The Indianapolis journal., 1893-12-13
WHY III DISBANDED.
Letters of the Committee from the In
employed Workingmen.

The establishment of the registration bu-
reau at the Commercial Club has shown that
the inconvenences incident TO the hard
times have not only reached the ranks of
ordinary labor but have also caught many
of those who have heretofore been sur
rounded by plenty This fact is plainly
demonstrated by the number of delicate and
understanding girls who daily solicit the bu-
reau for positions as clerks and stenogra-
pliers. Yesterday afternoon beautiful girl
of eighteen years filled out one of the appli-
cation blanks. She desires work in store
or clerical duties in an office. She had all
the appearance of refinement, and said that
she alone in the world and absolutely
without a. guardian or protector She came
here a year ago and secured position in
one of the large dry goods stores, but lost
her place recently on account of dull busi-
ness. She lives with highly-respectable
family on the South Side and is eager to Sc
cure some employment by which she can
pay her board. There are scores of young
women in the same predicament, who have
no natural protectors and are thrown upon
their own resources. The management Of
the bureau believes that it is of the gravest
Importance that something be done for these
girls, and urges the attention of phian-
thropists to this class of sufferers.
The Commercial Club is in receipt of
communication from a citizen of Valley
Mills ten miles south of Indianapolis. The
writer says the citizens of Valley Mills de-
sire to help the distressed of this city, and
agree to contribute dinner to one hum
dred persons who NAV be sent TO them by
the eup tho c,h for the
offer the invitation must be declined. Ii Is
not the purpose of the relief committee to
r. thxa off
it is absolutely necessary. 1t is believed
that Indianapolis can take care of her suf-
fering unemployed, and until it is found
that the task has grown too large, outside
contributions will be kindly refused.
In order to set forth the facts connected
with the resignation of the relief committee
from the unemployed workingmen. ex-
tracts from the correspondence which
passed between that committee and
the Commercial Club are given. From the
letter of the committee from the unem-
ployyed ~ .,.t o,r usefu,ness T., this .reat
work is at end. We are all laboring men
and we have so far devoted our time to
this work for the purpose of keeping down
some things that might prove detriment
to the best interests Of the city. And we
see that in the manner in which matters
are handled at the present time that the
influence of the workingmen's committee
Is about gone and we feel that we cannot
further give time and service TO this
cause under present circumstances. we can
not live without an income, ana while we
have been at work on this committee we
have not had anything in the way of re-
muneration for services. and We have done
what we could to help your work along;
If we have been of help to you we are glad
of it, and we hope we have not been a
detriment."
The following is from the Commercial
Club committees letter:
eve regret that you find it necessary to
withdraw from helpful work. but it cannot
be reasonably expected that the sacrifices
which you have made can be long contin-
ued The assistance which you have rem
dered is highly appreciated. We are espe-
cally thankful that you have devoted your
selves to the work until we have been able
to get matters well in hand, preparatory
for the difficult task that confronts us. If il
is the determination of your committee to
disband we beg that the members individu-
ally will continue to refer to us for relief
such cases of destitution as may be brought
to their attention.