The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-06-25
AN ATTEMPT TO GIVE JUSTICE.
Teaching the Poor to Protect Them-
selves Against Landlords.


DR.. Arnold Eilvart, in Charities Review.
The work of teaching the poor to pro-
tect themselves and of teaching union as a
means TO this end has already begun. In
the spring of last year a number OF young
men and women, of whom "a dozen proved
to be active and constant workers, banded
Reform Club. Originally organized TO fight
dirt. the section soon found itself by force
against every kind of Injustice.
In considering the results obtained IL is
had oe the not Observation-Disclosures of living in Rar-
lem, far from the scene OF their labors,
and that all were novees WITHOUT SeY
were undertaking. They resolved to at
tend first to the sanitation OF houses AS
themselves forced into systematic invasions
of peoples homes, and ii was with much
qeeepon they moud that they Sesan
their work. Such misSiyingS were soon
dissipated. Suspicious looks and curt an
swers greeted their first appearance. but no
sooner did they explain their mission and
invite cooperation in the cause
of cleanliness than they We're met with
the Ffeartiest encoura cement The plan OF
campaign was simple. circular was pre-
pared setting forth the sanitary duties or
landlord and tenant respectively, and ask
ing tenants D report all neglect or 5uch
duties to the section, with the assurance
that in no case Moulu the neille ~ ;r,,, ,,ae
ton meets a response from many VINO
would fear to address a complaint 70 the
Board OF Health. Armed with TINS clrcular
the members start forth on their weekly
rounds, two persons of opposite sex visit
ing together, this is found an enectVe
means OF disarming suspicion The NUMBER
of houses visited is limited, so that each
can be revisited as often as necessary, ana
an essential characteristic OF the work Is
that constant efforts are being made 10
find in each Frouse one or deputies
+ 40 will observe and report on It's sanitary
condition. A new visitor is always accom-
l.xvr yor has had
the result of every visit is recorded so that
the newcomer may take UP the work at the
point where it was left by mis- predecessor.
and that the effect OF the Wuoie Work
may be readily seen.
No action is taken on any complaint until
it has been investigated by visitor, VINO
then signs a report giving the result OF his
own personal observation. If he finds ground
for action the nuisance is reported, Ia the
first place usually to the landlord, and later,
If necessary (and it is generally necessary,
TO the Board of Health, the police, nre.
building, public works or street-cleaning de-
partments. Nearly all the nuisances re-
ported have been stopped, but of those re-
ported TO the police no notice has been
taken; these are being followed up.
The state of the Tenth ward may be inn
aeined from the fact that in one street in
which sxty-three houses have been visited,
twenty-seven serious nuisances have been
reported, besides which numerous minor
defects have been remedied en- PEASANT.
Several thousand circulars calling for re-
ports of nuisances have been distributed
throughout tenement houses which could
not be regularly visited; but as result OF
this only few of the most hagrant evils
have been reported Most of the complaints
are made orally to visitors, or originate
with them. Cases of want are reported to
the East-side relief committee to the
Charity ORGANIZATION Society. No material
help is given by the section as a whole,
but in the beginning of its work IL adopted
the plan of giving away flowers when VS.
iting, in the hope that recipients might be
Influenced to bring their rooms into har-
mony with them