The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-02-26
OVERSEER OF POOR
MIR. Marshall, the Regular Nominee
Refutes False
Reports

To the Legal Voters and Citizens of
st. Johnsbury:
Having been nominated for the Of
flee of overseer of the poor at the
recent town caucus, [ feel that in
justice to those who supported me at
that time I should make full state
ment regarding certain derogatory
rumors to my character and practices
which have since been circulated
from some mysterious source.
The chief criticism seems to center
about my administration of the af-
fairs of the local City Mission. 1t
has been said that certain people do
mated their secondhand clothing and
that | sell it. Now that is very true,
but what do l do with the money?
The sale Of second hand clothing S
the only source of income to the
Mission and has to be used for char
table purposes. The money is de-
posted in the bank and it is used
to provide fuel, food and clothing for
those who are destitute of these nee
essities. And during our four years
IN st. Johnsbury we have had many
calls for help and we have never
turned one away without helping
them. Our purpose in selling the
clothing is to teach the people to
be self-supporting and self-respect-
ing. All of this business is carried
on under the approval of the execu-
tive committee composed of our
most estimable citizens, headed by
the chairman, z. S. Waterman, to
whom l make my weekly report, and
the facts can be corroborated by APP
plying to any member of the COM
mittee.
The statement has been made that
we did not, nor would not, help any
who were not of the same faith as our
selves. Here are some facts that
cannot be denied. All through the
epidemic Mrs. Marshall and I went
wherever duty called us. We visited
80 different HINES and Mrs. Marshall
cared for the babies and women,
while | cared for the men, and in
some cases | swept and mopped the
floors. During the month of October
when the epidemic was raging, Mrs.
Marshall and | made one hundred
and ninety-fve calls, and where calls
were made, this work was done; their
houses visited, regardless of creed or
color. No distinction was made be-
tween Protestant, Catholic, Jew OF
Gentle, black or white, rich or poor.
And members of the Elks together
with some of the doctors, both
French and Americans, can verify
these statements.
Now for the care of the poor, sure
ly it has cost enough and they ought
to have been well provided for, and
so they should, but we should make
difference between the worthy man
and the fellow who is out to beat the
town. One case that l happen to
know about is of man who was
helped by the town last year and that
fellow was earning $3.50 per day and
at present he is receiving $3.50 per
day. Another case that came to me
through one Of the retail merchants
is of another man who is a property
owner and he was helped by the town
to the extent of over $50. The town
records will show whether he owns
his home or not.
The administration of the poor
at Rutland, city Of $4,000 inhabi-
tants, cost $5,829.74, and this included
the care of the poor, all contagious
diseases, hospital bills, transportation
and repairs on buildings, while st.
Johnsbury, with a population of
5000 paid last year s12,175.62. And
if it had not been for the health of
ficer, Fred S. Hartman, who opened
emergency hospitals and was on the
road day and night, delivering food
provided by the Red Cross and wonl-
ans club, and the other emergency
hospitals that were opened and
maintained by the Fairbanks COM
pany our poor bills would have