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^* of Pittsburgh Life
Published Everu Saturday Bu
THE INDEX PUBLISHING COMPANY
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Pittsburgh, Pa.
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CATHERINE M. PATTERSON, Editor
WILLIAM J. HATTON, Business Manager
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Vol. LVII. March 17, 192S No. 11
Managers of the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
are making an urgent appeal to the people of Allegheny
County for contributions to an annual maintenance
fund of $75,000, which is badly needed to
properly carry on the work of the in-
Children stitution and prevent further suffering
among poor sick and crippled children.
The little Children's Hospital on Forbes Strest grew
into the hearts of the people of Pittsburgh by its
wonderful work of 40 years among the children of
the poor. Demands upon it became so insistent and
widespread that several years ago it became affiliated
with the University of Pittsburgh and a year ago it
moved into its new and modern building at Fifth
Avenue and DeSota Street. The tremendous appeal
which reached the hearts of the people of Western
Pennsylvania still exists but in far greater degree.
There are larger numbers of afflicted children who
must continue to suffer unless this hospital reaches
out and gives them proper medical, surgical and
nursing attention. There is naturally greater operating
expense. The splendid work in pathology and
research, the teaching of medical students and nurses
and the continuing better knowledge of what to do
and how to do it in saving poor children from lives
of misery and suffering more than justify all that
is being expended. The hospital is doing the work.
The need is for a large group of liberal and philanthropic
men and women to back the institution to
enable it to continue doing the work which is required
of it and doing it well. Eighty percent of
its cases are charity. That tells the tale. Without
the liberality of those with plenty the suffering of
poor children in Western Pennsylvania afflicted and
crippled and without possibility of medical and
surgical care otherwise could not be measured. They
are saying pretty mean things about Pittsburgh and
Pittsburghers just now in relation to the treatment
of suffering women and children who happen to be
victims of an industrial struggle. We know that
these damaging statements are untrue and we know
THE INDEX, Saturday, March 17, 1928 5
at the same time that they are besmirching the good ask yourself why these Pittsburghers are made the
name for tender sympathy, continuing generosity victims of every vituperative tongue even in their
and real philanthropy of the people of Pittsburgh own home when some selfish interest elsewhere feels
and Western Pennsylvania. We have an example at called upon to heap abuse. How long can Pittsburgh
hand where we can reveal to the world just how we stand this sort of thing? If you were seeking to
handle a situation which involves suffering and de- build a large industrial plant giving employment to
mauds liberality on our part. Give liberally to the
maintenance fund of the Children's Hospital and do
it without delay.
A. W. MELLON
Secretary of the Treasury, who has won the admiration
of the world because of his masterly conduct of
his country's financial affairs, has been made the object
of venomous attacks at Washington in an effort
to discredit his splendid work and injure the prestige
of his administration and his party. So far he has
vanquished his enemies and revealed qualities of character
seldom found in public life.
We cannot escape the thought that the Spirit of
Pittsburgh is a peculiar and wonderful thing'. Most
of us were thrilled and made envious by the Spirit
of St. Louis which sent an intrepid young man by
air across the Atlantic into lasting
Pittsburgh fame. Behind the mask of jealousy
with which we observe the steady progress
of Cleveland we cannot escape the real admiration
for the splendid co-operation and community
loyalty it has welded into a habit. Once a worthy
public project is launched all interests fall into step
and work enthusiastically together to bring about
success. Forgetting- for the time being the distressing
situation involved in absentee ownership and
direction, what is the state of affairs in Pittsburgh ?
Some faction or interest springs upon the public
something which is sensational but at the same time
harmful to the reputation and prestige of the district
and detrimental to the progress and prosperity
of the people. Does a jealous regard for the good
name and welfare of the community temper the
passions which surge to make a great conflagration
out of the smoldering embers ? Stop and think and
answer the question yourself. Run over in your
mind the families and groups which have stood by
Pittsburgh and poured their money into new industries
and larger factories, giving employment
each year to thousands more men and women. Then
thousands of individuals, or a small one, would you
want to do it here under present conditions? Industries
seek sites where there is a measure of fair
play and some protection from outside trouble
makers. They do not hunger after localities where
they will be compelled to fight for the rights which
should be theirs without question. They do not invest
where the disposition is to pit the employe
against the employer and then side with the employe
irrespective of the unjust position he may have taken.
Proud as we are of Pittsburgh it is a bitter pill to
swallow but we might just as well realize now that
we are faced in the wrong direction as later on when
the consequences may be more serious. To cap the
climax of slime and filth which has been thrown,
"Miss Pittsburgh" had to go to a so-called rival city
and get arrested. The Spirit of Pittsburgh!
Pittsburgh has been the victim of the most unjust
and untrue blackguarding ever received by any community.
The purpose is so apparent that all must
see. In an effort to besmirch the character and good
intent of one of the most illustrious
Statesmen public servants who ever dedicated his
services to his country the assailants
of Pittsburgh have been willing to go to almost any
lengths. They do not care for the great Secretary
of the Treasury but they do care for his tremendous
popularity with the American people and his prestige
which has been helpful to the Republican party. It
is anything now to overthrow the party in power at
Washington and replace it out of the motley and
pusillanimous crew which has drifted there from the
wilds of everywhere and is trying to be statesmanlike.
There is one thing with which the committee
investigating the coal strike situation seems imbued.
That is that it is a crime for a workingman to choose
his own employer and be satisfied with the wage and
his relation with that employer. We always thought
that the greatness and prosperity and progress of
this country grew out of the right of the men and
women to worship as they pleased and work as they
pleased as long as they did not violate law or interfere
with the peace and happiness of their fellowmen
or fellowwomen. Now these investigators from
Washing-ton come in from states scarcely larger in
population than good sized Pennsylvania wards and
leave the impression that a man must belong to a
union and be bossed by a leader before he is a
regular, recognized workman under the law. We always
thought there was plenty of room for both.
If a man does not care to belong to an organization
and his employer is content to employ him and he
is satisfied with his employment that is his business.
And the same is true with the man who wants to
be a member of a union and with the employer who
is satisfied with the affiliation and the relation. We
always thought that, when the one interfered with
the other, it was time for the law to step in and not
before. The Senate investigating committee has left
a peculiar impression which in the judgment of many
will prevent any real results from all of the turmoil
it is creating.