The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1914-10-10
CHARITIES SOCIETY
DOING MUCH GOOD

Annual Meeting Reports Show Prog
ress Made by Organization During
Past Year--New Members Needed
BETTER FINANCIAL AID URGED
Labor Conditions in Bemidji Continue
to Improve is Finding of Mrs.
Welsh Mrs. Smith Now at Head
Few persons of Bemidji realize the
extent of good being done annually
by the Associated Charities, So
ciety organized here several years
ago for the purpose of assisting the
poor and those visited by poverty,
and tho lettering of social condi-
tions.
At the annual meeting of the as
ISOLATION, which has just been held,
reports were read which show the
progress made during the past year
and proves the merit of such an or
ganization and its real benefit to the
city.
Did Much Good.
During the year II. C: Baer, treas
urer, has turned over $500 to Mrs.
E. II. Smith, chairman of the relief
committee OF this amount, $3.94
remains, $296.O6 having been spent
in giving aid to the needy. Dona-
tons to the committee amounted to
y$l23.6O.
Fed Forty Families.
On Thanksgiving day, 1913, three
baskets of food were prepared and
sent families in need. At Christmas
thirty-seven baskets were prepared
and distributed among those in need
of charity, In addition, the report
of Mrs. Smith says, one patient was
sent to the hospital, permanent re-
lief is given to two families and tenn
porary relief was given to twelve
families last winter. Clothes were
furnished for sixteen families.
One to Girls School.
During the year but in one In
stance has the Rescue committee,
Mrs. r. F. Murphy. chairman, found
it necessary to report cases to the
state department, which resulted In
the commitment of one girl to the
school for girls at Sank Centre. Sew
eral cases were reported to the police
Labor Conditions Good.
During the year which closed in
October, 1913, ninety times was the.
Relief committee asked for assist
ance in the securing of employment,
but this year only twelve applied
for aid This is taken to mean that
labor conditions in Bemidji are bet
ter than ever before and is very en-
couraging to the association work
ers. Mrs. r. J. Welsh is chairman of
the committee. -<-. s.-s.s
New Members Needed.
1t is the intention Of the associa-
ton, announced Mrs. T. C. Bailey,
secretary, today, to begin a member
ship campaign during the next week.
The initiation fee and annual dues
are but one dollar and the enlarge
ment of membership means the
placing of the organization on a
much more substantial basis and the
granting of further opportunity in
the accomplishment of good among
! those in need. New members will
also place the association in a posi-
ton where it will be unnecessary to
solicit donations in the future, a
feature which has been one of tho
society's chief drawback.
Mrs. Smith at Head.
Mrs. E. H. Smith was elected pres
lident, and Mrs. T. J. Welsh, vice.
president, at the annual meeting,
both selections being unanimous.
Mrs. Thayer G. Bailey and H. c. Baer
were reelected secretary and treas
urer, respectively. The directors
elected are Mrs. A. Lord to succeed
Mrs. r. F. Murphy, and Attorney p.
e. Mcdonald to succeed himself. The
board of directors now comprises,
one-year term, Mrs. A. P. White and
T. A. Mccain; two-year term, Mrs.
A. E. Whiting and Attorney Thayer
C. Bailey; three-year term, Mrs. A.
Lord and E. E. Mcdonald
Compliment Backus.
High tribute was paid at the meet
ling to G.. D. Backus, the retiring pres
ident, who has conducted the bust
mess of the Associated Charities dur
ling the past year in a most satisfac-
tory manner.
There is balance in the treasury