The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-08-25
WAMBOLDT SAYS
WORKING GIRLS
need MUCH AID
OFFERS UNIQUE SOLUTION OF
THE PROBLEM OF THE GIRLS
EXPENSES BEING MORE THAN
HER SALARY.

Chattanooga, Tenn, Aug. 23.-"High
cost of living versus working girls,
is the style of a case coming to light
in Chattanooga this week and enlist
ing the sympathies of the general pub
lie when it was published in the pa
pers. The incident was that of a local
department store girl earning $500
per week with board and room cost
ing her $500 per week. Realizing
that she was going on the rocks. she
applied to a charitable organization
for passage to her home in North
Carolina where she said she could be
taken care of, but some rule of the
charitable organization prevented her
receiving the sum.
Among those who became interested
in the circumstances was Wickes
Wamboldt of New York who is in
Chattanooga at present directing the
campaign to raise a million dollar en-
dowment fund for the University of
the South at Sewanee, Tenn. Mr..
Wamboldt who Is one of the best
known and most successful organizers
in the United States offers a novel
solution of what society shall do with
its unfortunate members. Mr.. Wam-
boldt was director of the second Red
Cross War Fund campaign in the
Southern Division which raised six
and a half million dollars. While a.
National Red Cross headquarters, New
York. and in other capacities, Mr..
Wamboldt has had exceptional oppor-
tunity for observing this ever increas-
ing and constant problem.
An important matter" said Mr..
Wamboldt, in the helping of unfortu-
nate people is the question of fraud.
All social relief agencies are constant
~ beseiged for help by people who
are out-and-out imposters. For this
reason such agencies are at the out
set inclined to be skeptical of each
applicant and usually make a close
Investigation before giving aid. In the
next place, scarcely any of these or
60 nizations have enough funds to meet
al the demands that are made upor
them.
The tendency is" Mr.. yvamboldt
continued, Ito employ salaried persons
to investigate those unfortunates who
apply for aid, and right there is where
l consider a fundamental blunder is
made. / feel that these investigation;
should not be conducted by salaried
employees of the social relief organi-
cations but rather by volunteer work
crS.
Take right here in the city of
Chattanooga for instance" continued
Mr. Wamboldt 1T would be possible
to enlist a large number of we'll known
and thoroughly reputable men and
women, each of whom would agree to
Investigate one case a week or some
thing of the sort.
Now let me show you the advan-
nr inv Sl iea inn.
First-There is saved the expense
of paid investigators.
Second-The responsibility for the
investigation is placed on the Shout
ders of the public to a very large
extent.
Third-A more liberal report will be
given. Justice will be tempered with
mercy. There is no doubt that pro-
fessional investigators are likely to
become callous. 1t is better that an
occasional imposter get by with his
or her claim than that aome worthy
unfortunate meet disaster.
Fourth-The societies would have
a greater number of investigators aud
Urgent cases would be given immediate
attention; whereas. now they are
sometimes forced 10 wait their turn.
Fifth-A greater public interest in
social welfare would be created by
getting the public into the work and
this would automatically solve the
question of funds, because when the
public becomes interested in seeing
suffering relieved. they do not hesitate
to act and act quickly.
Witnesseth the hundreds of millions
poured out for relief work during the
war. and note how quickly action is
IA <ar1 hon
some special case of woe.
Sixth-There will be more soul m
social relief work.
There is no doubt that the organ
ization as well as the individual that
does a certain thing for certain
length of time gets brain patterns
They come to do things more by rule
than by reason. This state of condi-
ton cannot develop, or liz developed
will not maintain If new ideas are
being constantly injected through the
means of continually bringing new
people into the work.
"Of course an objection to this plan-
Mr.. wamboldt added sis that it will
be difficult to secure the right class
of people to volunteer to make these
Investigations and it will also not BE-
easy to make them act However, II
can be done and the results have
enumerated would more than justify
the effort necessary to put this plan
into action. 1 am willing to admit
that this will necessitate a certain
amount of public education. but it can
be done with excellent results.
Let me give you a tip" added Mr..
Wamboldt in conclusion, II have been
in organization work long enough TO
learn this IF yo,1r Y,Iap 10 pr-cf;coy
il your motive is honest and your OBJ
jectiye worthy, you can absolutely
trust the public to the limit. You
on the table,