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

NEW YORK, June 00.-"If 7 only
had q million dollarsl Think of the
good I could do with It'll"
Maybe you've said that to your
self. Most Of us have, at time
or another. all Of AS who have
looked with plying eye on the
panorama Of humanity with all its
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 million!'
Here Is a story OF a man TO whom
this very dream became a reality.
He was given not one, but Is mil
lion dollars and told to s it for
the improvement OF social and liv-
ing conditions in the United States"
That vas "a years ago. Now
looking back down the years John
M. 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
husband. DR.. Glenn has been It's
only director. Now at the age or
70 he has resigned. His experience
has given him an INSIGHT such al
few are 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 IL
IL 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 it convinced him
that many people do not want to
be helped to live better. as some
believe? Not at all.
There is nothing wrong with
most Of humanity he says, smil-
ing serenely as can only those
whose outlook has been mellowed
by a life Well-lived. People ap-
preciate kindness. They appreciate
being helped. They are grateful"
He says this now because such
a philosophy wells up through all
the "a years he has worked. The
foundations intent has peen:
Dissemination of knowledge
about conditions with the belief
that, once they are known. they
can be corrected. Investigation
and propaganda with a remedial
and preventive objective"
Causes Always Sought
For example. in the course OF
charity Investigation. men and wo-
men sent out BY DR.. Glenn didn't
seek to aid needy families directly.
They sought underlying causes.
If they discovered that poor
management was to blame. or that
unemployment was responsive.
then the remedy was evident. II
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.. l., money was
spent to furnish adequate homes
for working people. The example
was followed all over the country.
DR.. Glenn waged a fight against
the loan sharks. Investigators
learned that poor people we're prey
for the INSCRIPTIONS who loaned
money AZ exorbitant rates OF inter
est. Dire necessity drove many
men to accept any terms 20 obtain
funds, which often saved them
from starvation itself.
The remedy? Laws TO put them
out OF business. Such laws were
suggested and passed. AT the in
stiga.ion OF Dr.. Glenn one bank
was urged 10 try a plan OF making
small loans 10 poor people. .....
More than 100 other banks follow
ed suit.
What caused so many unfortun-
ate, unhappy marriages? Tha.
question was answered when IL was
learned. by painstaking investiZa-
ton. that unintelligent. lax admin
istration Of laws. clergymen who
failed 10 realize responsibilities
and marriage machinery In the
hands OF careless and ignorant Off
Gals yer TO blame. Again the
remedy was evident. The millions
were being ~well-spent.
Prisoners. Children Aided
Then DR.. Glenn sent men to sur
Fay prison conditions. They CO.
operated with Congress in finding
out facts about care and treatment