The Washington times., 1916-12-13
DIR. VAN SCHAICK
DEFENDS CHARITIES
In Open Letter to Piney Branch
Citizens He Praises Action
Recently Taken.

Gentlemen-Tn the evening papers
for today there Is n report of n meet
ing OF the Piney Branch Citizens As
sociation held last night.
The suggestion was made, IL is said.
by \. T. Cameron that members OF
the association discontinue giving
aid TO tho Associated Charities he
cause that organization has favored
the location OF the new municipal hos
pital on the site purchased at Four
teenth and Upshur streets northwest
A motion was made and carried au'
thorizing c, y. McCurdy. IL 10 said, TO
suggest the same action To other citi'
zens' associations.
Has Taken NO Action.
Your association seems 20 be igno-
rant OF the fact that the Associated
Charities has never taken any action
whatever In the matter of the ioca'
tion OF this hospital. Your members
appear TO have confused the Asso'
ciated Charities. . private orsaniIa'
tion to help the poor. with the Board
OF Charities, q public body, appointed
by the President OF the United States.
and, under the Commissioners a part
OF the government OF the District OF
Columbia.
! hasten TO call your attention TO
last night strikes a blow at those In
the community least able 10 bear IL
ana at n worthy organization doing q
great work In their behalf.
The Piney Branch citizens' Associa-
hit men who are down and out and
unable to strike back. In order TO ac'
complish their purpose.
No more monstrous action has ever
been taken by any body OF our citi'
"a l. On NEFlA nd
phans. II Is on a par with poisoning
the springs and wells OF the enemy.
IL IL action unworthy OF upright men.
And that II was based on Ignorance
does not excuse It's utter asd complete
The Board Of Charities Is the organ.
ization which has been working for
years for this new Municipal Hospital.
This body and not the Associated
Charities is the orssnisation which
tunateIy this board does not depend
for Its existence on voluntary contri-
buttons OF the people. II cannot be
reached by boycott. j cannot say that
ties are Indifferent TO the opinion OF
the Piney Branch Citizens Associa-
ton. for the good opinion OF our fel'
low citizen Is priced by all OF us.
As 70 Good Opinisa.
II TO get that good opinion We have
to subordinate principle to expedi-
ency, we will get along without them.
The Piney Branch Citizens Associa-
ton does not represent the real oppo-
sition in this community to the Mu-
nicipai Hospital.
The Piney Branch Citizen Associa-
ton is simply a cloak behind which
the real opponents OF the project are
hiding. They welcome these citizens
as instruments to accomplish their
will. but II the Piney Branch Citizens
Association were not there, the oppo-
sition would still be in the neld, or
hiding in the bushes around the field.
The real opposition to the Munici'
pal Hospital Is In a part OF the Chris
tian Church, and a part OF the medi,
cal profession. 1t Is In sectarian and
other private hospitals who fear that
government subsidies will be cut OFT,
IN the community once gets a well
equipped Municipal Hospital.
AS TO the location OF the hospital
on the site purchased, the opposition
OF the Piney Branch Citizens Asso'
citation is as ignorant an opposition
as their attack on the Associated
Charities is an ignorant attack. =.
The tuberculosis Hospital, one unit
OF the plant already there, has not
been . drawback to the nsighbor'