The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-12-18

What outlook IN life has a young
man Of 81 whose back was broken
In a mine accident and who Is
partially paralyzed as n result1 The
injury occurred several yenrH ago
and he was given $500 at the time
as compensation. But this amount
soon dwindled away and they have
been In straltened circumstances
ever since.
His wife is - years old. and there
are three children.
The two older children. boys. have
been trying 20 help support the
family, ana the mother works out
occasionally; but now they are
auarantlned, ms the little girl Of
eight has scarlet fever. The Wood
men OF the world have given them
$40 and will give SO more, but this.
OF course, must be very greatly sup
piemonted by the Social welfare
League II even the minimum OF
comfort for the siok child and
father are 10 be provided az well as
the barcFt necessities OF life In the
way Of food. fuel ana rent for the
whole family.
This IL not an appeal for this
family alone The Social welfare
league has GAO families on lts lists
at present. including considerably
more than 1000 persons. and the
numbers are increasing very rapidly.
About rs calls and 90 office inter
views are made or held per day, and
the phones ring constantly report
ing people In distress.
Appeal for $4,000
The appeal made by the Social
Welfare league this month for $50.
900 10 care for the poor now and
for the ensuing year has been only
neagerly responded 20. Only flsr
900 Of the $4,000 has been pledged
or given. yet the Social Welfare
league has no other support than
the contributions Of generous
minded citizens.
Christmas baskets will be ready
by the thousands. Everybody
seems glad 20 take charge Of a
family for Christmas. In fact the
Christmas giving. with the empha'
sis on Christmas. seems likely to
exceed the demand. Numbers OF
people and also many important
groups. such as schools. churches.
clubs. the men on the batileships,
the Elks. the Salvation Army. the
Volunteers OF America. newspapers.
Christmas fund. etc. viii flood the
city with Christmas cheer.
on the other hand. money for
emergency relief and the steady
supply Of the necessities OF life and
medical and social service which
these unhappy families need from
week to week and from month 70
month. does not seem 20 be forth
coming.
No drive was put on because the
Social Welfare league appreciated
the fact that drives had become In.
effective and unpopular-judged
from the results OF several recent
drives. The league has depended
upon appeal letters sent to a large
number Of more fortunate citizens
OF Seattle.
Must Help Year Round
Does II mean that the happy
Christmas throngs who crowd the
stores and offer Christmas baskets
won't give except in the form OF
Christmas cheer. and are they for
getting that there Ii very little
cheer in family like the one cited
above where cold and hunger. sick.
ness and eviction are not merely
the dread OF Christmas day. but OF
long months ahead7 OR must we
conclude that a friendly letter OF
appeal II not enough with ninety.
nine hundredths of the people OF
Seattle. that the organized drive
with personal solicitation which so
many people speak OF with irrita,
ton and disfavor is the only method
OF getting help to the suffering.
helpless people Of our own cityf
Surely this Is not the case. The
remaining $4,000 viii come in II