The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-16
- I'VE HUNDRED MILLION V DOLLARS was the total sum

A of money expended for world benefactions in 1915. It is even hard to imagine such a sum of money, and this particular sum has two distinct conditions that make it interesting: $75, 5,000,000 of this was given to war victims, and over half of the entire amount was given by women. The great amount of money given for the use of humanity in distress shows the human sympathy and generosity when the days were dark, in the dark est year the world has ever known.
 'It was a Struggle, but we all kept going" was the remark heard from almost all social workers in every ac- tivity in Birmingham and it was be- cause 1915, with it's question of un- employed, with it's awful poverty, with its lack of money for contributions, and the loss of the citys appropriations which amounted to $17,656.2O in 1914 plus the direct relief given which was s1500, made matters almost too diff ficult to face. But in spite of it all, the work went on Not one institu- tion closed it's doors; not one person that should have been helped was turned away.
 New emergency work sprang into being and was carried on as long as necessary, such as the woodyard for unemployed men, the municipal lodging house, or dormitory, the womens aux Hilary to the Associated Charities the emergency relief committee and their work that came after Streamer Day, and many smaller works by private societies and clubs Hundreds of dol lars was spent by individuals for per sons that did not have to apply to the charities but needed to be aided over the dark days,
 Every place was overcrowded, and all needed money, but the work was accomplished and the generous public. though drained to the dregs, found some means of continuing to help. The sting of charity was forgotten and Sympathy" was the watchword. Bir- mingham has passed through a crisis and has had the satisfaction of know ing that they have been able, through its social agents, to care for all.
 Individuals worked co-operatiVelY, churches and church societies did more than their share; private institutions had open house; civic bodies poured out their stores The city, crippled as it is, undertook to aid when it could we are seeing the dawn of new day, which altogether dispels the gloom and spells hope and work.
 To be sure there are still empty mouths to feed, still many unemployed, still some cold, but not so many as in 1915, and these can be more easily helped.
 SOCIAL WORK FRS
 For the first time in the history of the Social Workers association. they have been able to find means of get ting together, and through sympa thetic understanding and cooperation, to do real constructive work. This organ- zation should be the fountain head of all social service work in Birmin gham. Here the individual problems should be aired and discussed for the benefit of all; here is the clearing house for the duplication of work; here, the bud get of the citys social work should be known: here is the logical place to find a public welfare board out of the ranks of the real working force: here is an active body of real people doing the real work in the best way, trained people making social conditions a study, doing the work unselfishly, un- tiringly. and understandingly
 The Sociological congress, though q state wide institution, is a great fac tor for public good, discussing sub jects to make better understanding and wider views. In this congress are the Representative men and women of the entire state. all working for the bet terment of Alabama.
 LEGISLATION 1
 Alabama has seen, through the ef- forts of it's social workers of Brming- ham and other places, new le9iSlatiOn 1 that will in a great measure, assist in the welfare of the state The new child labor law was obtained and all though it leaves something still to be