Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-04-10
VIEWS ON ORGANIZED CHARITY.

n RGANIZED charity continued in its application desti-
tue mothers kened to continued opae to relieve
pain by Judge Henry Neil of Chicago 'father of Moth
ers Pensions in an article written for the United Press
the other day. Judge Neil bitterly opposed to organized char
y and working with the ideaof having mothers pension laws
replace such work the needy Because of his prominence
this character of work. his views are naturally very interest
ing to all who concerned in this study of social problems
There are two ways treating pover-hey far apart
as wisdom and folly right and wrong success and failure
The by removing the cause The other is to ale
yae by sweeenng the results The first the method adopted
and advocated by the National Prohibition Leagueno only for
the treatment of poveryuene and adult but also in the
treatment of crime. 1t is the great modern idea.
1t was this idea which maredhe difference between French
failure and American in building the Panama canal The
French sought to cure by medical treatment the yellow fever
which killed its workmen the Americans destroyed the mosquito
which produced the disease This is the principle upon which
is constructed probation and mothers penonthe two great
prevenves of crime and poverty put in operation by leg
islative enactment
The other method of dealing with poertythat of tightening
somewhat the heavy load of the sufererfor hour day
month"; the emergency demand is the usual method of
charity Organized unorgned-a method good far
goes and perhaps in aid to
thing better but which of itself is like lost traveller walking in
boy riding hobbyhorse plenty of motion, but
progress.
is useless charity whether it be organized or morgan
ized claim the ability to the Of poverty in the
vast majority of To do this two things requisite
knowledge and Power To the knowledge of what necessary
to must ADDED the power to compel compliance
The charity worker finds every hand conditions which,
less removed emeded render utterly ineffective and noper
ave any attempt put end to the applicants dependency
but moral suason the only weapon available generally useless
to bring about such results threats made or the courts
appealed charity loses its beauty and significance and be-
comes hateful to It's beneficiary.
Herein lies the great advantage of mothers pensions admin
sered by court which possesses both the ability acquire
knowledge of the facts and also the power enforce its drec
tons Because of its limitations in this regard charity mat
ter how fully organized can never be more than temporary
expedenc in the treatment of poverty 1t is like the febelt
which sustans the who cannot SWIM until lifeb
cues him.
Nor it advisable that charity should aim to do than
this Long continued charity pauperizes and demoraes
phne to temporarily relieve pain valuable but steady diet
it not to be recommended Charity should therefore be vol
unay and spontaneous when the need presented Organized
charity which becomes professional only robs benevoence
of its cheest charm but suggests to the recipient false and
demoralizing hope of permanent assistance.