Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-12-01
Woes by Our Tariff and EuroPe's War.

mast contributed a dime, uoildi, W
more to charity, can give only the
same amount, this year, then let
them bestow 1t upon Americas neeoy
bv all means. For never in recent
wears has existed more desperate need
than the nresent winter. In spite or
the strenuous claims of the Demo-
cratic press that times were not dis
tressing; that business is good anu
living cheap, it is nevertheless true
that the pinch of hunger and cold has
at few periods in our history hal
wider reach.
Charity SHOULD begin at home
and the first and greatest charity that
could be bestowed on the poor or the
United States today would be the
prompt repeal of the prevailing tariF
law and the reenactment of the law oil
1909 until such times as it could be
amended to meet changed and chang
ing conditions.
Our own country would have hun
dreds of thousands fewer destitute
people, and millions Of dollars more
to devote to foreign charity, If our
government had not bestowed upon
foreign workmen the work that should
have gone to provide for necessities
and comforts in American homes.
Charity SHOULD begin at home.
but we believe that in this country
are millions of people who can give,
without feeling the loss Of it. twice
as much this year as they have ever
given before-aid for home needy and
assistance to lift the awful burden of
misery that the war has inflicted
abroad.
Certain newspapers, magazine
writers. and even preachers have SO
ciumsily expressed themselves in
favor of looking out for local and ma
tive poor before sending our aims
abroad as to seriously endanger the
success of great humanitarian move
ments. OF course the promoters of
these organizations to raise funds for
relief Of Belgians and other war
stricken innocents in Europe. had no
desire to rob the needy in this coun-
try. They knew that in all reason
the poor of great American cities
would be cared for. and they expect
that in such dire conditions as now
existent in the world, some could give
more than they had in the past, by
denying themselves somewhat.
We have little patience with purely
selfish giving. If to share another's
burden is no cross to US where are
the boosted attributes of human love
and sympathy? We believe there are
hundreds of thousands Of people in
this country who have never opened
hearts or pocket books to share the
burden Of woe that always hangs like
a pail over sections of some Of our
great cities. and spreads out to
darken little districts everywhere. If
these people can be stirred by the war
or anything else, to broaden their
narrow view, and recognize that there
is something to live for that is bigger
than personal gain, we say let them
give for the relief of the Belgians
Then perhaps they will discover
that It is more blessed to give than to
receive. and they will buy a pair of
shoes for the child of a poverty
stricken neighbor.
The American Economist says:
Up to this time more than $4,000, 900
has been gathered in New York alone
for the various foreign relief funds a
shipload of toys is on its way %
cheer the children of Belgium who
have been made homeless by the war.
A shipload of bread and milk and
meat would be very welcome to the
poor children and the poor adults of
New York, Chicago and the other big
cities. But nobody seems to be
thinking of the wives and children of
the two or three million jobless
workingmen of the United States.
thrown out of their jobs by the Free
Trade Tariff.
Only day or two ago the papers
told OF New York family actually
starving. There were two grown-up
sons in the family, but they were I'M
able TO get work of any kind. A lit
tie OF the money that went to buy
that shipload of toys for children in
Belgium would have been Gerry helpful
to that family and to thousands OF
other American families similarly
pinched by restitution The New
York American Of November II,
speaking OF the great food of charity
that is pouring into Europe from our
country, said:
Concurrently with this wonderful dis
play Of charitable activity comes a con-
dition Of Industrial and financial distress
among our own people so pronounced
that no intelligent man can be unawa re-
OF its existence, or free from a certain
haunting sense of the burden il rightly
puts upon him Of assisting his neiehbors
at home
There is widespread unemploymen,
among wage workers, and in Certain
classes Of labor, notably among clerks IN
stores and Offices, compulsory idleness il
on the increase. This means immediate