Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-06-11
BY DEXTER III. TEED
MA Service Writer

$3.50
NEW YORK. June 00-"If I only
had a million dollarsl Think OF the
good | could do with itl'
Maybe you've said that to your
self. Most of us have, at one time
or another, all of rs who have
looked with plying eye on the
panorama of humanity with all It's
misery and suffering. We wouldn't
Just fritter our riches away on
luxury and play. We'd do good with
tiff only someone would give us
a millicni'
Here Is n story OF a mar TO whom
this very dream became a reality.
He was given not one. but Is mil
lion dollars and told 10 s IL FOR
the improvement Of social and liv-
ing conditions IN the United States"
That was "a years ago. Now
looking back down the years John
NJ. Glenn can read the record OF
accomplishment and see the con-
crete results Of spending that sum
to make life easier for millions
buffeted by adversely and ignor-
ance.
Since the Russell Sage Founda-
ton was established In April. 1907,
by Mrs. sage in memory OF her
only director. Now at the age OF
70 he has resigned. His experience
has given him an insight such as
few r given into the problems
Of people.
Many Problems Attacked
And he, too, has solved a prob
lem. For in spending the millions
which have been available from
the invested SIS, 100000 founda-
ton fund, in directing the lines
along which individuals may be
helped. he has answered the ques-
ton: What can I do with money
now that I have 1t
II has been spent for charity or
ganization, child-helping, educa-
ton. industrial studies. recreation
remedial loans. studies OF southern
highlands, and surveys and exhib-
its.
Has his experience brought dis
| illusionment. has 1t convinced him
that many people do not want Il
be helped TO live better, as some
believe? Not at all.
There is nothing wrong witt
most Of humanity" he says, smil,
ing serenely as can only those
whose outlook has been mellowet
by n life well-lived. People ap-
p~reciate kindness. They appreciate
being helped. They are grateful"
He SAYS this now because sucf
n philosophy wells up through al
the "a years he has worked. TIL.
foundations intent has ceen:
Dissemination OF knowledge
about conditions with the belle
that, once they are known. the,
can be corrected. Investigation
and propaganda with a remedia
and preventive objective"
Causes Always Sought
For example, in the course o
charity investigation. men and wo'
men sent out by DR.. Glenn didn'
seek to aid needy families directly
They sought underlying causes.
If they discovered that poo
management was TO blame. or tina
unemployment was responsitt'
then the remedy was evident. /
they discovered that housing con.
ditions were largely responsible
for sickness. then again the rem.
edy was evident-better housing
conditions.
AT Forest Hills. L. T., money wa
spent to furnish adequate home
for working people. The examplt
was followed all over the country
Or. Glenn waged a fight agains
the loan sharks. Investigator
learned that poor people were pre-
for the INSCRIPTIONS who loaneI
money az exorbitant rates OF inter
est. Dire necessity drove man,
men to accept any terms 70 Obtain
funds, which often saved then
from starvation itself.
The remedy? Laws to put then
out Of business. Such laws werl
suggested and passed. AT the in
stigation OF, DR.. Glenn one banl
vas rNG w tAy ~ P4AAA vi hAAnALl
small loans to poor people. $500.
More than 100 other banks follow
cd suit.
What caused so many ~unfortun
ate, unhappy marriages? Tha
question vas answered when IL wa
learned. by painstaking investiga
ton. that unintelligent. lax admin
istration OF laws. clergymen VIII
failed to realize responsibilities
and marriage machinery IN tn
hands OF careless and ignorant Off
Gals were 70 blame. Again thu
remedy was evident. The million
we're being w~ell-spent.
Prisoners. Children Aided
Then DR.. Glenn sent men TO sur
vey prison conditions. They co
operated with Congress In fIndin
out facts about care and tTeatmen