Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-03-13
POVERTY IN BUFFALO

The Charity Organization Society
of Buffalo issues a pamphlet on the
cover of which is given this informa-
iton: Poverty is growing Less in
Buffalo" Immediately below, intend
ed apparently as an explanation are
the words: 1.-The value of skill in =
Charity"
The statements are interesting 1t
is regrettable that the society after
making so startling a claim has neg
lected to publish anywhere in the 10
pages of its pamphlet the manner in
which it succeeded in reducing pow
~. Unless the lessening of pow
e. ~ is due to local conditions for
which the society is not responsible
it must lie. dle to methods which can
be initiated elsewhere. There are SO
many places where poverty is. increas-
ing that it seems strange not to haze
occurred to the Buffalo society to pub
Iish in detail just how it is lessening
poverty. Similar societies elsewhere
would surely be grateful for such in
formation, to say nothing of the great
benefit to humanity. Unless the meth-J
DDS pursued are patented and the i'm
itators liable to prosecution for. in.
fringement, the Buffalo society ought
to explain. at once that poverty may
bM reduced all over the country. =
The claim that poverty has been
lessened is based on the fact that
in the year 1911-12, 2,541 families
were dealt with by this society and
1868 of these families were aided by
the City OYerseer of the Poor with
relief amounting to $43,860. Thirty
years ago, in 1885,, when the popula-
ton of Buffalo was 10000, or one
third of what it is today, these fig
ures we're practically the same" Such
figures show satisfactorily enough
that much smaller proportion has
been cared for by charity organiza-
tons but does not necessarily Imply
lessening of poverty. 1t certainly
does not prove that anything done
by the society has lessened it.
Extending charitable aid to persons
unable to help themselves can not re-
duce poverty. 1t has failed to reduce
it outside of Buffalo,. After consuming
aims the individuals need help again.
Finding positions for those unable to
secure them through their own efforts
can not reduce poverty. 1t only gets a
job for one man which some other
man would otherwise haYe got. 1t only
transfers distress from one individu-
al to another. The Buffalo society
speaks of using both of these meth
DDS. but if it wants readers to believe.
that it has lessened poverty in that
way it must pardon them for being
skeptical, especially when they have
seen the same methods tried else
where.
Has the society done anything to
make it easier for man in search
of job in Buffalo to get it without
dispIacing some one else? If so, then
it's claim to have Iessened poverty is
valid. Has it done anything to en-
able Iaborers to get more equitable
share of what they produce? If so,
then 1t surely is not combining its
efforts TO charity. Has it done any
thing to prevent the owners of Buff
faio land from appropriating in in
creased land values all the benefits
resulting from the work 1t is doing2
If so, then it may truly be cIassed as
aff anti-poxerty association. =.
H But there is nothing in its pam
phlet to show that it is doing any
thing along these lines. There is only
its claim substantated by nothing
more than comparative figures of the
families it has relieved.