The record-union., 1892-09-03
BUSINESS AND PHILANTHROPY.
An Opportunity to Become a Public
BenefactOr.
Proposed establishment Of a ''Sober
Mans Home'' for the Benefit
of Farm Laborers.
LTraveIing Correspondent REcoRp-UNEoN.l !

Travelling Correspondent RECoRD-UNEoN.
In farming community under healthy
conditions the farmer is constantly
evolved from the working man.
Steady work and careful saving establish
credit, and in a few years the Iaborer be-
comes a small proprietor.
The writer has noticed that in Cali
fornia the laborer is generally a capitalist
and spendthrifU for the first fow days in
town and then a tramp until he finds an
other job.
This custom is the life and support of
the great saloon element and the ruin of
the mass OF farm laborers, as well as a
great barrier to subdivision Of real estate
and small holdings. 1t is less on account
OF the disposition to accumulate large es-
tates than from difficulty in finding buy
ers for small tracts that many Of our best
counties are being depopulated.
This is not because all laborers prefer
to spend their money in the way that
most do, so much as for the reason that it
is the customary and almost the only
place TO find labOrers at the saloon, and
man must be there if he wants TO meet
those looking for help. Employers
3lcttly prefer SODGI men w no nave Il lle-
sire to accumulate and become response
bic citizens.
When one has paid man two or three
hundred dollars for a hard summers
work and is asked by the same man for
half dollar to buy meal the next time
he comes to town, he feels as though that
money had better been thrown in the
street. When he comes into town Sun
day night and loads UP header-bed with
his crew, some of whom are in such COLI
dition that he could not carry them out in
any other kind of a wagon, he expert
ences one OF the humiliating trials of
farm life. The Salvation Army and all
other bands Of Christian workers are
constantly receiving acceSsions to their
ranks Of such as must change their busi-
ness to lead Christian life. Now what
better for a converted saloon-keeper than
to open in such town as Willows, Max
well, Woodland, Yulare, Fresno, Han
ford or Bakersfield a sober mans home?
Rent one of the boarding houses or hotels
and supply such accommodations as suit
labOriug men, at usual rates. Instead of
drink, provide them with comfortable
SItung-rOOms, reading matter, checkers,
chess, ETC., and have an arrangement
with a savings bank for receiving de-
posits.
1t would also be well for the proprietor
to have an agency of a variety of desira-
bic investments for such as want to buy
small tracts or purchase on installments.
So soon as the idea was well advertised
a large share Of those inclined to save up
for q rainy day would give the place the
preference, and some who have always
fallen on the rocks when they came near
shore would seek it as a welcome har-
Dor. Most employers would always go
there first to look for help and that CON
sideration would draw custom.
Convert Il man to habits of economy
and he is ready to receive kindly suggeS-
tions for further steps, Or take it the
other way. A man so thoroughly con-
verted that his whole purpose in life is
changed will begin to act with prudence
and generally stands in need Of those
who will encourage him in that direction
Here is a chance for private enterprise
likely to prove selt-suppOrting from the
start, to promote public interest, to foster
morality, and TO prove with many the
stepping-stone to a higher life.
Save one man who has already started
on the downward road and lead him in
the way to be a self-respecting and re-
spected citizen, and you have served the
State better than he who brings two inn
migrants. FRANK S. CHAPLIN.