New-York tribune., 1914-11-18
MAYOR URGES AID
FOR NEEDY HERE
Charity at Home, Then
Help for Belgians, His
Reply to Appeal.
RELIEF FUNDS FOR
SUFFERERS GROW
"Spugs," Eliminating Negative
in Name, Give Dinner to
Unemployed.

Mayor Mitchell believes that charity
begins at home. While not denying the
claim that the war sufferers in Europe
have upon the generosity of America
he aiiirms, in a letter 20 Norman Hap
good, Of the Committee of Mercy, his
| feeling that the destitute in this coun-
try should come first. His letter, writ
/ ten IN response TO a request from Mr.
/ Hapgood for the Committee Of Mercy
that he help the Belgians, is as fol
lows:
you ask me to help in some way the
| Committee Of Mercy raise funds for
the relief of distressed Belgians.
would do anything that !, as Mayor OF
/ personally, have the power to do to
mitigate the suffering of these unfortu-
nate people. Never has so strong an
appeal been made to the sympathy and
humanity of America. But, as Mayor
OF New York, ] feel that / must say to
you that We cannot close our eyes 10
the demands which are TO be made on
the more fortunate among US for the
relief of distress in the United States
/ IN the coming winter, particularly m
our great cities. This distress is due
IN large part 10 the disturbance OF busi-
ness and industry caused by the war.
"The various relief societies inform
me that the demands made upon them
Tor assistance are greater this year
than they have been in years, and tha.
they are not receiving funds in ade-
quate amount to meet these demands
My own mail confirms what IS other
wise reported 20 me Of the growing
distress.
contributions made 20 the Belgians
must be made in addition 10 the con
tributions necessary for the relief OF
poverty here at home. | feel IL my
duty TO emphasize this, and to urge
the citizens Of New York TO make spe-
cial sacrifices during this winter 20
minimize distress among the destitute
here in America.
Let US give to the Belgians gener-
oUsly, but let US not fail first to meet
with equal generosity the needs of
those fr whom we have first respon-
sibility, and on whose welfare Will
very largely depend Americas readl-
ness to meet her obligations now and
at the close of the war"
The Society for the Prevention OF
Useless Giving is contributing the an
nual dues OF the members this year
to help the unemployed in New York.
The dues are only a dime, but as there
are 5000 Spugs, there will be enough
dimes to help a number Of out-Of-work
girls. Mrs. August Belmont, the pres
ident, feels that this is the best way
to aid the Vacation War Committee to
do It's work.
The Spugs are also giving up their
annual Christmas party so the money
il would cost may be used for the des-
titute. There will be a tree, however,
Christmas afternoon in the parlors or
Vacation headquarters, 80 West 39th
St., and simple gifts will be distributed
by Mrs. Belmont 10 the Spugs and
their lonely friends whom they are
asked 10 bring. The society, by the
way. has changed its name. Instead OF
being merely negative, 10 rs now the
Society for the Promotion OF Useiul
Giving.
It's annual meeting will be held FRI
day in the evening at Vacation head-
quarters. The Spugs are active no"
in helping with the preparations Ior
the benefit performance Of Pandora s
ROY" 10 be given in the 7th Regiment
Armory December 4 and . 10 raise
fluids for the war sufferers.
The two relief units, consisting eacn
of three surgeons and six nurses, which
the Red Cross was to send TO Servla Dy
Uav of Greek line steamship sailing
Yesterday will not leave until saturday
and they will take the Red Star liner
Finland. 90 ..o- On
Contributions amounting TO $3.50 5V
were received yesterday by jacob h.
Scbif. treasurer of the New York state
Roard of the American Red Cross, for
the European war fund. Mr.. Schiti
himself gave 81 800. From the New
York "Staats Zeitung' came Sl,241
from thirty girls on Staten Island
$3.50 72. and through The New York
Herald Sl85. The total contributions
to date make $3.50, 800 80.
The Belgian Relief Fund now
amounts TO SlS2,S00, Of which S9,60S 73
was contributed yesterday. Among the
larger contributors were the MetropOl-
itan Golf Association, which sent
s5.OOO;Ar and Mrs. Edwin NJ. Bulkley
5000: Harold, Katherine, Lucy and
Edwin Bulkley, 500; Mrs. Mary Col
Inns. 500; H. T. W, 500; the sixth
contribution Of THE Providence Jour
nal" Sl05 so; Mrs. Jacob Langeloth
$3.50: James f. Lord, 500; Fanny a.
Smith, 500, and Charles +. Pope, 500
American Ambulance Hospital in Paris
included $4,000, through Mrs: f.
Branderee. of Boston, $500 from b. II.
Howell. SON & Co. and 500 from Olive
Pardee. These and others received yes
terday amounted 20 $5,587 73. The
total amount received TO date is Sl6l,-
260 70.
The fund for the relief Of women
and children in France amounted to
S31.91O. Yesterdays contributions
amounted to Sl,750, and included 5000
from Mrs. George A. Pope, 500 from
Mrs. /. G. Fenno, 500 from DR.. +. p.
Sprague, 81 900 from George A. Gard
ner and 5000 from Robert $. Clarke.
August Belmont, treasurer of the
Committee of Mercy, acknowledged
contributions amounting 10 81 300 l5.
Among them were SOIL, resulting from
the calico ball given on November II
By Miss Joan Sawyer; STA 10 from the
school children Of Charlotte, y. c.. and
$3.50 from Miss II. S. Ames. North
Eastou, Mass.
The third remittance Of the British
Schools and Universities Club. d check
for $500, headed the contributions 90
the Prince of Wales National Relief
Fund. James Barber sent 500 and
other gifts brought the days receipts
I'D to Ss93 so. The total 20 date is
S74.13i 53.
More than $500 came into the War
Children's Christmas Fund. Among
the contributions were 500 from Mrs.
Horatio Bigelow, 500 from the Min
erva Club and $50 from Seymour L.
Cromwell.
A charity ball viii be given at the
WaidOrf-Astoria on the night of De
cember 4 in aid Of the Italian Hospital
ard the American Red Cross Mrs
Charles Vincent Palermo will be host
ess. There will be dancing and card
playing. and Mrs. Ella Wheeler Wilcox
will give the dance Of the lilies in