The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-02-20

praCt1Ce OF Selun& Ol0 ClOtne9. we ger
in more of q certain kind of clothes
than we need to supply our families.
This IL taken to the rummage room.
Certain families who find 1t difficult
to clothe their children and yet whose
pride prevents them accepting charity
come here and with a dollar or 30 get
clothing which with some working
over saves a bill from five to ten dol
lars at the store. However, the sale
had drifted away from this idea very
largely and last week the board voted
to abolish it. The service rendered by
it will be largely supplied by another
relief both direct and indirect which
the association gives would more than
equal the total cash expenses for q
year.
'Ounce Of Prevention" Etc.
On the other hand there is a sound
argument in favor Of overhead ex-
pense. We believe dollar spent in
helping q man out Of his poverty is
in his poverty. Roosevelt says there
is only one kind Of charity and that Is
the kind that helps . man to help him.
self. Here as everywhere the old
adage Is true that an ounce OF pre-
vention il worth q pound Of cure. In
the last two weeks I have spent per-
haps five dollars worth Of time on q
family. 1 have got them in q better
house for the same money, and he
works out three dollars of 1t each
month. He has or VIII soon have his
shop in a better location I think and
a month for It. 1 think he will be
eight or ten dollars a month better
off at least and the figures do not
show one cent OF relief to him.
Poverty Often Disease.
Investigation Il absolutely necessary
In modern charities. first to prevent
imposition. and second to do construc-
tive work. We believe it as much q
part of true charity to get family on
their feet As to help them when down,
and to do this requires treatment
Poverty is In many cases disease and
to prescribe for 1t without investigat-
ing IL as foolish as to give medicine
without diagnosis. The extent OF in
vestigation necessary In each case
varies Just as does the physfcian's d.
agnosfs. An emergency case 10 al
ways relieved on Investigation, unless
1t can be made at once. Indiscriminate
giving and haphazard methods are the
easy ways in charity or business. Eff
ficfent charity and successful business
require time, patience and systematic
effort.
The people who call on charity fall
roughly into five classes. First the
sick, aged and infirm. Second, the in
capable. ignorant. stmple-minded.
Third, the lazy, Indifferent, 8htftleES,
don't-care folk. Fourth. the unfor-
tunate, unlucky, poor manager. Fifth,
the able-bodied, willing worker out Of
q job. The only other important cause
Of poverty is domestic trouble, wife
desertiOn.
Some Don'ts for Topekans.
Don't give money to the man who
strikes you on the street; don't give q
man q handout when he comes to
your back door unless you give him
something to do. Cooperate with the
Provident association. Report cases to
the association or to the confidential
exchange recently established in the
Y. w. C. A. building. Cases are listed
ut the exchange and duplication in
giving il avoided. Ono OF tho Topeka
papers contained an article about .
person who was looked after by six
teen different organizations and indi-
viduals. This Is demoralizinH. With
proper cooperation there should be
no duplication.
A great need in Topeka is more
work for those who are out of en-
p1oyment. We are going to try to get
the county to give out orders on our
wood yard for fuel next season; this
would create more work. We want to
make more of the industrial feature.
Editors Note.-The foregoing ar
ticle IL taken largely from an address
| delivered this week by Secretary
Floyd before the members Of the Cur
rent Topic club Of the Central 7. M.
C. Al