St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-02-24
THE UNhnlPLOYED.

There can be no effect without cause;
so we take it that the times are dis
jOlnted. or there would not be SO many
capable and deserving people out of en-
ployment. We had occasion a short
time ago to assert that any young man
who wanted work could get it, provided
he was willing to turn his hand to what
ever came first. We are still of that inn
preston, and yet we confess our conf
dence in our own position has been
somewhat shaken by a couple of incl
dents reported in our proceedings of the
police court within the last few days. The
first is that of an old man who voluntarily
appeared before the municipal Judge
and asked that q charge of yagrTncy be
entered against him. When asked his
reason for making so unusual request
he explained that he was idle because
he couldn't find employment, and that
he preferred to work FOR the public than
not TO work at all. The kind-hearted
judge accommodated him with nine
ty Gays in the workhouSe. The
other case was that of man
who deliberately smashed in costly
plass plate window and was then heard
to exclaim: "Thank God, I'll have a
place to sleep now" Instead of re-
morse for the offense he had committed.
he went to the lookup with heart over
flowing with gratitude that he was,
after weary Wanderings in search OF
work, to find place to lay his head.
We say that times are disjointeu when
such scenes as these are witnessed.
Here are two men, one in the work
house on charge of vagrancy, volun-
tarily preferred by himself against him
self, the other probably Oh the way to
state prison; and yet neither of them
criminals in the common acceptation of
the term. The poor devils are merely
the victims of a harsh fate. How many
more there are in this community who
are like them we do not know-possibly
more than we would care to state if we
did know. But whether they be few or
many, of one thing we are sure-there
ought to be established in this city a
public employment bureau where those
who are out of work can be registered
without fee, and an effort made by
those in charge of the bureau to find
employment for them. There is many
man, and woman too, idle here in this
city who wants to work and does not
know where to 60 to look for employ
ment. There are other people who are
in need of the services Of these very
idle ones, but do not know where to go
to find them.
There is work enough in this city for
every man, woman and child in it.. And
yet look at the number of people who
are out of employment. There is mis-
fit somewhere. Somebody or something
is at fault. The relief societies and the
various charitable organizations are
taxed to the utmost in their efforts to
provide for those who have nothing to
eat and to wear. and are without fuel.
1t is to the credit of our generous
hearted people that they contribute so
literally in this direction; and yet,after
all, good deal of it is misdirected
Charity. 1t would be great deal bet
ter to give these INDECENT people en-
ployment than to maintain them in idle
ness. In many cases the recipients of
these charities would prefer to work for
their bread than to receive it as charity.
All they ask for is the opportunity to
work. Can not some system be pro-
vided them by which the opportunity
can be granted them? That is what we
have in mind when we suggest the es-
tablisbment of public employment
bureau. If the city government will
not establish it, let our charitably dis
posed people get together and provide
some way to help the unemployed ones
who are idle from necessity.