The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-12-15
CHARITIES SUFFER
UNJUST CRITICISM
UNREASONABLE CHARGES OFTEN
HEARD AGAINST SERVICE
ASSOCIATION.
sscretary sinks Yesterday vigorously
Denied That Preference In shown
In Relief Giving.

The Associated Charities or Social
service Association. as II h now called.
has many times TO suffer from unjust
and unreasonable criticisms
As an example" said Secretary A. Z
sinks, yesterday, "a lady. AT an after
noon tea. some time ago. told to the Ia
dies present that she had secured a ser
want from the Charities and that they
had charged an eNhorbitant fee which
was taken from the servant first wage
Another lady present contradicted the
made no charges for securing employ
ment. but was finally quieted in her de-
lady. The second lady was conscientious
and not seatisfied In her own mind to al
low the Charities TO he injured. possibly
nnjustly. and did the very best thing
BY going direct To the Charities office
and stating the case. 4 very few min
utes conversation furnished positive
from the Charities. but from a CONNER
cial employment office which. at the
present location Of the Charities offices
The first lady was convinced OF her err
derstanding would he hard to erase.
Perhaps one Of the most general
criticisms % the Associated Charities
ana at the same time one OF the most
unjust and harmful h. that OF religious
Preference In relief giving. and univers-
any ~ ~ made directly or Indirectly hy
those who persistently refuse TO inform
themselves OF the Facts. hut accept ru-
NOR or hearsay. continued Mr.. sinks.
Records are kept Of all relief given.
All funds received and their disposition
ested person 70 see from the Charities
records. which are always open to the
public. whether or not any preference
Resources Are Considered
-, ~ - an IRON bound principle Of the
CHARITIES To treat each case according TO
Its needs as FAR as resources permit. II
any emphasis h. placed upon religious
nelief II - with the Intention Of secur-
sources which would be most Interested
TO be sure IL might be POSSIBLE TO show
Two similar cases where one had re-
celved more relief than another. yet
there are many other factors which
might bring this apparent favoritism
and relief about one Individual case
might appeal at time when the Char
tiles had more available resources and
might be helped more abundantly than
when the resources were limited. again.
a special contribution might he secured
Tor one case and not for another on ac-
count OF some individuals interested In
the case, or again one case might re-
ceiVe treatment when the worker deal
ing with IL had more time 20 give IL
attention. The only fair way IN iudg-
and not base Judgment upon very Few
individual cases.
The Board Of Directors OF the Char
tiles Is composed Of persons Of the high
est standing iu the community whose
reputation should be- sufficient vouchers
Tor the principles under which the work
- conducted The Charities Board at
the present Is composed Of q Protest.
ants. Catholics and Jewish members
and all work together in "A splendid Spirft
Of cooperation and harmony
Many persons viii not be able per-
maps TO give financial aid TO the Chart
ties. Yet even these PEOPLE may be II
great aid to this importan work if they
VIII make effort TO inform themselves
and correct harmful Observation-Disclosures
The Charities do not hold that they do
not make mistakes. but do contend every
etfort viii be made TO reduce mistakes
"a he
ever possible. The work f. Of too much
value TO the community TO receive one
word Of unjust criticism for the prob
lens which must he contended with are
necessarily difficult enough"