The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-08-30
WHILE BREADWIN-
 NERS ARE AT WAR
Canadian Patriotic Fund Helps
 Soldiers Families.
c. sEYMoUR BULLOCK
Exclusive Service The Survey Press
 4 Bureau.)


 { The strange shadows which a year ago were so suddenly outlined along the horizon had scarcely shaped them |selves into the grim, gaunt figures of the worlds most awful war when the roll of drums and the blare of trurn- pets announced an army of volun- teers ready for service across the seas. But not more swift was the mobiliza- ton of troops than was the formula | ton of plans to provide against dis 1 tress or want on the part of the wives and children or other dependents of the men who were responding to the call of the King.
 From the very first it was seen that | the world had wakened to the fact that war is a fu1l-grown mans game. There is nothing of glamor in the dull khalzi-sans bright braid and gold buttons-that appeals to the beard -i less boys
 | Fathers At The Front 4 Only men could realize that two an- tagonistic principles had at last come to the grips, and no one was surpris- ed; when the figures showed that up wards of 40 per cent of the enlist ment were of married men,, fathers of I children, or men having others depen- dent upon them for Support. Some of the larger corporations, and some in dividual employers of labor. follow ling the example, of the government, announced that the names of men who went to the front would be carried on the payroll at full rates, while others I arranged to carry at half pay such men as were married or were the Ichief supporters of parents or other T relatives. Relief funds were inaug- Qrated in different cities throughout the Dominion and needed assistance IWas ably and promptly given.
 But it was soon seen that something tmore inclusive than anything that could be done locally would have to l be devised if there were not to be seri- Il ous overlapping in some quarters and l great distress in others Ever alert to the needs of the Dominion, the Igovernor- general called for a confer fence of representative men from the tdifferent provinces and asked their CO., I operation in the development of a plan to meet the conditions in a way | befitting the great cause at stake. Out of this confidence came the Ca nadfan Patriotic Fund which was at IoTlce incorporated by a special act of Parliament and now has branch socie- ~I ties everywhere throughout Canada, and the CO operation of the Cana dian Society of New York and the British InaperiaIs Relief Fund of New Eng land.
 The Family Relief Plan
 By this cooperation, funds are available for families of soldiers of any nationality residing in Canada. Its aid reaches the Russian reservist from the Northwest or the Serbian Ireservist from the Provinces; it will Iendeavor to keep from want families Iof Canadian men who for any reason go, into any of the allied armies in stead of into one of the Canadian con Itingents,
 There is nothing intricate in the working. out of the plan! The central I committee is the custodian of all funds Each month the several local relief societies send to the central l.eommittee estimate of money that will be needed to meet the demands of that particular branch, for the en- I5suing thirty days. Upon this requisi- Fl ton, the sum askedsis paid-to the local z i.treasurer through whom the local re- SI lief committee works it's disburse-# Enents This menthly estimate is
 made upon a stan dardized form. each. Ittem of which is carefully scrutinized sIsby an expert accountant under the 6i-I 4 rection of the auditor general of ICanada. Not only are the& different
 sums of money to be paid carefully studied, to see that the local commit Etees have been neither niggardly nor fover-g generous. but the name of each Iindividua1 soldier is checked by the
 latest report Of the Department of active servicea
 fTha Canadian government makes a Isssep paration alIowance," effective from 1.-the day of enlistment. for married fl men ana TOT unTndrT1ed men sWnOe nave
 others dependent upon them This aIlowance varies from $20 to $40 or E$6O. a month, according to the rank l!of the man, from private to Heuten- ant-colonel. This separation allow ance. together with any regular in-s come there may be from other sources, is taken into consideration when de- ternnining what supplemental amount shall be drawn from the Patriotic Fund.
 Cost of Living Considered
 The prevailing cost Of living in the different sections of the Dominion also enters into the question as to the
 amount that shall be appropriated from the general fund of the society. : For instance, in this part of Canada | (Ontario), it has been found that for ! the average Canadian fanlily-a woIn- 2 an and three children, aged respective
 ly 2, 8 and yearsH$1.50 a; day, $45 a month, is the minimum requirernen ents [ for anything like decency' in living. < < For sections to the north and in the ' far West this would be inadequate : and larger grants are given to each : : family.
 It is also provided that should a :, soldiers familiy be found in acute : need. through illness, for example, special emergency relief shall be - granted even before the, official in t vestigation is completed entitleingl the : family to draw upon the Patriotic y Fund. Ladies' Auxiliary committees 2 take special supervision of such cases e At the same time, realizing that visit : ing and cateehizing may easily sbe l. oyerdone, the sensible warning is in Q c1uded in the report that non-officta1 ] fluous activity behalf of soldiers , wives"
 : Of course, there have been found t some snags and resulting in delay and