The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-03-09
Foreign Representatives.
SMALL SPENCER, BREWER
Qncoeporated)
CHICAGO NEW YORK BOSTON
Discrimination Needed

C6xCA0O NEW xOHA 6OSxON
Discrimination Needed
Announcement Wednesday that the
$4,000 Of federal money allotted to
Burleigh county for relief work is
practically exhausted may bring to
light more Of the numerous rumors
which have been in circulation re-
Gently regarding the management OF
this money.
These reports, which apparently
originated in widely varying quarters,
are that relief apparently has been
apportioned indiscriminately in some
cases. There is the story Of the youth
who wanted to exchange q relief ord
er for cigarettes: Of the woman who
arrived at q store. dressed in an ex-
pensive fur coat and riding in shiny
automobile. and who used . purchase
order for staples. paying cash for .
quantity Of luxury goods. Others
along the same line.
Some Of these reports may be
justified. It would be practically i'm
possible to deal with all OF the per-
sons who have applied for relief with
out encountering some cases of SUBJ
terfuge and abuse. A certain number
Of persons are always willing to &C.
cept whatever may be had free.
whether they really need It or not.
and the distribution had to be ar
ranged for rapidly and on . wide
scale.
II these reports are true they offer
no basis for condemning the officers
In charge OF relief distribution, al
though they do demand that every
thing possible be done to conserve
these funds and see that they get in
to proper hands.
No one with blood In his veins and
. heart In his breast can do aught
but support the effort to provide some
sort Of standard Of living for those in
need. It should be = settled policy in
this land that no person be permitted
to 60 hungry. cold or shelterless un-
less by his own volition.
But the need Is great and the funds
are not likely to prove inexhaustible.
They should be handled In such .
manner Is to do the most good where
they are most needed in order that
the truly worthy may not suffer.
It Is obvious that there will be less
left for the really needy II relief
money Is apportioued to all who ask,
regardless Of need. That fact. to-
gether With the normal requirement
for care in the expenditure Of public
money. demands that any abuses
which may exist Be corrected at once
IL they do exist.
The moral Of the whole situation Is
pointed by the experience Of . local
Legionnaire who worked in the open
Your Heart" headquarters during one
Of the veterans Christmas campaigns.
A. : volunteer worker In the char
ity headquarters he helped . woman
select . large quantity Of goods on
her representations that she needed
it. Then he returned to his normal
employment in . local store.
The next day the same woman ap-
peared and spent considerable money
for articles which could not, by any
stretch Of the imagination, be CHASED
as necessities: things which the man
could not afford for himself and his
family. He sold them, Of course, and
collected cash. But the womans name
went on the list ut the charity head
quarters and . later application for
help" was refused.
II our local relief organisation Is
being subjected to that sogt Of "gyp"
the sooner It learns about 1t the bet.
ter. i Is only fair to thoee who real.
" are Ia ueed and suttt3ed to help
that thsy should.
The Oracle Speaks
Il = al over but the shouting.
The Lterary Digest which pgodacts
the outcome Of our major national
affairs solemnly assures the world