Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-09-17
SOCIAL WORKER
OFFERS REPORT
CONTINUED From Page ID

port. The women whose names ap.
pear on the list Of directors are taken
from every ward in Ottumwa and the
men represent both the city and
county.
The board Of directors Of the asso-
ciated charities of Wapello county Is
as follows:
John D. Newell, Agency; N. U.
Lewellyn, Eldon; o. H. Seifert, Eddy
vile; Geo. Dickens, Farson; VIM.
Abegg, Kirkville; DR.. d. T. Rambo,
Chillicothe; Henry Fritz, Blakesburg,
and Mrs. Chas. e. Wright, Mrs. E. P.
Barton, Mrs. Chase Bannister, Mrs. II.
w. King, Mrs. ]. g. Hutchinson, Mrs. s.
p. Hartman, Mrs. Mae Emery, Judge
Francis M. Hunter, A. ]. Stump, T. D.
Foster, ]. Wormhoudt, J. ]. Smith. J.
w. Lewis, w. T. Hall, Walter Minnick,
w. J. Donelan, F.. A.. ,Tisdale, H. s.
Merrick, Rev. e. w. F. Holler, Rev.
Father James Foley Rev. Malcolm
Dana, J. B. Sax, DR.. M. Bannister,
Samuel Mahon, Samuel Redman, L. T.
Crisman, w. T. Harper, Geo. B. Sim
mons, ]. F. Powell, all Of Ottumwa.
Ex-ohicio-Patrick Leeny, G. E. Nc
Daniel, H. ]. Bremhorst, H. B. Patter-
son, ]. r. Stodghill, J. w. Hall.
Makes, Report Of Survey.
The report of Miss McClenahan
which is very comprehensive is given
quite fully as follows:
One Of the activities most intimately
related to the business prosperity and
the commercial development of city
Is its treatment and care Of the pov-
erty problem. At first thought it
seems that the two are absolutely sep
arate. We have so long been accus-
toned to think of charity as the mere
distribution of aims. 1t has been the
easiest way to put the needy poor into
class by themselves, to leave them
out of consideration as far as the bust
ness interests are concerned, except
for q generous subscription to some
favorite charity.
The question of the treatment OF
the family forced to ask assistance has
been left too largely to chance. This
has been the general attitude all over
the country. Business men are wax
ing up to the fact that the social we'll
being of the people in the community
Is a distinct business asset. They
have come to recognize that bad hous-
Ing. unsightly and ugly streets, poor
lighting, dirty and neglected alleys,
Inadequate water supply, and deficient
sanitation are detriment to the build
ing up Of trade. They have also be-
gun: to appreciate the fact that large
numbers of dependent poor, the pre-
valence of tuberculosis, repeated cpl
denies, are drain upon the city. They
lre not only drain but q drag upon
the city's progress. For these reasons
commercial clubs, retail dealers asso-
Citations and other groups of progress
yive men and women are asking the
questions, How are our poor cared
tori" What are the conditions under
which they live?" Out Of these in
uuiries has grown the movement for
The physical and social improvement
Of the town. With the demand for
Improved municipal conditions comes
the demand for the business admins
ration of charity.
Business administration of charity
does not mean that charity becomes
sold. heartless, impersonal thing. It
means putting into operation the prin-
eiples Of organized charity. 1t means
the employment of trained workers
who shall be the kind, far-seeing
friends of the poor, who will visit them
In their homes, relieve their needs, ad-
rise with them as to possibilities, and
ltart them on the way towards self
,upport. Trained charity workers do
more than simply relieve temporary
aeeds. They make an investigator
that may reveal no real need, or may
uncover definite course that has
forced the family into the need FOR as
Instance. When the underlying cause
has been discovered, the trained work
II Immediately sets to work to re-
move it. One society expresses the
spirit Of organized charity In this way
-"Do more than help the poor In their
poverty, help them out OF 1t"
Merge Present Agencies.
The business administration Of char
Nv includes the coordination of all ex-
(sting social agencies in order to avoid
publication and to concentrate effort.
It's results are proved over and over
again In reestablished family 1nde-
pendence, in the closer working TO-
Kether OF all social agencies, IN the re-
luction Of the number of families re-
luiring assistance and in an actual
money saving.
Ottumwa has number OF different
agencies for the aid of needy families.
There is first of all the provision made
81 Wapello county through the over
teer of the poor, widows pensions,
lhe county home, and the soldiers re-
hef commission. The county bears
he major part of the expense OF poor
relief. The private agency which has
had a down town Office and regular
bald worker is the Open Door mission.
rhe Open Door mission has not only
conducted a mission for religious pur-
poses, but it has ministered to needy
poor families, supplying them with
clothing. and when necessary with
groceries, and coal It has helped Sc
cure employment for those who were
out of work. It has cared for the
homeless man, the man out of work,
the man we often call the tramp. Last
winter an average of 120 men q month
were cared for. The Open Door mis-
sion has filled big place In the CON-
munity.
Much Good 10 Done.
A. Christmas. the Elks have been