The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1922-12-16
COORDINATION
OF CHARITIES
IS DISCUSSED
One Hundred and Fifty Par.
ticipated in Discussions of
First Forum Dinner
BOTH SIDES GIVEN
BOTH SIDES GIVEN
Speakers Discuss Matter.
From Every Angle, lnclud-
ing Efficiency and Expense

"The Coordination Of Charities i,
Bismarck" was the subject under
discussion at the first open forum
of the Association of Commerce hello
{ last night in the Mckenzie hotel
There were $50 present.
After dinner speakers included
Miss Elsie Lawrence, social worker
Mrs. Thomas H. Poole, representative
cf the Red Cross, Mrs. F. r. Smyth
Burt Finney, DR.. R. S. Towne, En-
sign Homer of the Salvation Army
and J. J. Ermatinger .of Glendive
Mont. Fred L. Conklin, presided ant
J. j. Macleod led the assemblage ir
singing. >
The forum was opened by Miss
Lawrence with a detailed discussion
fthe reasons for charity, and thl
best methods of administering re
lief.
Mndiscriminate charity tends :e
pauperize the people to whom it is
given," declared the speaker. ar
giving the effect which it will pro.
duce upon the recipient must be con,
sidered."
Charity does not always consis:
in the giving of money, said, Miss
Lawrence, but it frequently consists
in the/ dispensing of medical atte:l.
tion and legal advice. TOO frequent.
ly in the past those who have helped
the needy have done nothing more
than" give money. Since the social
worker has developed such giving
has been discontinued to great ex-
tent. ... ..
One of the first steps to be taken
by the social worker declared the
speaker, is to investigate the cause
for the need of. assistance and to
find, if possible, a way in which to
put the individual or family back on
self supporting basis. ~
Those Who Need Relief
Upon investigation, it was found
that those demanding relief were wi
dows, deserted wives, and wives
with shiftless husbands, said Miss
Lawrence. The first group is now
provided for by means of pensions.
she said. In the case Of the desert
cd wife, the husband is found and
either put to work to provide for
his family or taken into court and
compelled to do so.
Work is generally found for the
shiftless husband if he is left for
the social worker to handle for If
he refuses to take job, he is COM
PEELED to do so.
In order to do the greatest amount
of good and to prevent needy fanil-
les from becoming regular city char
Res, it is necessary for one trained
to handle these cases scientifically
to have charge of them, said Miss
Lawrenee. This will, in most instan-
ces. result in the family being re-
habilitated.
Methods of Correction
Burt Finney spoke on the methods
of correcting the abuses. He said
that much could be done to correct
poverty and the greatest good with
the least expense could be accom-
plished if only one organization or
person were taking care Of the needs
of one particular family. He urged
the need for central registration
bureau. By means Of this he de-
clared that all organizations in the
city of Bismarck would refer any
person applying to them for aid to
the social worker for investigation.
but that the organization would
take over the responsibility OF pro-
vidine for the needs Of the family
according to the advice given by the
social worker.
He said that one paid secretary
could handle the filing and keeping
of records while the social worker
would take charge of the investlga-
tions. This would simply mean the
salary of one more person and slight
additional expense for office rent.
Manv organizations now handling
charitable work could easily stand
this expense, he said, since thcy
we're distributing large amounts OF
money for relief purposes every
year.
Many Organizations
Mrs. Poole presented figures show
ing what it was costing the people
Of Bismarck for its charitable work.
-SThere are "a organizations in Bis
marck doing welfare work" said She
"Of the "a organizations there are
but 10 that have definite plan OF
activity and the amount OF financial
assistance given by them each year
amounts to thousands OF dollars
From figures which she had ga,
thered she found that over s22,ooo
was spent last year in the city for
relief work. In this amount no en-
penses for administration were IN
cluded. The figures showed that over
$4,000 was contributed by the cl'l-
zens of Bismarck during the past
year for relief work, partly by tax
alton and partly by contribution.
This mean than an amount equal
to 1886 for each man, woman, and
child, in the city was paid for re-
lief work last year.
Mrs. Smyth spoke on the need OF
the personal touch in giving. She
mentioned the friendly visiting
which the Rotary club has decided