Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1894-01-23

Any attempt at a statistical es-
innate Of the number Of wage
earners now the victims Of enforced
idleness throughout the United
States would rest upon data too
insufficient to give it much value.
AS someo one rather pithily remark
ed the other day, so well informed
an authority on labor questions as
Professor Ely would give an esti-
mate reaching well into the mil
lions, while on the other hand, so
expert a statistician as Nh. Ed
ward Atkinson would probably
not be able to find more than q
hundred thousand in the entire
country. The remark, of course,
was intended to show to what an
extent the habitual point of view
is likely to bias the inquirer's
judgment in a matter where no
precise data are available. Ger
tainly there has not been known
for at least twenty years a time
when so large a proportion Of
w%orkingmen were cut off from their
regular means of support, with so
little prospect of an early return to
their places. Fortunately, a humid
red thousand men temporarily out
of work in an American city does
not mean a hundred thousand APP
plicants for charity, or subjects
for relief measures. The greater
proportion of the out-of-works are
able unaided to tide over, for a
period. Many Of them have good
accounts at the savings banks,
many others have friends and rel
atives to help them, many more
have lenient landlords and credit
with the grocer, and may enjoy a
good understanding with their en-
plorer, whose shop, or mill, ii is
confidently believed, must be run
ming again before many weeks.
The situation, therefore, is not
one which justifes pessimism, So
cialistic raving, gloomy forebod-
ing or anything else except prompt
sensible and well-planned efforts
to prevent actual suffering and to
assist in the readjustment Of times
which for the moment are out Of
joint. With all the work that
charitable societies and relief
agencies must do, it will still re-
main true that by far the largest
part of the task of preventing or
alternating distress must be per-
formed in a hand to hand way 10y
individuals. Thus every humane
employer must DO everything in
his power, first, 70 keepall his reg
ular force at work, and, second, if
he is unable to keep them at full
and regular work, to see that none
of them become subjects of public
charity. Furthermore, it should
be the business of the more pros
porous employees and workmen to
show n kindly regard for their less
fortunate associates. Again, v
cry man and woman who can in
one way or another find employ
fnent to give, should make it both
aduty and a privilege to distribute
work as widely as possible. AT a
time like this, the police and mu-
nicipal authorities can render val
liable service by vigorously en-
forcing the laws against habitual
Migrants. These men ought to be
promptly committed to public
warehouses and held for as long
a term as possible, doing hard and
disagreeable labor for the benefit
of the community, in payment for
their food and lodging. 1t is
agreed that, in every possible case,
work, rather than money or food
or clothing or fuel ought to be
provided. 1t is agreed that in
every ase whore aims are bestow-
ed, there should be a kindly and
prompt, but also a frank and thor
ough Investigation into the merits
,lication.
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How does II happen that vor