Cayton's weekly. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1916-1921, 1918-09-28
WHAT IS OUR RATIO?
(FrOm New York Age.

a paragraph in the introduction to the re-
port, written by Mr.. Max Hirsch, the pres
idcnt Of the association This paragraph
caused us to take out our lead pencil and
do little figuring. In closing his intro
ducton, President Hirsch said:
81 cannot praise too highly the efficient
work of our staff; to them no effort has
been too great, no detail too small. Thanks
is also due the ladies of the Social Serv-
ice Bureau for their assistance in the sur
vey of undernourished children, to the
members of the Efficiency Committee for
their intelligent criticism as well as con-
structive suggestions; but most of all is
thanks due the big-hearted, generous Jews
of Cincinnati, who responded so nobly to
the call recently made upon them. Some
say we are race, others people, but
the last two weeks have proven that we are
one big united family inspired by that great
Jewish ideal-Justce. Justice not only to
the poor, but justice to each other each
member of the community insisting that
if there was burden to be borne it would
be borne equally in proportion to the means
at his command Nine hundred new sub
scribers and over $4,000 in additional sub
scriptions! Ten per cent of our people Civ
ing at a ratio of nearly So per capita of the
Jewish population! Cincinnati still shows
the way!'
1t was the facts stated in the lines which
we have set off in black type that caused
us to exercise our rusty knowledge of
arithmetic. Ten per cent of the Jews in
Cincnnati-for we take it that there fig
ures refer to Cincinnati giving at ratio
OF nearly $500 per capita of the Jewish
population of that city! And for the sole
purpose Of charities among Jews. These
same people no doubt contribute to many
other of their racial causes.
Now let us speculate a little Take any
city in the United States with large col
ored population. Now take the most phil
anthropic and liberal ten per cent of that
colored population. Now speculate upon
what is the ratio to the whole colored pop
ulaton at which this selected ten per cent
gives to any fund for the general welfare
Of the race. Surely you will not begin by
putting it at $500 per capita Would you
be willing to say that it is as high as
so cents per capita?
10 make our calculations easier, let us
take the cities Of Washington, Baltimore.
Philadelphia and the Borough of Manhat-
tan in New York City. Each Of these COM
munltles have Negro populations that may
be put down in round numbers at 100000
Ii ten per cent of the colored people of
either of these communities contributed at
ratio of $500 per capita Of the whole
colored population, the sum contributed
would be $S00,000; that is, an average of
$50 for each contributor Of course we
know that no such sum was ever raised
But it ten per cent Of the colored people
of either Of these communities contributed
at ratio of eighty cents per capita of the
whole colored population, the sum contrib
uted would be $4,000; that is, an average
OF $500 for each contributor. We are
compelled to say that no such sum as that
has ever ben raised. Well, if ten per cent
OF either of these communities contributed
at a ratio of merely cents per capita of
the whole population, the sum contributed
would be $500 We leave it to our read
ers to say if any such sum as that has ever
been raised at one time for the general
welfare of the race, not by ten per cent
OF the colored population but by the whole
colored population of any city in the coun-
try.
Since $500 per capita was the ratio con-