The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-01-19
NO CHARITY FOR LOAFERS.

up too much of your valuable space
ana nave written more than our
share. but as Mr.. Walsh seems to have
misunderstood us we will ask YOUR
Kind indulgence a bit more. as we
were trying to discuss a condition
which is of general interest.
Mr.. Walsh's feelings seem to have
been hurt, which we regret very
much, as we had no desire to hurt
ahyone's feelings and we hope that
when he reads this he will excuse us.
MI. Walsh writes chapter Of per-
sonalities which has very little, OF
nothing, to do with the subject. For
instance, we made no hint of a white
boot-black. We will state our sub
Ject again. We make the statement
that there is an ever increasing popu
lation of shftless people in Sumter
and every year more 60 to ioin the
thrCng. They are OF both races. Some
OF them do not seem to ever work
some are engaged in business tina.
cannot possibly make n living. some
are constantly changing jobs. Then
there are the professional beggars
also some who move from town to
town for the purpose Of getting what
they can. We have no desire O,
space to enumerate all Of the ways
OF trying to make a living without
work. as all of them are well known.
This class OF people have increose,
out OF all proportion to the business
population Of the city, and from wha,
we read the same thing is going OF
generally in cities. This class cor
classes If you wish to be particular)
are public nuisance. They keep vi
the gambling dens. the blind tige!
industry, the houses of i'll fame and
many other forms Of vice and law
lessness, besides depressing the price
Of honest labor to a point below the
possibility OF n living, and also in
creasing the poor Of the city to the
point Of their being q tax on the on
tire county. and also bringing disre.
pute upon charity organizations. We
do lot know what sort of discussion
MIR. Walsh had with those farmers
but we have heard this thing dis.
cussed for quite awhile. unfavorably
at that.
Mr.. Walsh gives q twist that we
never intended to our remarks and
gives an illustration Of widow: we
do rot doubt her needing help, but
because she did, is that any excuse
for all the families who want to
make a living easily, to pick up
themselves and leave a place where
they can live to go where there is ne
possibility Of their making Il living:
We think not, and they do not go
with that intention; they do not want
to work and want just anything t.
keep from it.
Mr.. Walsh seems to dislike our
luotatations from Solomon and Paul
Mr.. Walsh mentioned Solomon, SO
we gave his opinion. Paul, we think
must have had an unusual share Of
charity, but he knew the difference
between charity and "deau beat"
1t is certainly very strange that there
should be SO much idlencss on tho
streets, and so many poor people
suffering, while laborers are scarce
all over the county. and we note tha'
Mr.. VanDevcnter has appealed to til,
civic League for workers for tho
Magnetic plant. Some explanation OF
this state of affairs is needed.
We have never heard Of Sumter be
ing sickly city and we have beer
told thet one farmer recently gave
$4,000 for the work of the city nurse
Doubtless the city physicians do some
Nii<tlity piuCtlCc, the country ones 40.
then the intirmary cares for some, if
we mistake! not SO the sick should
not be such a problem If this loafinp
element were put to work
Misfortune comes to all, or to .
great majority Of people, at some
time or i'm some way, but a continu-
Gus shower OF misfortune lasting year
after year and constantly increasing
is strange indeed, and we think tha'
II these pcolc We're put to work a
Jobs that they could fill the churches
/ lodges and other charity organizatjons
would ont be so taxed to meet tho
| demands upon thcm.
! Our belief is that the quickest way
to break up this nuisance is to in.