St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-31
AID FOR THE UNEMPLOYED

never IN the history OF the nlted
States has the army of the unemployed
been as large and as importunate as it
is at the present time, and never before
have the necessities of the poor been as
pressing. In every large city there are
tens and hundreds of thousands of men
out of employment, many of them hay
ing families dependent upon them for
support. The vast majority are abso-
lutely without means. They have been
living in poorly furnished rented rooms.
and, in addition to the clamurings of
hunger, are beset by their landlords
demanding theirrent. Thousands have
already been evlcted from their miser-
able shelter; thousands more are threat
ened with eviction, and in the dead of
winter will be cast upon the streets
without roof to shelter them from the
borean blasts, without food and without
clothing.
There is little need at this time of ill.,
quiring into TIN cause of this terrible
distress. Pernicious systems of finance
and taxation had much to do with. pre-
cipItating it upon the country; the ex-
trayagance of the people no doubt con-
tributed towards it. Our people, from
the highest to the lowest, have been
living on the high-pressure system. We
had long years of plenty, when money
Was abundant and the demand for
labor in excess Of the supply. Wages
were in consequence high, and all
classes had enough of this worlds
goods and to spare. Many fancied that
these conditions would be permanent,
and they made no effort to husband
their resources. They spent all they
earned, and often incurred debts. nom
estly believing, perhaps. that they could
easily pay them when due. But times
Kept growing worse instead of better.
Creditors were importunate, their house
hold goods were seized upon, and they
were reduced to penury. Ii they were
Still able to obtain WORK. it was at re-
duced wages. They found themselves
unable to curtail their expenses, and
their load Of debt continued to accumu-
late. Finally the sheriff seized their
effects, and they were turned out into
the streets without employment, food or
shelter.
Although in many instances their
present deplorable condition is due to
the folly and want of foresight of the
sufferers, there is a duty resting upon
the community that cannot be ignored.
None must be allowed to suffer from
lack of food, clothing or shelter. In the
smaller communities private charity
can be invoked, for the number OF the
poor is small, but in the larger citins
the duty of providing for them rests
upon the public at large. In New York,
Chicago, Boston and Baltimore a COM
prehenSive system of relief has been in
augurated. Care has been taken to ex-
clude from its benefits the tramp class,
who will not work when they have the
opportunity. A man in Chicago can
procure food enough to maintain him
and comfortable place to rest at night
by working for three hours a day at
cleaning the streets and public parks.
Thousands are availing themselves OF
the opportunity, and, as consequence,
the streets of the city are cleaner than
they have been for many years. and
none who are worthy are suffering.
1ACIC 10 CfSIJ uCCu VI ali dUOullulllS
charity at the present time. But indiS.
criminate charity is worse than none at
all. Assistance should be bestowed
upon those who need it freely. but care
must be taken that no encouragement is
given to the vicious or the Indolent.
Those who are able to work should be
required to do something for what they
receive. Our streets and sidewalks
could be kept neat and clean by requir-
ing little labor from the recipients of
charity. This requirement would be no
hardship. but would be direct benefit
to the poor. For no habit grows upon a
man so fast, or is more destructive Of
his manhood than the habit of indo-
lence.
Except in the case of the sick or those
physically ipcapacitated from work, no
charity should be given without au
equivalent. BY requiring labor in re-
turn for food and clothing, the indie
pendence and manhood of man are pre-
served; by giving him unrequited char
ity he is encouraged in habits of in-
dolence and improvidence.