Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-26
$4,000 TO SPEND ON USEFUL
MEMORIAL; DOESN'T KNOW HOW
Evening Ledger Readers Asked for Suggestions-Mayor
and Socialist Writer Give Their Views as
to Feasible Projects.

How would you spend $4,000 for a
memorial?"
This question has been asked OF the
EVENING LEDGER by n subscriber who de-
Sires the opinion of fellow readers as to
what form a memorial should take in
order to provide. with the sum named
tho greatest possible benefits to mankind
while yet perpetuating the names of de-
parted ones. 1t is easy to put $4,000 In
monument of stone and bronze, but 1t is
another matter to devise plans for last
ing memorial whereby ones fellow crea-
lures will be benfited for all time.
The request for information on this in
teresting subject was contained in an
anonymous letter which reads as follows:
"EvENING LEDGER, Philadelphia.
Gentlemen-Would some of your
readers suggest through the valued
columns of your paper a good way to
dispose of about fifty thousand $780,
0n0l, in lump sum as a lasting
memorial to departed ones (Jewish
preferred). BY giving this a prominent
space In your paper at an early date
you will confer very great favor on
a subscriber of the EVENING LEDGER
since Its publication"
The EVENING LEDGER has asked the
question of a number OF prominent men
and women who are leaders in the COM
merclal industrial, financial, political and
social life of the city. In each case the
question was put direct and the reply was
invariably the plan suggested to the per-
sons mind as the result of many years
experience In some particular walk of
life.
Mayor Rudolph Blankenburg was asked
to answer the letter.
"How would 1 spend $4,000 In a memo
rial?" said the Mayor. 81 would apply
II so as to aid the coming generations to
get a good start in life. I am not much
OF a believer in brick and mortar. A
building erected for any purpose may in
time be replaced or 1t may burn down
or some other unforeseen contingencies
may arise In years to come which would
mean the end of the memorial.
There are several worthy charities in
this city which have been organized for
the express purpose of assisting the chill
dren OF the poor. and $4,000 placed I'm
trust for them would be the means of
helping many a child along the road to
success and happiness. / would consider
the endowment of one of these institutions
the best possible way that could estab-
lish lasting memorial I would create
trust and place the money in the care
of the Board of City Trusts with absolute
power to distribute the interest annually
TO the beneficiaries.
This is exactly the way In which [
before | am through with this world.
Personally l prefer the Children's Aid
Society.
1T is a splendid institution and the
FUNDS expended by II brighten the lives
or thousands of poor children annually.
The Children's Country Week Association
Is another worthy organization which
would return such gift a hundredfold
In molding the character and shaping the
lives of many future citizens.
And there Is the Teachers Annuity
Fund, the good of which cannot be over
estimated. The teachers OF our public
schools exert a tremendous influence upon
the lives of our children and they should
have every encouragement and assistance
from u.s. They are underpaid and often
overburdened with responsibility
''All OF these institutions are a credit to
our city and they are deserving OF our
unstinted support. All can use more
money and memorial created by the
endowment OF one or more of them would
ever"
Charles w. Erwin, national committee
man of the Socialist party. writer and
lecturer on social and economic subjects:
IF had $4,000 TO spend for a me-
mortal l would endow a public forum.
with a chair of economic facts for the
purpose Of showing the people the inn
form their thoughts. l would provide for
the dissemination OF knowledge concern
ing the great vital questions which affeet
the daily life OF the people-the struggle
for food. shelter and clothing.
Mankind has only one tyrant. 1t Is
not a king nor ruling class. It Is iEno-
rance BY this do not mean lack OF edu-
cation. Education is not necessarily
knowledge, but IL may be and often Is
the most dangerous kind OF ignorance
educated Ignorance.
This Is particularly true regarding
that which We are pleased TO term eco-
nomicg. which merely deals with the way
In which we obtain the necessities OF NE.
! would have the people taught facts ana
trust them 10 make their own deductions.
from which they would act. / would have
no special pleaders for any particular
ism as a remedy for the Ills from which
the people suffer, but q recital OF the
facts In such matters as child labor,
long Workdays and oeeupatl0nal diseases.
There Is practically 40 liberty Of teach
ing, IA the true sense of the word IA any
endowed institution. except Ia archaeology
ana fhs dead ian5uagez. Profezaars can
be as radical e they Hant On lanmmies