Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-07

Is hungry tot in a downtown alley any
less appealing than hungry child in Bel.
gum? Are the women whose homes were
swept by pestilence any less tragic as they
sit dazed by grief and destitutlon or any
less OF challenge TO generous minds than
the tormented refugees in another country?
These are our own people and we shall
have TO share their troubles. 1t is to the
credit of the charity organization that it
spent such money as It had freely at it's
inconspicuous work when its representa-.
tives were the only people who had time
TO think of the obligations near at hand
And 1t is "A good thing for the community
and for the poor. that the society Is more
scientific by a long way than the Accidental
Samaritan, who likes to say that he isn't
fond OF mixing statistics with his good
deeds.
In the end it is the Samaritan himself
who is open 10 indictment. He IL content
to deal with poverty on the surface when.
ever he meets it and to go upon his way
with an easy mind. Those who know pov.
erty better than he knows 1t aren't content
with that method. Their way is no less
generous than the Samaritan's. But it is
more conscientious and more thorough.
They deal with the surface of poverty
and then do their best 10 get down TO
apply a cure at its source. They are not
only willing 70 give a man a dollar. They
follow it up with an effort to give him a
Job and his self-respect.
1t is not surprising that twenty.nlne hos.
pitals, settlements and similar organiza.
tions whose acquaintance with the unfor-
tunate Is closest and most personal should
unite in Il general appeal for the relief Of
the Society for Organizing Charity. For
IL is not merely as a relief organization
that the society performs its best work. 1t
Is a constructive critic OF social condi-
tions that the organization Is most val
liable Its reports and statistics are mex.
orable. II deals brayely with the circum-
stances that cOnspire to induce and enforce
poverty and hardship in places where the
poor themselves are the victims of condi-
tiOns beyond their control. 1t is a constant
challenge 10 the minds that have learned
TO tolerate slums and ignorance and the
dispiriting tenements whose children It
does its best TO protect II is indeed, the
relentless reporter of the other side of
life. 1t has told US repeatedly how the
other half lives. The reports of the society
do not help to sustain our inherited com.
placency And IL It's work is hampered we
shall be without the one agency that. tends
constantly TO keep in plain sight the needs
for a constructive method in relation to
the whole question of destitution.
For most poverty is needless or artificial
What society needs Is better knowledge
Of its origins. -
Meanwhile the Society for Organizing
Charity is the one agency that can protect
the unfortunate by system that makes (,
impossible for dishonest people to monopo
lize such help, and sympathy as belong tc
them. The maintenance Of the charity or
ganization in its present form is impera
tive. There may be stress and strair
during the period OF readJustment TIL,
epidemic left an Incredible lot OF hardship
and many destitute families In it's wake
1t win not, be to the credit of Philadelphis
| IL the organization Is compelled 10 founder
| in nnanciai difi'culties or even TO restric
| its work. The city itself would be the losel