The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-02-10
Organized Effort
For Relief Work.


Journal learns OF some case of dis
tress or restitution, which is in turn
reported to the probation officer, the
Salvation Army. the Women's Relief
Association, or some church society,
but these appeals continue to come in
with very appalling regularity and it
seems to be more and more apparent
that there should be some more con-
certed effort made to reach these
cases. to investigate and to help, in
so far as possible.
A man In position to know, who
makes house to house visits in the
pursuit of his business. said few
days ago:
There Is a great deal of suffering
In Pensacola among those who have
formerly been tolerably well-to-do. If
there could be some organized eff
fort to meet these conditions just
now, it would be great thing for
many who do not ordinarily need to
ask help as well as the perenniaIly
destitute"
In almost every town in the south
they are going about relieving condi-
tions induced by war and the conse-
quent depression OF business In a
practical way.
In Chicago there are fifty thousand
men out OF work. In Atlanta they
are making special efforts to care for
their poor and calling on the Atlanta
Spirit to help. In Mobile recently this
matter was taken up and publicly dis
cussed.
Pensacola probably has as few needy
as any city in the world But the fact
still remains that the poor we
have always with us, and that there
is suffering among them.
Yesterday it was reported to The
Journal that in school near Mag
nolia Bluff many children are going
to their lessons each day barefoot.
And 1t was suggested that It might
be a good thing for someone to get
up an entertainment. charging small,
sum, to raise money to pct shoes on
these children.
This was good suggestion. But
this Is not enough. The entertain
ment might put shoes on some or all
Of these children, but If they are 50
destitute as to need shoes, they need
other things equally, and the one en-
tertainment would help only for the
one period of want.
There should be some organized eff
fort to meet this need. and other
needs.
Pensacola has met other harder is
sues than this bravely and fearlessIy.
During the last epidemic here, now
relegated to the far past, men and
women rose heroically to the occa-
sion and went out to help and to sue
cor. But this was done through or
ganized effort
When Pensacola was visited by tho
big fire, people lent ready and sub
stantial aid. When the big storm Wis
tied this city. there was a wonderful
cooperative spirit demons trated men
and women working shoulder to
shoulder, to meet and overcome con-
ditions through organized, effort.
Today there is the same spirit in
Pensacola. The same readiness to
help. And there is plenty to helm
with. There is enough in Pensacola
for all to be kept from suffering and
want. 1t is not the spirit which is
lacking. 1t is the effective organiza-
ton which is needed.
The various societies in the city
have competent executive heads, and
IL these societies could combine and
all work together. not only to relieve
the suffering but to overcome the con-
ditions by furnishing employment,
wherever possible, the work would be
even more effective than it now is.
II has been suggested that 1t
might be good idea to open head
quarters on upper Palafox street.
where there is more or less pedestrian
ism during all hours of the day, to put
competent and well known women
Identified with church or philanthro-
pic work in charge. and thus organize
for the investigation and relief of
needy cases, to be reported to the
probation officer or others, each
church and philanthropic society in
the city to be on this committee. The
Salvation Army. Probation Officer
Paulsen. the school teachers and the
Sunday school workers, who come in