The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-07-20
A Cry of Alarm.

| UNttMRl<OHE Ot NEW NOKhs
Under this caption careful and reliable
newspaper correspondent writes to his
paper from New York
There was a vast deal of speculation
last summer and there were many esti-
mates as to the total number of unem-
ployed i'll this city. These estimates
varied from $4,000 to 200, 900, and finally,
late in the season, police census was
taken, which determined the number, if
l remember rightly, at between 10000
and $4,000. 1t was expected that this
number of idle workers would be mater
tally decreased this summer, though it
was not believed even by the most SAN
guine that anything like the normal
number would be given steady employ
ment.
| The facts in the case, as partially re-
vealed to the writer during an interview
today with IAN official of the Association
for the Improvement of the Condition of
the Poor, perhaps the largest and most
efficient charitable organization in New
York, are startling and deplorable. Said
this official:
This society has received to date dur
ing the present summer at least three
times as many applications for assistance
as were received during the corresponding
period of last year and at least three times
| &C t11,,ct, old hoe baa,, ax,+o.,Iol W..
have no adequate idea of the extent of the
restitution i'll New York at this moment.
We pay rent and furnish groceries for
whoever comes to us properly Endorsed as
a person who has at all times been self
supporting when enabled so to be, and of
good habits and character. In ordinary
years and, indeed, last year, which was in
all respects an extraordinary year, the
applicants here have been almost entirely
laborers, mechanics and working women.
This year we have had applications for
assistance in great numbers from persons
of far higher grade than ever before.
Laborers, mechanics, artisans and work
ing women have come to us in create r
numbers than ever previously, and in
addition clerks, salespeople and members
of the professions.
II do not believe that any profession
whatsoever has failed of representation
III the long lines of destitute supplicants
tor assistance at this office. There have
been clergymen and doctors of medicine,
lawyers and professional writer's, electrical
engineers and civil engineers, persons
who in ordinary times have been able to
earn from $500 to $1,000 or $4,000 a year
and are now disqualified solely because OF
the depression, persons to whom it has
seemed like surrendering the last vestige
OF manhood and womanhood to appeal
for charity, persons who, before succumb-
ing to the remorseless necessities of the
period, have pawned their watches, their
jewelry and other personal adornments,
their spare furniture and clothing, and
have even gone without sufficient food.
cit is pitiful, the official went on, Ito
deal with this class of applicants, 1t is
sad.enough indeed to deal with anyone
who is suffering for the necessities of life,
but it is doubly sad when the applicant is
enduring the double tortures of want and
wounded pride. Oftener than in any
other class those of whom am speaking
come to us i'll poor physical condition.
To speak plainly, their reluctance to
become objects of charity in many cases
induces them to half starve themselves
before they will do this, and then their
bodily weakness is SO great that while in
every case now recall they have been
willing and eager to take any work they
could get to do, i'll many instances they
nave been so weak and so emaciated that
it would be perfectly obvious to an intend
ing employer that the applicants would
not be able to perform the work required
If given employment. 1t is my opinion
that next winter will be much harder
one than was last winter and that the
charitable people of New York will be
asked to go deeper into their pockets than
they have ever done before"