The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-04-18

Exclusive Service the Survey Press Blu
reau)
Red Tape has been the making of
Dennis Rafferty,. Six years ago the lack
of it was almost his ruin.
Toward the close of the panic Of 1907
to 1908 rnisfortunes swooped down upon
the Rafferty, family from all directions.
Dennis lost his job and shortly therea after
his health. The dampness and sunlessness
of the house into which his lack of money
forced the family TO move did not benefit
the health Of the Oldest son, who was SUI
fering wit hadenoids. Mrs. Rafferty, felt
that she ought to do days work, but there
were Johnnie and Edith under school age
who needed her care.
Then the landlord threatened eviction.
The Raffertys sought charity, and this is
what happened to them in the absence of
red tape"
Conflicting Advice and Help
Mrs Rafferty's church paid one month
rent and promised two more The church.
the Sunday school of which the children
attended, said the house wasn't fit to live
In and pleaded with the Raffertys to move
Immediately \ relief society got RAT
ferty job on the very day that dispen-
sary which he was attending told him that
if he started work he would surely develop
consumption. The day nursery insisted
that Mrs. Rafferty, leave her children with
1t while she undertook days work. The
relief society urged her to stay at home
and take care of her children. The dis
pensary removed the adenoids from the
oldest boy, Dennis Prs, throat, and the
truant officer was sent TO find him because
he had been absent from school following
the operation.
All of the various well meaning charlta-
Bile agencies that knew the Raffertvs con-
tinued to work at cross purposes, giving
conflicting advice to the Raffertys until
at length the family was so dstraught
and bewidered that it finally gave up and
refused to follow anybody's advice. Raf-
ferty took the job that had been offered
him and the family got along somehow
or other, always however going further on
the way toward disaster.
A little less than a year ago Rafferty,
had become a consumptlve. Dennis. Jr
was jobless young corner loafer. john
ME and Edith showed every symptom of
their fathers disease. The Rafferty's
present home was even more unhealthy
than their former one. Furthermore,
church and charity alike had lost faith
In the family.
Nevertheless the Raffertys needed
1
Rafferty, again appealed TO her church.
Strengthening Out the Tangle
Here is where red tape" came in
the red tape of organized charity
which so many people seem to misun-
derstard. 1t got rid of the bungling
cross purposes of the well-meaning
agencies 1t substituted effective CO.
operate
This is what happened. The family
was moved to better quarters by a
charitable agency and the church paid
the rent of, the new home. The dis
pensary sent Mr.. Rafferty, to a SAINT
forum. Dennis, Jr., received Il Job from
free employment agency. Through a
settlement he was enabled to learn an
electrical trade at night The two chill
dren were sent to a tuberculosis pre-
sentorium by ohildrer's dispensary
Through a n+ghbor Mrs Rafferty, Sc
cured two days work a week and on
these days day nursery took care
of her little son. born since the lime
of the family's first misfortune
Now the Raffertys are on the way
to health, work and happiness. MIR
Rafferty, is almost well and there is
q position waiting for him. His son
will soon be able because of the train
Ing he has received in electrical work
TO get a much better job. The Raj
1ertys' home Is pleasant wholesome
little house and all things promise
well.