The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-07-31
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GullibIe Residents ThWart
Work of Social Agencies by
Private Gifts.

Gullible residents of Washing
ton, particularly rsoft hearted"
churchgoers, are daily showering
money on the city's derelicts,
thereby frustrating efforts Of nu-
merous social agencies to. put this
class of persons on their feet and
make them permanently self-sup-
porting.
Aim to Stop Practice.
This fact was revealed today fol-
lowing an investigation Of the va
rious welfare and social organiza-
tons of the District who are plan
ming to launch a campaign to curb
the habit Of Washingtonians from
daily paying cold cash to hear
eloquent hard luck stories in
the happy but. erroneous belief they
are ''d6ing good"
People who do this" one prom
lnent social worker said today, "are
tar from doing good. They are
doing the utmost harm. For they
are encouraging these people who
are doubles known to our agency
and other agencies in the city to
continue their easy-going life Of
grabbing a dollar here and a meal
there without making any attempt
to help rehabilitate themselves"
Perhaps the most notorious case
of this kind, where conscientious
efforts Of social agencies have been
continually thwarted by kind
hearted Washingtonians" is that of
an elderly woman, who, for conven-
ience. will be known as Sarah"
Since 1907 Sarah" has been en-
joying visits of varying length in
prominent Washington homes. Her
stock story is that she must raise
| enough money to get her furniture
out of storage so she can start a
rooming house. The social experts
| OF the city say that this is despite
the fact that some years ago a fl
nancier advanced her enough money
to get her furniture and start a
lodging house in which she failed
to make good
Sarah" Very Successful.
Investigation today proved that
Sarah" has always made her pleas
In the richest and most prominent
homes and that only recently she
succeeded in imposing on the wife of
a noted doctor for six months. 1t is
estimated she may have obtained as
high as $4,000 in this manner.
After the doctors wife had aided
her and gave her a regular allow
ance for six months she called the
| most prominent social agency up
and told them her story.
vi course" said the social
worker, we told her of "Sarah's'
case and the woman was very net
TIED to know she had been taken In, "
Inc social leaders point out that
| II residents would not permit
Sarah" to impose on them they
would be able to keep her in hand
ana aid her permanently, but that
as long as she continues to find such
| easy picking" she will have moth
| Ing to do with them.
| Inc remedy for the situation,
| social leaders declared TODAY. is
simple.
| whenever you are asked for money
or lodging by seemingly nathetic
characters, Mr.. or Mrs. Washing.
tonian simply go to the telephone
| ana call the Confidential Exchange,
Main 992 and identify the party who
| is seeking aid.
AN efficient office force will i'm
| mediately look up the card of this
person-and there are nearly 100. 900
or them on file--and tell you what
particular social agencies are work
ing on the case. Your next step is
TO get In touch with these agencies
ana If you still decire to help, CO.
operate in what they are doing.