“After spending Sunday and Monday,” says _The News and Courier_, in its
issue of September 23rd, “in Columbia, whither he had gone to institute,
as closely as possible, an investigation into the condition of the
flood sufferers, together with making provision to supply their present
necessities, as well as to plan for their relief during the winter
months, Mr. A. C. Kaufman, President of the South Carolina Branch, Red
Cross, returned to Charleston yesterday. ‘I had an opportunity,’ he
said to a reporter last night, ‘during my visit to consult with white
and colored men from the afflicted section of the Congaree and Wateree
Valley, both as to the extent of their losses and the extremity of their
condition. Theirs was, indeed, a harrowing story, enough to make the
heart bleed. Some of the sufferers are unable from childhood, age or
infirmity to labor in any shape or manner. The only kind of work most of
those, able to do anything, can do is to pick cotton in the fields. In
remuneration for this labor they receive 50 cents a hundred pounds for
the cotton which they gather. This will enable them to eke out existence
until the middle of November, and then will gaunt poverty haunt them,
labor of all kinds, to which they are adapted, being then at an end. Then
will come to them starvation and death unless the humane people of South
Carolina place in the hands of the Red Cross, working in co-operation
with the local committee of Richland County, the means to save their
lives.
“‘A committee composed of three citizens of Columbia of the highest
character in connection with sub-committees, to be selected by them, have
agreed to handle the matter.
“‘The following article from _The State_, of Columbia, will give a fuller
idea of the business-like manner in which the Red Cross and the committee
propose to handle the situation:’”
_The State_, of Tuesday, says:
Col. A. C. Kaufman, of Charleston, the representative of the Red Cross
Society in this section, came to Columbia Saturday night and spent Sunday
and yesterday in the city, going over the ground in connection with the
Richland flood sufferers.
As a direct result of this visit, a central committee has been formed
in Columbia, its members taking part upon the special request and
designation of Colonel Kaufman. This committee contains but three
members—Captain William E. Gonzales, Editor of _The State_, Chairman;
Mr. W. A. Clark, President of the Carolina National Bank, Treasurer, and
Mayor William S. Reamer, of Columbia.
The duties of this committee will be to designate sub-committees
throughout the entire flooded district in Richland to secure an accurate
census of those persons who need assistance, to estimate the cost of
relieving distress until another crop can be procured and to receive and
disburse funds.
Mr. Gonzales requests that all moneys be sent to Treasurer W. A. Clark,
and it is necessary for the business-like and just distribution of relief
that those who have undertaken to extend relief in this section shall
work with the central committee, and there shall be an accounting of all
funds to the central committee.
As matters now stand it is not likely that much relief will be needed
from this committee for the next two months. During that time the people
affected, or most of them, will be able to earn a living by picking
cotton on the highlands, but from about the middle of November until
the next oat crop (in May, 1909) can be harvested, scores and scores
of families will be absolutely dependent upon assistance, and it is
to prepare for that time of need that the central committee and the
sub-committees to be appointed will now work. Of course, every effort
will be made to get these people to help themselves. There will be
absolutely no encouragement to idleness or pauperism, but there is no use
attempting to conceal the fact that later on in the winter there will be
a real problem to solve in caring for the destitute.
Columbia and South Carolina, it is hoped, will be able to care for
these needy people. What they fail to do the Red Cross will be asked to
supplement. The central committee represents Columbia and will also act
as agent for the Red Cross.
This visit was made on September 20, 21 and 22.