The morning call., 1893-12-14
THEY WANT WORK
The Unemployed Appeal
to the Clergy.
A CONFERENCE MEETING.
The Men FeelingIy Present
Their Case.
MINISTER'S PROMISE TO HELP.
They Organize for Concerted Action
and Will Consult With
Mayor Eliert.
MINISTER'S PROMISE TO HELP.

ington Hall, on Eddy street, to meet a
number of representative clergymer of
San Francisco for the purpose of mapping
oat ways and means of getting work for
the willing In the hall there were about
$50 men. while outside there were several
hundred men unable to get admission.
There was no mistake about the crowd
They were genuine wOrkmen auxiously
seeking employment, and the words of
the men came near bringing tears to
the eyes as they told the story of their
sufferiDgs and their futile search for work
The meeting was called to order at 80
P. NJ. by T. NJ. Daniels, the chairman of
the unemployed. He told in few words
the object of the meeting. Unable
themselves to effect anything toward OBJ
tanning work. they had invited the minis
teTs of San Francisco to aid their en-
deavors.
The secretary read the resolution of
sympathy received from the ministers of
the Congregational Club, letters from other
associations in sympathy. and letter
from Rev. George +. Montgomery, in which
ne stated that the Archbishop and the
Catholic clergy sympathiZed with tie men
out of employment and would willingly
cooperate in any wise and feasible
scheme. So far as public work is con-
CSlHtu, iuhl SDOuiu uc uOu6 Nv BtlllllR tue
authorities of the city interested therein
and precautions be taken that this work
should be given 10 bOna-fide residents,
Otherwise this coast would be swamped
with men seeking work.
Chairman Daniels said that the assertion
that there were no deserving workmen In
the city was untrue; that the blage
with the exception of THE MORNING
CALL no help lad been received from the
press.
Rev. c. o. Brown of the Firs. COngre-
gatiOnal Church, when called TO address
the meeting. said that the unemployed
ought first 10 state their position and give
the ministers present the benefit of their
experience and ideas on the question.
Secretary David said that the estimated
number of men in need of employment
was about 1900; that every man in the
assemblage was willing TO work, and that
public works should be inauguIated to
give relief. An executive committee has
been appointed TO solicit attendance o.
ministers to cooperate in this attempt.
Mr.. Howard spoke OF the actually home
less unemployed, OF those who have
homes and no employment and of those
who, if employment was taken from
them for one week, would be ia the same
condition. There are a Thousand and one
ways OF creating work, by preparing
streets for The Midwinter Fair and out of
fund to be subscribed for Improving sew
age system.
Mr. Warfield suggested that the Super
visors should take the fund sci aside Ia
build the tower on the City Hall ana with
it build sewers. In his street the sewer had
no outlet, but emptied on the street. He
aid not think that tie merchants had
much money To spare. and that If no funds
could be raised the city should issue scrip
and start public improvements, and the
ait Hvnnlt do
pressure we're brought to bear.
Mr.. Chisholm said that he had fOInd
the city not as clean as it might be.
The work of the unemployed might
be used TO make the city the lovely Cali
fornia" of which so much had been heard
in the East.
j. Hamilton said there was actual
desttution in San Francisco; that many
men in the city bad no place to lay their
heads, were without single cent and did
not know where 10 get a meal except by
begging from door to door. "On bulletin
board" ne continued, Il read lately that
Mayor Ebert had conferred with tile
Health Officers IN regard to cleaning the
city for the Mldwlnter Fair. L was too
poor TO buy paper, so l can't give the
exact words, but say that San Francisco
never had better opportunity, as far as
labor is concerned, to improve the sewer
age. So much idle labor is wasted while
ting food, except from such people as the
dear Sisters of ST. Mary's hospital. The
unemployed are not tramps from the East.
| am citizen and thousands OF my fellow
citizens are destitute. We ask not for
charity, but for work"
A. Murdock said he was a friend OF
the laborer. AMI that the statements about
the unemployed were verified by this nj meet-
ing composed of men of intelligence and
character. II believe" he said, that if
the press would stand with the working
man the battle would be won. 1t is easy
for the man with his stomach full to say
there are no unemployed"
Chairman Daniels said that the people
had come here to seek employment, moi 20
drive workiugmen out by taking lower
wages; hat II Il was question between
the married and unmarried the latter would
stand aside and let the married men take
the work.
Rev. c. o. Brown asking how many in
in the audience had been here only three
mon tbs, fifty hands were held up; how
many six months, about fifty more hands
went up; to the question how many have
been in the city over year about $50
bands were raised.
Rev J. O. Adams of the Westminster
Presbyterian Church confessed that sew
eral times tears were close to falling. He
believed there was something radically
wrong in the constitution of society
when honest workiugmen, such as he
took them TO be, could not get their daily
bread by honest toll. His felow-ministers
sympa hiZed with the workinemPn in their
endeavors because they believe In the a ther-
hood of God, and whatever influence they
could briug un authorities would be used
he wondered that the business men of San
Francisco could hold up their heads and
ask the world to visit it in the condition it
is in. The work should be done for our
safety.
Rev. j. O. A. Henry expressed his sym
paihv Tor the unemployed in their effo rt to
secure daily toll to get their daily bread
What was done four years ago could be
done now TO assist them. We are at a
social crisis that demands that the in
dnstrial forces shall no longer be used in
the interests of bureaucracy. Ii the prob
lem is not dealt with now 1t Will grow
larger. There is something wrong when
a man cannet secure labor and fair
wage.
Rev. III. Wckoff said there must be
something wrong when a great country
of 65.000.000 people can allow so many
months to go by without devising means
whereby an honest man could earn an hoE-
est living. He was was willing to 90 10
work to-day 10 get employment and utilize
labor to make San Francisco a garden