The Alaska citizen., 1915-02-08
CARELESS CHARITY

NOW that me ny SleIlCaI llllpui0' to aid the Belgians is subsiding somewhat. the matter can be looked at in more logical and cold-blooded manner. if it is proper 10 look a' charity in a cold-blooded manner a' any time.
 The people of Fairbanks have probably done more for the Beigians according to our population, than have anyone else but it is a matter . of some doub; if the money will go where il is most needed. Instead of having sent the money to the Bel cians. it should have gone 10 the l American Red Cross society. where it would have been wisely expended But as il is, il seems that the peo- pie of this city. as well as those of many other places. have been th.' victims of unGuarded emotions. and have been lacking in conservative judgment in the matter.
 ltIf dIt lNo ItcSoiiS NuN lIl'' money should have gone 10 the American Red Cross society instead or any other publication that uses i a thing of that kind for the purpose of advertising
 In the first place. the American Red Cross is sort of national institution. of which the President of the United States Is the eX-officio head. and it's agents and employees are in every city in the country. it is in position to know more about where the real charity is needed 1 than is any other organization in America. Thus the American Red | Cross sends its funds abroad when | they are needed there. or eXpends a part of it among the suffering people | of our own country
 In the second place, the feeding of the Beleians without some sys- tema'ic method is probably indirect. ly giving aid to the Germans. who are morally responsible for the wei fare of the Belglans, after the los, of their homes and stores IL is all nonsense to say that the Germans would let the Belgians starve. now that the Germans have taken theit country
 The only Belgians who would need our assistance are those who have been driven out of Belgium and are refugees in other lands Those peo- pie must be aided and the people of the United States are right in giving them aid The people who remained in Belgium. however. should be supported by Germany, the coun- try responsible for their losses, and that this would be done. provided other assistance is not forthcoming is certain, for the German people are just as humane and as quick to do
 
 class of people in the world
 Throughout our own country there are today many thousands of Ameri cans who are suffering as much as are the Belgians and have less chance for aid than have those un. fortunate foreigners, and the Ameri can Red Cross society is trying to do what it can to help all. without concentrating it's charity upon those abroad.
 Some of the leading American newspapers have started an effort 10 get needy Americans helped as we'll as needy foreigners. One of these is the New York Journal which Is handling the matter editorially.
 In a recent issue of the New York Journal editorial reference is made to a pathetic case in that city concerning a poor American mother who brought her starving baby to hospital for treatment and while the nurse was conferring with her. the child died Then the editorial continues in part as follows:
 Dearly beloved, generous Ameri. cans. sending your money abroad to those that are suffering physical and mental anguish IF YOU TOOK TROUBLE you might find some physical and mental anguish here at home.
 Christ spoke of the least of these my brethren Perhaps if He were here He would advise you to attend first TO YOUR BROTHERS. and afterward to your distant cousins over the ocean.
 Those that love advertising, and the dull ones whose pity can be aroused by nothing less than a dyna- mite blast. will continue to see their sick COUSINS three thousand miles away, and overlook their sick BROTHERS here at home"