The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-02-08
AN ENTHUSIASTIC COMMITTEE
BUT THEIR FUNDS ARE LOW.

ut Is terrible-simpy terrible. If we
are to continue our business in this Office
we shall be compelled to have janitor at
the door to keep the men out"
II was Secretary Rolla V. Watt of the
citizens committee who was making this
remark to one OF his business assistants
Just as CALL reporter entered his private
Office yesterday. The gentleman addressed
showed no sign of surprise at the PROPOSE
ton, and he simply replied, rather hope
lessy, II have scarcely done a stroke of
work this afternoon except say mo- to ap-
plicants for work tickets. The men harass
the very life ont of US, and | don't blame
them" he added, with sudden energy. IF
l we're in their position I'd worry every
member Of the committee to death before /
would see my wife and children starye."
Are The committee beginning 10 find the
men nuisance ?" was asked.
"A nuisance! Mo-" declared Secretary Watt
emptaticaly. II only wish | could afford TO
abandon my business for month and devote
my time 10 raising money for these poor fel-
lows. might convince people of their wOrth-
ness, Tor md that every day the members OF
our committee grow more enthusiastic over the
needs OF the men-over tn absolute truth of
their suflerngs and their willingness, ave, their
gladneSs 10 give good, honest Work In return
Tor The dollar day that they are given IN The
park.
them as being do you think that the members
of our committee. reliable business men, would
give up hours day after Gay TO personally in
curing into their cases? And the more they
inquire The more enthusiastic they become over
The work. Any one who imagines he commit
tee have any doubts as TO the w0rthness OF the
men makes lie greatest mistake; we are daily
=. growing more enthusiastic"
AT bis moment a messenger entered with
% letter, which Secretary Watt glanced through,
observing: Here Is a case In uont. A mem
Der OF our committee recommends a man,
honest industrious, supporting wife and child
and partially supporting SiSler-stoOd III line
from O'Clock this morning, but there were
Others ahead of him and he got no ticket. 1t Is
terrible 10 refuse work TO such men. terribe
And yet we have not funds 10 give II TO them
ALL"
Il will undertake to drive the men away"
said Registrar Daniels, who either belied his
words by The fact thar he had lust entered TO
beg for work tickets for 4 few especially urgent
eases. IL can say no 10 the men, but when
the wives come TO beg work Tor their husbands,
why then-I 90 not Know how to refuse a
woman when she tells you her children are in
want of bre adj
Tell them that If their Husbands have not
. energy TO come for their own tickets tbey VIII
nave TO 60 Without" replied Secretary Watt,
briefly.
Yes, but the women come up on the last day
that be men are working TO see if the tickets
cannot be renewed instead of expiring" re-
piled Registrar Daniels and l tell you that
when they plead for their hungry children / is
Lard, very hard, to refuse tLem" he added,
nefVouslv twisting his hat in his hands as
though he had already undergone a pretty Sc
we're mental strain on The subject
ut Is hard to refuse the men, toO." replied
Secretary Watt. but until the public contrib
Ute more we viii have 10 steel ourselves to do
this 10 be charity. The men are not seeking
charity; all they want is work. and when they
get 1t they do it with all their might.
III people would cease 10 look upon the
movement as charity we might perhaps arouse
more interest in the urgent needs Of the I'M
employed men" And then Secretary Watt
aalyt lie IAYnci
be. was Interrupted again by more piteous ap-
peals for work tickets.
Undoubtedly the chief cause which has
tended topauperiZe and lower The men work
ing a. the park in the Uubc estimation is the
fact that kindly but misguided people have
. given The movement the appearance OF charity
by providing free lunches for the men working
al the park. From The first the committee has
emphatically denounced the giving of the bread
of charity TO labOTers who were earning 81 a
day by the sweat of their brOws.
But the committee were not consulted in the
matter and thus the opinion has steadily
gained ground that the unemployed were ali
,'ODjecfS OF public charity" which, perhaps,
accounts for the fact that in a wealthy city like
San Francisco, where, as Arch bishop Riordan
expressed ii Oh Tuesday evening, "the banks
were-overfow with gold aud the gianerles
with corn, only 10000 odd dollars have been
collected TO provide work, NOT cha rity, Tor the
honest destitute men In our midst. These
10000 odd collars His Grace characterized as
bagatelle, trifie unworthy Of the immense
wealth and acknowledged liberalty OF this
CITY anu Oldte.
II few OF the country towns would follow
the example OF ST. Helena, which has con-
>tributed $780, the question OF work till spring
comes might be solved.
Nearly 500 men applied Yesterday, some OF
them having vailed from - O'Clock at night
10 order to be first at the door. They were all
married men who brought excellent letters OF
recommendation. Only 100 tick cts were issued.
-Four hundred men were laid of on Tuesday
evening so hat there are TO-DAY 1900 men EN-
TlOyed al the park, and over 700 men are to-
day walking lie streets OF San Francisco eager
for work and for bread.
The cash subscriptions received yesterday by
Treasurer Daniel Meyer were: CUburn, Tevis
% & Co, $50; Robert Cappelle, $40; Mrs. b. G..
q, 81; NJ. C. r., So; +. l.. Van der Mailer. s /:
United STATES steamship Monterey, S1O8 81
Westminster Presbyterian Church, by Charles
Adams. S28 20; Rev. Father BLACK, 81. Helena,
500; Henry SchmSedell, S25; employees of
Inc Occidental Hotel, S25; w. Z. Dean. 5000;
St Cornelius Church, Preside (additlOnaD,