Evening journal., 1918-01-16

There was great Joy at the head
quarters Of the Associated Charities
yesterday when notice was received
from an Insurance Company that set
tlement had been made In a case which
for more than six months had been
close 10 the hearts Of the workers Of
the organization. The Associated Charl-
ties keep faith with those whom they
help and make no reports which gives
names or Identities so that this stors
must be told without names.
Had the Workmen's Compensation
Act gone into effect a year ago instead
Of the FIRST OF this year things might
have been different because this Is a
case Of an industrial accident which
threw an unfortunate family wholly
upon the mercy OF the Associated
Charities. The husband and bread-wln-
ner Is 80 years old and Is probably
physically Handicapped for the rest Of
his lie There Is young wife and four
little children, one Of them an infant
In arms
He had been employed only a week
when he met with an accident last
June. Since then he has been In a local
hospital under treatment. Numerous X
Ray photographs have been taken
showing serious injury TO his spine.
His illness left his family entirely de-
pendent for material needs upon the
Associated Charities. The father had
been a hard worker and carried some
insurance TO provided against accident,
but settlement was slow. The Assoclat-
ed Charities made every effort 70 bring
about settlement and for long time
the best that they could get was an Of
fer OF $50 from the Insurance Com
pany. AZ times the temptation 10 &C
cept even this small amount was strong,
but since the charity workers were
supplying the needs OF the family they
insisted that this sum should not be
accepted. As a result OF their endeavors
settlement was lnally made yesterday
for $500.
The work OF the Associated chari-
ties does not end with the settlement
Of this case; Miss Hllda K Mills, the
general secretary, feels that u is her
duty 10 see thNt this money Is proper
ly invested OF that some arrangement
is made whereby 10 can pe put 20 ser
vice which will bring a steady income,
to the family.
II Is interesting 10 know that the
Associated Charities do not regard the
helping OF a family in a material way
as the important part OF their work.
They think that the effort 10 rehablli-
tate them means vastly more. Il Is also
interesting to note that the amount OF
money saved 10 this family-the $500
lis exactly equal 10 a years salary for
the secretary and her assistant who
had this one matter IN charge.
In these days OF unprecedented pros
perity In our city II Is often necessary
TO correct an erroneous impression that
is prevalent In the minds Of many that
there Is not great need Of organized
charity.
In many families The family budget
Is decreased rather than increased due
TO old age. sickness. widovhood, in
dustrial accidents, desertion etc. n Is
conceded that desertion has
Increased during this period OF prUs-
perlty. Sickness has also increased due
10 long hours OF labor, 10 living under
very much-crowded in5anltary condi-
tlons.
ID behooves US to accept the timely
Wdluluh Ol bl4o htDFAl " ANt pFN t''-t
the need OF social service Increases
rather than decreases In war times %
the above are generally accepted facts
surely in this city, one Of the prln-
clpaI war doomed cities Of the country,
the problems are intensified with very
limited fac litles with which to meet
them.
The maintenance Of all we'll approved
agencies for community well-belng II
a patriotic necessity according TO Rob
ert A.. Woods, Of Boston. President OF
the National Conference OF Social
Work. This assertion IS contained In q
statement issued from the Conference
at Chicago, setting forth
the relationship OF organized social
work 10 the prosecution OF the war
and to the period Of reconstruction af-
ter the war.
The approval by the Government Of
standard methods Of Social Work is In,
stanced by President Wood as powerful
confirmation Of the soundness Of the
on which welfare activities
heretofore have been based. The adop-