The morning call., 1893-05-31
NOW GO TO WORK.
No Man Needs ga Little
Assistance"
THERE IS WORK FOR ALL.
Country Employers Can't Get Men
Observation-Disclosures Hol-
combe Discharged.

Enough-Superinte Hol-
combe Discharged.
If DR.. Wiley, the agitator, who is anx-
ious to find employment for every one ex-
cept himself, had called at the Christian
Mission at 729 Market street, aud at the
Salvation Army "Lifeboat," at the corner
of Kearny and Sacramento streets, before
he sent circulars all over the country APP
pealing "in Gods name for money to re-
lieve the 10000 idle and starving work
men in this city," he would have learned
that there are no starving w0rkmen in
this city. and that there are very few idle
laborers here who do not want to be idle.
If he will visit either of these places to-
day he will be given employment. II he
wants il, IN some bayfield, or vineyard-for
it is a fact that the harvest is heavy and
the laborers are few.
The Salvation Army late in last Decem-
Der began 10 give food and beds to destitute
men. When the applicant was able to pay
the trifing amount charged for both bed
and breakfast it was gratefully received.
When he had nothing he was none the less
welcome, but was required TO pay Tor what
he had received by laboring in the army's
work shop on Dupont street until he had
rendered an equivalent for his food AID
lodging. Thousands were thus assisted.
Several hundred meals were provided
daily. From fifty to sixty weary souls
slept nightly in the ctffin-like hunks. and
as many more stretched their aching limbs
upon the floor. Brushes, mats and ship
tenders were made in the factory, and en-
plnyment was gwen to all who asked for it.
Three weeks ago the factory closed lis
Z 1 .,,N1fn +ff,tN
for employment. The cooks al the Life
boat have been dismissed because applica-
tons for food are very few and far be-
tween, and not more than thirty OF the
hunks are now occupied. For these the
occupants are charged cents apiece.
The officer in charge of the boat ex-
plains this state of affairs by saying that
there are at present very few idle work
men in the city.
The manager of one of the oldest en-
ployment offices, when interviewed, said
that the hay crop throughout the State is
unusually large, and that he is unable to
I'LL the orders for harvest -hands.
At the Christian mission Manager Tay-
Tor said "We receive three or four orders
for tarmhands every day, but we are sell
dom able 10 ill them. The wages offered
are small, varying from SO TO S25 per
month and board. This will be spen-
did place for labor when the Chinese are
gone"
During the winter the mission fed and
lodged from 800 to 400 men every day. Now
1t feeds ten and beds fifteen.
Rev. Stephen P. Holeombe. the evan
gelist who has been Superintendent of the
mission since its organization, will pray
and preach in his official capacity for the
last time tomorrow night. The directors
of the mission, composed of ministers and
prom inent church people. have asked him
to resign, and he has accepted the invita-
ton.
The depOsed superintendent is re-
formed gambler and as an exhorter has
been very successful. But one thing he
lacked. according to the mission people,
and that was ability TO raise revenue.
The trouble began about Two months
ago when the directors found, to their
ehagrin and dismay, that many good
people who had promised TO give financial
support to the mission had forgotten their
pledges. Many men appealed to the mis-
sion daily ard nightly for food and shelter.
and 1t was cheerfully given to every one
who was willing to wOrk in their coal and
wood yard in return for the bed and board
given them.
But it was hard to find customers for the
coal and wood, and time came when
little employment could he given to the
applicants. 1t was, therefore, decided that
no one should be received who was unable
to paw small amount, or to produce
ticket for the same amount, given him by
some charitable citizen to whom it had
been sold by the miss on.
The result Of this action was that manv
outcasts, worthy and unworthy alike, ap-
piled for shelter at the mission and We're
turned away, while scores of empty
benches upon which they would gladly
have stretched their weary limbs stared
at the murky ceiling.
The attendance at the meetings fell off.
and the evangelist presented his resi- qua
tion. He was asked to reconsider it, a
the directors were pleased with his work,
and he agreed to tarry with them little
longer.
Men without tickets were again given
the privilege of sleeping on the benches.
while those who were more fortunate nccu-
pied the hunks in the dormitory. Still the
needed revenue failed TO appear The
steward of the Palace Hotel was asked for
the fragments of food left upon his tables
and was Mt first inclined to grant the re-
quest. But he rememb ered the exasperat-
ing conduct of his highly salaried and well
fed cooks and walters on many occasions
and decided to withhold his hand for the
present
Then the directors called upon Mr.. Hol-
combe to resign and he did so, with the I'M
Outstanding that he would retain his posi-
tion until the end of the month.
The ev-superIntendept will remain in
the city for some time. He minated that
the WORK Of the mission should have been
carried on in the dives, and that when
the expensive Bijon Theater was rented
more was bitten off than could be chewed.
Reports that the mission would soon
close It's doors are unfnunded. The old
theater has been rented for one year, and
the offices ana stores in it have been sub
let at monthly rental OF 5000. Contribu-
lions are regularly received from the
churches and prominent citizen has
promised TO give $500 per month when
certain amount has been contributed