The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1914-11-05
PAY TRIBUTE TO GEORGE ALLEN
Retiring President is Praised for Care
full Service Given Work During Past
Two Years-Report Shows Very
Much Accomplished in the City.

The annual election Of officers of the
board of directors Of the Associated
Charities was held Thursday afternoon.
George H. Allen, who for two years has
served as president with high eff
fciency and consciousness, retired
from Office and Hugh E. Barden was
elected to the presidency. Mr.. Allen
has earned the admiration and graft
tude of the board and OF the working
staff. He has steered this important
work of caring adequately and scientl-
fcally for the unfortunates of the COM
munity with clearsightedness, energy
and ability. To Mr. Barden, the newly
elected president, the board now turns
for direction, sure in its conviction of
Mr.. Barden s earnest interest and big
capability. DR.. J. j. McShane, Mr..
Allen s right hand man as vice presi-
dent, is succeeded in that Office by Miss
Emma Robinson Much of the work
accomplished in the year just closed
must be credited to the active and able
participation of DR.. McShane. This
fact is unanimously recognized by all
familiar with the work Mrs G. FL.
Gephart continues in the Office of
secretary and w. HI. Purnell was re
elected treasurer. Four new members
were elected to the board to fill ex-
pired terms. They are A. HI. Lance,
M. B. Ketcham, w. W. Vincent and
John III. Brine.
Work of the Year.
During the year just closed 1896 diff
ferent families have been referred to
the Associated Charities for treatment
of some kind. AS in medical care of
tressed, cure of long standing i'll can
not be accomplished instantaneously.
Some Of the families referred required
attention for but one month, others
for three or four and still others for
the entire year The average number
of families treated per month was 3d.
1t is usual to think Of work among
the poor as work among the foreign
born. Though this is true to some ex-
t; Mt, figures show that American born
lead in exceeding any other single ma
tionality. Nationality Of the families
treated was carefully recorded and ap-
pears as follows: American, ia;
Italian, 81; Polish, 80; German, "a;
Lithuanian, 33; Russian, 20; English,
Is; Austrian, Is; Scandinavian, Is;
Hungarian, IL; Irish, 6; Bohemian, 1;
Scotch, 5; Armenian, 4; Hollander, 3;
Finnish, L; unknown, 30. There were
but q families who were immigrants
within three years.
That the poor are not poor from
sliftlessness alone is vouched for by
the following table of disability made
| from records of those for whom atten-
ton was asked. In 139 cases out of
396, unemployment of the bread win
ner forced dependency on the families
of would be workers In SO instances
insufficient earning because of short
hours of labor prompted the appeal
for help. Acute illness occurred in A
families and death in 80. Twenty
eight eases Of chronic physical dis
abilityVar are recorded, IS accidents, 40
births. The scourge of epilepsy mark
ed 4 families, insanity and feeble
mindedness IL. Thirty-seven cases of
intemperance contributed to the de-
tendency of as many families. Old
| age marked 10 and tuberculosis 10.
| Imprisonment occurred in II cases and
! LEGITIMACY in 5. In 8 instances had
housing helped in the physical and
moral retrogression of family life.
Thirty three different organizations
in Kenosha, 21 organizations outside
Of Kenosha, POI individuals have re
ferred families to the Office. Two
hundred and eight applications have
come directly from the distressed
themselves.
The need of the present is an urgent
one. The unemployment situation is
driving to the Associated Charities
scores who never before accepted
charity and who are still eager to work
for their maintenance. Your active
cooperation is solicited by the board
of directors who will depend on you
as individuals, on church and fraternal
organizations, on unions and labor So
cieties to help meet the big emergency
of the present and build wisely and
humanely for the future.