People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 February 1894 — Another Side Of It. [ARTICLE]

Another Side Of It.

“By previous arrangements, a meeting w r as held in tho Presbyterian church, on last Sunday afternoon, for the purpose of organizing the various churches of Rensselaer so that they could establish a relief fund to be used among the poor of this place. This is the first decided action that has been taken by our churches and it certainly is a move in the right direction. There are several families in this place who are in actual need of help from our citizens and this is a matter that should not be neglected. The organization effected by the church was as follows; president, R. P. Benjamin; secretary, Mrs. Belle Kerr: treasurer, Mrs. J. M. Wasson. Committees from the various churches were appointed to solicit among its respective members, and the entire collection will be thrown into a general fund for the relief of the poor of this place.”

The above appeared in the local columns of the last issue of the Pilot. Pile on *IB,OOO more, and at least one third or #6,000 of this will fall to day laborers and widows—on to the poor of this township, and this committee will have to be enlarged very much to accomodate its customers. “On with the dance.” Dr. Washburn in his zeal to promote the “Stone” road is reported to have secured the pledges of persons who are now objects of charity—and worthy objects too —to further oppress themselves and their poor neighbors by voting a burden of #lB,000 upon their shoulders. Have you tried the poor farm? You may be able to find some “promoters” there.