The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-02-20
CHARITABLE INCONSISTENCY

The Ardmoreite calls attention of its read
ers to the Editorial of the Day" which ap-
pears in another column OF the current issue.
The article under the head of Let Charity
Begin at Home is from the pen of Bob Kidd,
one Of the most gifted and versatile editorial
writer's in Oklahoma and hits the nail Of
human inconsistency on the head, driving
home with unanswerable argument proof OF
the unchartableness of giving to the relief
of the suffering of foreign lands, without first
having done something to mitigate the crying
distress of those Of our ownspeople who have
been wounded by the bghting brush of mis-
fortunes wing.
Speaking from purely dispassionate
viewpoint it is little less than nauseating to
read the propaganda, to listen to the speeches,
to be compelled to give hearkening ear to
the press agents. all telling of the suffering
of those overseas, while we know, from actual
observation, that in our country, in our own
midst at our own doorways, gaunt poverty
stalks. while women and children, subjects of
this great government are crying for daily
bread. are appealing for the necessities of
life, are pleading for the crumbs which fall
from the loaf we carve to send across the
pillows of the Atlantic.
Right here in this fair state Of Oklahoma,
we have fellow beings who are in dire dis
tress and who are also victims of the World
War.
Would it not be more consistent to give to
them. to lend them the comfort Of whole
hearted and unselfish charity, than it is to
roll our eyes. to gaze sanctimoniously toward
the ethereal blue, while we parade our giving
in the name of high heaven as we contribute
to a cause nine-tenths of which is publicity
seeking propaganda, propaganda spread by
those who are asking notoriety and who are
also seeking to live lives of ease at the eX-
pense of the charitably inclined.
We would not detract one syllable OF
sweetness from the sacred name Of Charity
We would not tighten the purse-strings and
harden the heart of mankind against the
CRYING needs Of those who are in distress
But. like Editor Kidd, we believe that
charity begins at home. and that we will be
doing more in the Masters name and for the
Masters glory through giving of our plenty
TO those whom we know to be worthy, those
who live in this country, than we can possibly
do through giving TO any cause. to the relief
of any class or peoples in foreign lands, be
they the children of war-devastated Belgium
Germany.
Eliminating the question Of what percent
age of our gifts to the sufferers of the "Near
East ever reaches its final destination, elm
mating the fact that the rank and file Of the
professional charity come from the
same class as rule from which came those
who basked under the shade and held down
bullet-proof jobs while the men with red
blood in their veins went through hell that
the Stars and Stripes might continue to waive
and we still have confronting us the indisput'
able fact that while gaunt famine and want
may stalk abroad in the land of Armenia, IN
the homes Of Belgium, in the cottages OF
France. in the novels of the German people.
desttution and despair are TO be found throt
Ting, starving, numbering our own needy ones
Without seeking TO cast one Slur against
the holy name OF Charity. without thought
OF detractng from the sacredness of giving
in Ills dear name. we can but feel that we
are making n mockery of religion and ABBY
word of the name of the Great Redeemcl
when we turn the deafened ear to the plead
ings of those of our own people who are IN
want. and give with lavish hand IN response
to the appeals Of professional charity beg
gars."
In the state of Oklahoma alone, thousands
of men who have not reached the fruitnp
years of middle life. are suffering and dying
from diseases contracted during the World
War, diseases contracted either on the battle
fields of Flanders or in the training camps
on this side of the. great water
Bringing the matter still nearer home
We may fay that we have cases ilr this county
perhaps in this city. which are today appeal
I ing to the warm hearts and Christian souls foi
aid.
We might call your attention to instances
which have happened in this county. instance,