New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-26
URGE WIDOWS PENSIONS
Speakers at Cooper Union
Favor Aid by the State.
ASSAIL CHARITY SOCIETIES
Assemblyman Levy, Father OF
Bill, Says One Has Agent
Out to Defeat It.

The charitable organizations OF New
York city got some good hard whacks
last night at Cooper Union. Assemblyman
Aaron j. Levy. Robert W Hebberd. Dr..
Henry Moskowitz. Mrs. William Einstein
and other speakers addressed meeting
there In support Of the widowed MOTH
ers pension bill. which was introduced IN
the Assembly by Mr. Levy. and when
has lust passed that body and gone TO
the Senate
DR.. John Haynes Holmes added his
condemnation TO what he called the
shame and disgrace Of forcing mothers TO
ask dole Of charity. to ask that which
Justice should give them without asking.
1--WE should learn Of Germany and Eng
land" he added. "They are showing us
the possibilities in social control oe-
lieve in old age pensions. in the most
sweeping kind of social insurance against
injuries. sickness. etc. This bill to PEN
sion widowed mothers Is the opening
wedge. Let us get it passed and point
the way TO other measures.
Mr.. Levy declared that one Of the chief
charitable organizations in New YORK
City had an agent in Albany to defeat
the bill
This agent appears simply as a citizen.
but he is working against the measure IN
every way And two days ago | read IN
New York evening paper appeals,
signed by the secretarv Of the organiza-
ton that supports that agent-appeals for
money to help Mrs. So-and-So. poor
widow. with three children. living on
'such-and-such' a street. and Mrs. So
and-So.' a widow in dire need. having
four children To support, etc. etc.
These appeals are from the secretary
Of an organization whose agent is telling
people in Albany that the organizations
have more money than cases To relieve
that there is absolutely no neei of state
aid for widowed mothers
After charging that the greater number
of convicts in the prisons to-day were
in their childhood inmates Of charitable
Institutions" Mr. Levy told the audience
that letters and kilograms We're pouring
into Albany against the widowed mothers
pcnsion bill. whose ostensible signers
may be narrowed down To one mantle
paid agent OF that charitable orcaniza-
ton
Mr. Hebbcrd read with sarcastic en-
phasis some letters Of appeal he had re-
ceived from the heads OF charitable or
CARNATIONS. letters which. ne said.
showed n very low ideal OF the rights
and needs OF the human beings con-
Cerned
Here is one" he said asking me to
help pay the rent of nearly blind
woman who earns g. week making
brushes. and who could the letter. says
feed and clothe her four children on that
s. week II she was helped out with the
rent. 4 blind woman To- do that. The
care Of such mothers is a duty the state
has no right TO farm out to organizations
with ideals no higher than those
The meeting was under the auspices OF
the Peoples Institute and the League Of
Mothers Clubs. The president and the
vice-president OF the league. Mrs. Miller
and Mrs Dawson were among the
speakers. Or John H. Elliott presided.
At the close Of the meeting resolutions
were passed indorsing the bill. and the
men and women in the audience were
urged TO write or telegraph in it, favor
to Governor Sulzer or their represents
tive in the Senate.