The Guthrie Daily Leader

A NEEDED ORGANIZATION

All Oklahoma, and her neighbors north and south, sympathize with the misfortunes of the people of Chandler and have contributed liberally of their means to aid their unfortunate neighbors. Large sums of money have been raised in Guthrie to succor the distressed. This amount has been augmented by splendid contributions from Oklahoma towns, and Kansas and Texas cities have done their share.

But raising this money is one thing, and the first element of relief: spending it, and spending it in a way to do the most good to the greatest sufferers - that is work for executive ability, which THE LEADER fears from reports, is not being accomplished, and if this is not done there is a waste of money that verges on the criminal.

Chandler, like most towns located in new communities made up of an indifferent mixture, is just now flooded with people anxious to do something if "there is enough money in it:" that is, anxious to do good work if they can do better at it than if left to plunder- otherwise they want to take chances of pillage among the wreck.

This is absolutely shameful: Here is a whole community torn asunder. Many of the inhabitants have lost their all. All who have suffered are deserving of relief. Those who are most deserving are modest and won't ask. Those who are least deserving complain that the relief is insufficient. It is unnecessary to say which of the two classes should have help, and equally unnecessary to say which will beg the contributions.

And this it is what has inspired this article: From gentlemen just returned from our grief-stricken neighbors, we learn there is a contention of the authorities in Chandler and Lincoln county occurring over a clash of "authority."

This is ridiculous in the extreme. Here is a town overcome by calamity, wherein not a person escaped. All suffered more or less. Its neighbors have organized to aid - to relieve the distress. And as the reports come in of the generous contributions, a class of people at once prepare to "graft" as much of the charity as possible.

As is always the case, those most deserving belittle their necessity, and say they only need opportunity: others bewail their loss and want to be relieved from further exertion in life's task.

Here is the danger that lies in wait for charity: A local committee is in charge to dispense aid. The fellow who clamors most loudly is apt to carry off the most heavily laden basket, while the man whose pride stands between him and beggary, will get no relief, though such men deserve it all.

We believe Guthrie and every other town dispensing succor to the needy should send a delegate to see that the funds contributed are properly expended. These delegates should organize and investigate; canvass the town and search out the deserving and then relieve the distress. Such a committee would be independent of local influence, and if working on its own responsibility would see to it that the deserving-not the most importune-get the benefit of what the contributors intend their money shall be expended for.

Let action be taken to this end. Let every dollar contributed buy a hundred cents' worth of relief. This can only be done by disinterested, non-resident, searchers for distress having business ability to measure the relief needed.