to be-refuges for those VIII
iibsye giyen their best to their com
hiunitieS without providing for them
salyes-places where they may retire
With respect instead af tho stigma o
buperism.
The time Is coming when these com
,nlGtty provisions for those who ear
not provide for themselves will be III
Necessary when economic condition
s nm have been so adjusted that every
5t;c cail provide for himself, But VI
q q q