Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-10
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

Sixteen Of the great fraternal or
CARNATIONS of the United States
have been cooperating with Mr.
Harry G. Evans of Des Moines in
making a survey of the poorhouses
of all States. The result of that sur
vey, published in a pamphlet of 12O
pages, is summed up in the following
paragraph:
The word 'poorhouse' has become
the threatening symbol of one of
humanitys great degradations. To
many a despairing heart it comes
with a sound like the crack of DOOM
1t is a word Of hate and loathing.
for it includes the composite horrors
of poverty, disgrace, loneliness, hui
initiation, abandonment and degra-
dation."
Rather than the poorhouse, too
often suicide has been the rebuke
given to civilization by aged victims
of proverty and feebleness. or a
combination of misfortunes. Yet, in
dicating in even full measure that
rebuke is the fact that in single
year we could do no better for in
nocent children than consign 1,10O
babies, under five years of age, to
and children Of all ages up to 10,
1t is testified by one who has had
more than 80 years experience in
public welfare that most of the
victims of mature years must charge
up their fate as a direct result of
mis-spent life-immorality and
drunken dissipation In the main.
But it can not so be said OF thou
sands. and who art thou that
judgest another?" The question con-
fronting civilization, says this eX-
pert, is not the shortcomings OF
those who suffer, but the inadequacy
and inefficiency of the intelligent. the
self and the prosperous.
who are responsible for the way the
problems of society are met.
X X X
Mr.. Evans writes:
Some States sentence criminals to
poorfarms; other States send paupers
to convict camps. This practice is
not far removed from the treatment
paupers received in England during
the fifteenth century, where they were
treated as criminals. and punished by
whipping, branding and cropping OF
the ears. We are at least as prof.
cient at branding as they were in
the old days. We brand them by put
ting them in q poorhouse or prison.
and sometimes by publishing their
names in the papers. It Is almost
unthinkable that American legisla-
lures and governors would enact laws
local boards Of American citizens
would enforce such laws.
T Many old poorhouses have cells
with barred windows for the criminal
and violently insance. - The prac.
tice of sending paupers to convict
camps Is fully as atrOciouS as the
practice of sending criminals. to live
| and mingle with paupers. Many
| of the deserving poor suffer in silence
for the actual necessities Of life In
preference to the disgrace attending
life at the prison CAMP"
y y
There are decent poorhouses-bar.
ring the stigma of the name. But
here are paragraphs describing two
typical institutions within 100 miles
of Washington:
No. 1.-"Men and women use same
toilets and bathrooms. Building
three stories high, over 100 years old;
built of inflammable material. no fire
esca pes; inmates sleep on third floor;
negroes use same room as whites for
sitting room, dining room and bed.
room in Winter, as it has the only
stove.
No. 2.-"Nearly all inmates mental
cases, left to shift for themselves: the
place is insect-ridden and insanitary;
no modern conveniences: white man
and a negro sleeping in an old shack
inmates squat or lie upon the floor
for lack of chairs; beds so bad that
some sleep on the floor; no running
water. no toilets; oil lamps, stoves
we'll water; no sewerage"
Other descriptions Of poorhousee
within two hours automobile drive
from the Nations Capital, are too re
voting to print in family news
| paper.
That the statement made by Mr..
Evans to the effect that many Of the
deserving poor suffer In silence for
the actual necessities Of lffe." IN pref.
tar>ucM <n coirc fo n,,rh auasa1rr a nd