The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-11-24

1t will take thousands this winter to
support families out OF work in Rich
mond, according to figures obtained
today from charity workers by the Pal
ladium.
Factory reports show 1,10O less men
at work this winter than two years
ago.
The total needed represents the
sum individuals and family heads out
of work will need to support them
selves and dependents during the win
ter months if they are not provided
with work
Investigations proved. and charity
workers one and all asserted with en-
phasis, that there is place in Rich
mond for every dollar which citizens
are willing to give for poor relief work.
Cases Concealed.
Not only have many cases been re-
ported to the central charity bureau,
but there are scores Of cases which
neighbors are supporting and there
are many families that now are receiv-
ing aid of which the central bureau
knows nothing.
Charity workers, interviewed today,
admitted that they cannot reach many
INDECENT families because the family
heads under ordinary circumstances
never ask charity, and now, in times
of stress and trouble, are too proud to
report need. Many such cases are
being aided by the neighborhood in
which the poor family resides.
If the LOO men reported as idle
were single, an estimate Of IS a week
to sustain life would be rated a fair
one. This would mean $1,000 needed
to supply the needs of only that many
unmarried men.
Need Of Money.
But considering that Of the 100
men who were working two years ago
and are idle now. many are family
heads with wives and children depend
ent upon them, it will be readily seen
that the stupendous figure set by
charity experts as the sum re-
quired here to support this vast army.
Is not an exaggeration.
On all sides, charity workers say
there is an opportunity in Richmond
to help the poor and that thousands of
dollars are needed to meet the local
situation.
NeIohborIy Help.
The highest type of charity is
neighborly help" John Melpolder, sec
retary of the central bureau, said to-
day. That is the kind of charity we
want to encourage. To be successful
it must be done quietly. That an
enormous amount of that kind of
charity is going on in Richmond now,
we feel sure from the nature Of the
calls We have. Unless neighbors help
ed neighbors, when SO many man are
not working, we would be swamped
with calls"
Individuals who are working either
under the direction of the central
bureau or from their personal motives,
say they have found the same con-
ditions as the bureau director cites.
"A surprising fact is that relatives
help relatives less than neighbors help
neighbors." said Mr.. Melpolder.
Others Need Help.
Mr.. MelpOlder and his workers de-
clare that there will still be few hun
dred families in Richmond after the
total of all charity aid is figured, who
help is given through some other
medium than organized charity.
Small community grOcers are sus-
tanning many families in Richmond on
long credit account. investigators de-
ClATo, DuL Tue STOCoIS al Z u
think of their customers as receiving
charitable support.
The grocers who are acting as the
good Samaritans in their communities
without the knowledge of any one but
their employees, say they have accounts
running for three months or more to
customers who paid bills weekly be-
fore and on whose combined trade
they counted for their own profit.
Help Customers.
"This practically MEANS" grocer
told a charity solicitor. that it is our
own money which is going out to sup.
port some of our customers. We find
it difficult to get time extensions from
the jobbers because they do not come
; in close touch with the man out of
work, as the grocers do. We are able
to keep up. but in many groceries you
will find that the stock is run down
and the owner barely holding his own
; because he is giving unusual credit to
his faithful customers"
Another corner grocer said he in
tends in the future to report some OF