Perth Amboy evening news., 1914-11-19
To HOLD MEETING To
CEN1RAU|zE CHARITY
BY POOR COMMISSION
Greater Results can be OBJ
tanned by Commission Promi-
nent Civic Workers State $50
Meet Tomorrow With Mayor.

Steps have been taken for a con-
certed effort to provide for the city's
poor during the coming winter. Re-
alizing that the coming season may
cause suffering for many unable to
provide for themselves, Mayor Ferd
Garretson, other city officials and
public spirited residents have taken
action for the establishment of a sys-
tematic way of taking care of needy
people here. The executive has
asked twelve persons of varied ma
tionalities and from varied walks OF
life to meet with him at his residence
in High street tomorrow afternoon to
take up the proposition. 1t will then
be endeavored to establish the best
method of handling the proposition.
Centralize Charity Work.
Mrs. Adrian Lyon, who is chair
man of the Woman's Club civic COM
mittee and one who Is greatly inter
ested In the movement to assist the
poor, said, when interviewed this
morning: Il believe the only right
way to do this work is through a
buCu dS udS Uttu bu5
gested, as it will centralize the work
and assist every society that is help
ing the needy. | will be very glad to
support such a commission and be-
lieve the various organizations will
assist. | have been greatly inter-
ested In the movement since the sug-
gestion was made in the EVENING
NEWS and intended to see the may
or in regard to it,
Improve Poor Conditions. -
Mrs. George F. Reynolds, who Is
president of the Ladies' Auxiliary
to the st. Vincent de Paul Society
said; Our organization is an auxil-
larry to the st. Vincent de Paul So
ciety, which looks after the distribu-
tion of goods to the poor. | believe,
however, our society, as we'll as all
the others, has been imposed upon to
some extent by families drawing
support from different sources and |
think this condition can be greatly
mission such as has been suggest
ed"
Enthusiastic Over Project.
Mrs C. G.. Baldwin, who is chair
man of the local branch of the Red
Cross Society, was enthusiastic over
the idea of forming the commission
She said: II am sure the suggestion
is a very good one ana l am heartily
In favor OF 1t. Our society meets
the first Thursday of each month, at
which time the members sew and
mend clothing for the poor. Some Of
the members bring food and it is dis
tributed to the needy principally
through Miss Wiederstrom. | think
the commission would systematic
the distribution of all the societies
and thus accomplish much good"
Miss Alma C. Widerstrom, who Is
at present acting as overseer of the
poor and Wlo formerly worked in
conjunction with the late Overseer Of
the Poor Cornelius Lyons, stated 1nis
afternoon that she believed such a
cor Certed ehort as was planned
would do wtE. She declared there
was plenty of charity work to be
done and stated that the volume is
increasing weekly. She concluded
that there were, at present approxi-
serving of aid, which they were re-
ceiving. In this number of families
she judged there were nearly 500
persons, many of them children
Greatest need is found among moth
erless or fatherless children Miss
Widerstrom has at present on her
lists fathers with from two to eight
children each, whose mother has
died; likewise mothers with similar
number of children who are father
less.
Miss Widerstrom maintained, as
had Mayor Ferd Garretson and AL
derman John ]. Clark in speaking
about relief, that the greatest prob
lem was the providing of employ
ment. She is at present diverting
much of her energy to procuring
work for men and women. She
gained q mans release from the New
Jersey Reformatory today bv secur-
ing employment for him. His wife
and children were in need and 1t was
the opinion Of Miss Widerstrom that
he was not a criminal.
The list of fifty families referred
to by Miss Widerstrom does not in
clude numerous other cases wherein
she gives clothes, provides fuel or
does other singular acts to relieve
suffering and give comfort. She
stated that this year there were a
large number of persons in need in
addition to the customary quota who
come forword for s'd each winter.
Arthur Stern. of Stern e Companv.
one of the Leading merchants OF the
city. who has interested himself in
charity work here. today arproved in
convincing tones of the metho1 en-
ployed for handling the Door cues
tion here this winter. He maintsin-
ed that moDev and supnlies should
be kent to alleviate suffering here,
instead of being sent to foreign conn
tries, as was often done. In his
oninion the esta ablishment of p CEN
trail hodv for systematic method
of collecting and Distributing. in
order TO provide the greatest benefit
ayaiIab Bile, was inst what the citv
needed. He stood for at4 ut home
aTst.
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