The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-11-02
FIGHTING THE WOLF
WOrkingmen Proceeding in Their
Efforts to Prevent Want.
Committees Report that Good Has Al
ready Been Done-SOme Prac-
teal Suggestions Made.

From the attendance at the workingmen's
meetings being held in the Criminal Court
room ii is very evident that they believe
that 'God helps him who helps himself"
Last night both the lower floor and the
gallery of the room were well filled with
workingmen who were alive to the condi-
ton that confronts them. The unanimous
sentiment of the meeting, as that of last
week. was that way to earn money, and
not charity, was what they desired. ID. T.
Kennedy, who presided over the meeting,
voiced the sentiment of the entre audience
when he said, You have all lived long
enough to learn how things are done here.
The best way to popularize thing is to
make it popular, and our object is to, If
we can, arouse the people OF this city
to true understanding Of the impending
conditions. When you bring this home to
the conscience of our people 1 think you
will find hearty response to the needs.
We have made a good start, and the peo-
pie are awakened to the situation We
don't want charity; we want a way to
earn our bread by strong right arms.
If it must at last be charity then let it
be SO, but until it must be we want OPP
rortunity to work. The people are under
standing this, and they are in sympathy
with our endeavors. When a panic comes
upon us men with money begin what
they call 'retrenching.' The stringency has
touched them, and they say they must con-
tract their efforts and their investments.
They must 'retrench' and reduce the force
OF their employees. 1t is this very retrench-
rlent that gives impetus to the panic and
WeakenS the already weakened condition.
Let us try TO induce men not to retrench;
let us try to induce them to at least retain
tnelr accustomed activity, If not increase it,"
All the committees appointed at last
weeks meeting made reports, save the COM
mittee appointed to visit the Council, and
as the Council does not meet till next Mon
Gay night this committee was unable to per-
form its duty until that time. The commit
tees all reported that they had been received
with courtesy and in Kindness and wece
given encouragement in the work under
taken. The substance OF the Mayors reply
was given in yesterdays Journal. The COM
Public Works said the board held a special
meeting 10 give them an audience Monday
afternoon. The board expressed approval
OF the proposed plans, and promised to push
10 completion as much of the public work
as 1t was possible TO do, and, if necessary,
would adopt the system of working in re-
lays giving as many men as possible some
employment. The members of the board
said they had no idea that there was as
many idle men as the committee represented
there was. They promised to supply home
workingmen with employment in preference
to outsiders, so far as it was possible TO do
so, and also promised to stipulate in future
contracts that home labor should be en-
ployed. The board CT Public Safety re-
ceived the men with courtesy and offered to
do all in their power TO assist in the accom-
pliShment of the purposes sought to be ac-
complished by the committee, though their
power to employ men was very limited.
The committee appointed to visit rental
agents reported that all the leading agents
had informed them that they were making
efforts to have the landlords reduce the
rents upon cottages and the class of houses
occupied by workingmen. One agency, that
of Alex. Metzger, informed the committee
hot hos oil rlNr IL Cl iFrhf
duction in the rents of small properties.
The committee of fifteen appointed To wait
upon the Commercial club and the Board
of Trade reported that the subject would
be brought before both organizations at
their meetings next week. Mr.. kennedy
said he had talked with Secretary Fortune
and President Lilly. of the Commercial
Club, and both had said that they had
given the subject consideration and, while
they could not speak for the club. they
said they thought the club would undoubt-
eddy do something to relieve the distress.
The committee appointed TO visit the chat
tel-mortgage sharks and installment houses
said both had promised to be lenient with
their patrons. The proprietors OF several
leading installment houses had said they
cases. They said that if persons holding
goods not entirely paid for would, upon
moving from one house 70 another. INFORM
the installment house of the time ana place
of removal they would be continued upon
After the reports of the committees had
cussion of plans of remedy in hVe-mlnute
talks. There were number OF propositions
made to the meeting for their ratification,
some of which We're practicable and worthy
of consideration, While others were haroIy
practicable A B. Loebenberg suggested
that an effort be made to have capitalists,
who were able to carry the loans, organize
a loan association for the purpose OF loan
ing money to workingmen in small amounts
to be paid back in small inStallments, with
interest He also thought some relief might
be had by inducing secret societies to 60
the same thing for members of the soc1e-
ties. Another feasible plan suggested by
Mr.. Loebenberg was that the city, instead
of employing for eight hours at $l.oO per
day, employ men for six hours at $L2o
thus furnishing employment to larger
number of men. There were a few present
who thought all plans suggested for en-
ployment of men by the city were not IN
the line of relief. because the city had no
money with which to pay them and could
not borrow the money with which to pro-
vide work, because il had reached the
limit which it was authorized TO borrow
The next meeting will be held in the Grim
inal Court room on Friday night of next
week.