Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-17

young man who signed himself "a
Working Stiff" writing to The Bee in regard to
the causes for crime, consciously or uncon-
sciously touched on one of the mansprings Of
the disrespect for the law, to which we ascribed
the prevalence Of crime. 1t is that strange per-
version or inversion of morality that leads man
to think it is more worthy to commit theft than
to ask for aid. This, of course, rests on a false
pride, which is one of the ignobe traits of man.
kind, and it denies the inherent generosity of the
ordinary citizen, which is the finest attribute Of
our imperfect nature.
We venture to assert that no case OF suffer
ing or destitution will be permitted to 20 unre-
lieved in Omaha or any other community When
suffering or want is discovered, the first impulse
is to afford relief, and invariably this is acted on
Then may come inquiry as to the worthiness of
the cause. but first of all emergency is supplied
Charity is cold at times. but only when it is
tl,oughtlessy scientifically bestowed. The
tfoughtlcss givcr donates without the SAVIOR of
humanity; the scientific, organized charity work
er deals impersonay with each subject measur-
ing by established standards and doing forth
only enough to sustain and necessarily without
that compassion that is itself more than the
actual material relief Afforded.
Conceding this. the fact remains that no man
nor woman need resort to crime because of
hunger other need. Pride may suffer little,
but the genuine quality of honesty is not touched
because the applicant is compelled to state his
predicament in order to obtain assistance. On
the other hand. the theft by which immediate
stress is removed not only exposes the doer to
the penalty of the law if detected, but, if unde-
tected. affords too frequently pretext for
repetition, with consequences that are obvious.
Nor does it seem reasonable that the normal
man can perfectly enjoy that which he came
by dishonesty. An inherent repugnance to theft
a.clls in all who are we'll balanced, and they
must no matter how pressed revolt against the
thought of taking that which belongs to an
other.
A far better way for the hungry mortal to
obtain the relief he needs is to ask rather than
to snatch. He may be surprised to find out how
many are willing to help and make no questions.
Nor is the possession of wealth by one and the
want OF il by many to be set up as justification
for crime Envy is base passion, and its prac-
tice aids none Hunger is not appeased by the
sight of luxury, but violence does not balance
the scales between riches and poverty. Russia
has endured more OF suffering, privation and
misery under bolshevik rule than ever prevailed
under the despotsm Of the czar We do not
mean that the unfortunates are to remain content
in their station. Such suggestion is too inhu-
name to be entertained. What we do urge,
however, is that poverty is not reason for
crime, that want may be relieved without :hcft,
md that misfortune OF whatever kind will find
ready sympathy and unquestioning assistance
whenever it is disclosed. "Charity vaunteth not
itself, is not pued up" but is the ruling force Of
the great mass Of men and women, and it is
the thing that gives life its true SAVIOR and fl.
naily connects man with the things that are
;bove the earth.