The Labor enquirer., 1884-05-03
RENT REFORM.

IL E,-. . HlENTl bsEtohbu. 40 -fr +
One of the greatest curses to the work
1ngmen of Denver is the extortionate
. rates of rent charged by the landlords
and the habit of demanding payments
monthly in advance The wage workers
of this city keep their noses to the grind
stone for the purpose Of, enriching the
sharks who own the small dwelling
houses, and they arc compelled to pay
promptly on the first day of their rent
month.
There has been considerable COM
plant upon this subject of late, and a
great many tenants have come to me
and asked if 1t was not possible to do
something to loosen themselves from the
hold of the leeches who are sucking
their very life blood. =
. have noticed that the working classes
are ever ready to grumble among them
selves over their oppression by the prop
ertied class, but have also noticed that
when remedy is suggested these same
grumblers are not ready to take hold on
it. But, after thinking over the rent
question for awhile have decided to
suggest an ides. and see if there is inde-
pendence and determination enough left
in the workingmen Of this city to induce
them to make an effort in their own be-
half
I propose the formation Of league
for the purpose of forcing rents down to
fair and living price and to overthrow
the system of compulsory advance pay
ments. l will place in book the name
of every person who signifies willing
ness to cooperate in such a movement,
and when there are sufficient number
of names we will call meeting for the
purpose of signing pledge and publicly
agitating the question; or l will be gov
erned by the Suggestions of those really
desirous of doing something in behalf of
this reform. Those who mean business
in this matter are respectfully urged to
either bring or send into this Office their
names, to be placed on the list.
There is hardly any need to 60 into a
discussion of this subject or to produce
argument in Justification of the proposed
move. The question should certainly be
very familiar TO ever man and woman
who pays feptln Denver. They all GER
tainlY know tHE the rates extorted by
the landTords 81 sfhis city are, on an aver
age, more thaitwice what they should
be; and any fair-minded person knows
that the system which requires the pay
ment of rent in advance is not only un-
just, but that it cannot be sustained by
law-bad as the law is
If the workirgmen of this city stepped
up to their employers on the first day of
each month and demanded the payment
of a month swages in advance, and re-
fused to turn wheel DR. strike blow un-
tf4~their demand was admitted, such a
howl would 60 up as would frighten the
catamounts in the snowy range. And
yet the landlords threaten to turn these
same workingmen and their families out
into the street if they are not paid their
exorbitant charges for a months occu-
pancy of dwelling before it has been
occupied an hour. There is n6 justice
or reason in such system, and it should
be overthrown. 1t often works great
hardships on honest and industrious
men; but we will not bring plea for hu
manity and mercy into the treatment of
the subject at this time; all we want is
Justice.
There are kind-hearted landlords in
Denver-not many-who are always will
ling to treat tenant with honesty and
decencv. The few Of these would not
suffer if the tenants organized ever so
powerful league. But the most of the
house-oWners are skinfints and ShylOCks
of the meanest character, and they must
be taken in hanG.
will say no more or this subject now ;
if any interest is taken in the movement
l shall have considerable to say in the
future, and great many stories illustra-
tiveo the iniqui!y to relate. Wha& is
wanted now, is an expression from a few
hundreds of the renters in this city who
are willing to make bold stand for their
rights
Send in your names.
THE BEsSEMER CLOSED.