Perth Amboy evening news., 1914-12-02
ELECT REYNOLDS
HEAD Of C|TY'S
RELIEF SOCIETY
Nearly 40 Public Spirited Citi-
zens Meet in City Hall and
Organize for Relief of City's
Poor This Winter.

Residents of the city headed by
Mayor Ferd Garretson formed So
ciety for the provision of relief to
the poor and destitute at public
meeting in city hall last night. Of
ficers were elected and arrangements
made to have two working commit
tees. Steps were taken to provide
an increase in the city's poor fund
and ways and means for the collec-
ton of money and distribution OF
fuel, clothing and the like were dis
cussed.
Nearly forty people appeared at
city hall, despite inclement weather
conditions, and showed a deep inter-
est in the humanitarian work. A
number of ideas and suggestions were
advanced for the benefit of the cause
and those present appeared enthusf-
astic concerning the prospects OF eff
ficiently dealing with the poor con-
ditions in the city. At the suggestion
of Sidney Riddlestorffer society
was formed and elections were made
as follows:
George F. Reynolds, President.
George F. Reynolds, president;
= Herman Ellis, vice president; Harry
Conard, treasurer; Miss Alma G. Wi
derstrom, secretary; Hugh Lynch, as
sistant secretary. 1t was left to the
president to name ways and means
committee and an investigating COM
mittee.
Mayor Opens Meeting.
Mayor Garretson opened the meet
ing shortly after o'clock and ex-
planned the purpose of the gathering.
He gave the history of the project
to date, telling of the first meeting
of interested persons held at his
home recently. The executive laid
stress upon the fact that there was
a large number of unemployed peo-
pie at present and he held that pro-
visions should be made now to care
for some of these who would be una
BILE to help themselves when the bit
terness of winter sets in. He de-
clared conditions were unusual this
winter and stated that while the poor
are always here, there are now more
than ever. Mr.. Garretson declared
that the contributions to date which
had come unsolicited were satisfac-
tory.
was no doubt but that many donors
had been imposed upon in the past.
The purpose of having central
committee, he maintained would
prevent this to a large extent He
told of one man giving substantial
sum to the general fund as the best
means of helping the really needy
and stopping the prom1scuous CIV
ing. In connection with this, Mr..
Garretson said he did not believe in
giving freely and he was not in favor
of making the organization perma-
nent one.
When the mayor said the meeting
was an open one and he would be
pleased to hear suggestions, he stated
1t might be appropriate to hear from
DR.. W. w. Hodges, in view of the
fact that he was the starter OF the
poor fund. DR.. Hodges asked II Miss
Widerstrom could do all of the in
vestigating that was necessary. He
declared that when winter weather
arrived there would probably be some
cases which would need immediate at
tention and he suggested prompt in
yestigation in such instances. Miss
Widerstrom stated that she was do
ing the investigating work for the
city at present, but she was uncer-
tain regarding the amount of atten-
ton that would be required later on.
Suggests Investigations.
Philip Siskind suggested that in
vestigations be made in the respect
i've congregations by the various min
listers, priests and rabbis. He held
that the first step should be to Sc
cure ample funds. He suggested that
efforts be made to secure free mo-
ton picture shows in theatres here to
raise funds and he declared there
should be a central place for the de-
livery of old clothes, which could be
used by the poor.
Continued on page 2.)