The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-01-15

for the discuss
a problem has pro.
-sot opinions, but untor-
xkteIy, tne majority cav only the in
vrdividual tramp; and endeavored to set
tls the question by giving BIN employ
mont, Without inquiry into the causes
produoing the army OF unemployed.
There Is great deal of foolish and I'M
iust criticism regarding the remuners-
zion for labor and men refusing to work
\ for mere pittance.
Il must BE- remembered that labor is
;commodity, and is the only thing that
the working class has to cell. For il
& Inotration Since the late railway strike
one 81 the blacklisted strikers of Sscra-
mento arrived in Los Angeles penniless,
witha wife and child. Both of the latter
we're taken sick. Having no friends in
the city they were in danger OF actual
starvation; the husband daily tramped
tho streets in quest OF work of any kind.
\ One or two kind-hearted persons OF the
working class obtained q room for the
saick. and having exhausted their own
F~Heene, reported the case to the ASCOT
ated 4 Charities. Two days later an
agent Of that society visited this room
and after examining the emp
& boards and making a detailed
: INQUIRY as to their antecedents.
family history, religious convictions,
and 80 forth, stated they, the Aeso
aofated Charities, would do something for
them shortly. About two days alter,
y ANAL order for groceries aud some cloth
ling arrived, but in the meantime the
fsmily would have suffered if the few
friends referred to had not supplied
their wants. The man was finally in
formed Of proprietor OF a store who
ould give him work. He applied and
- told that his work would begin at
pollock in the morning. and upon ask
what wages he would receive. he
Atold it would be % cents day,
Y board. He refused to take tbs
because il he did so he would
opportunity to seek employ
t would afford wages sufficient
use rent and buy food for his
after his refusal he was told
ould not work when employ
as offered him. He was then
q that plenty OF men at that price
N .ould be obtained, but as he wes mar
NED man he would receive 80 cents a
day.
Many OF our merchants are complain.
ing of slack sales. Suppose. ii come
one entered their stores and offered %
cents for one dollars worth of goods,
and was refused, and granting that
somebody then had the hardihood to az
sert that the merchants did not wsnt to
do business, would he be believed? The
same rule applies to the worker who
refuses to give one dollars worth Of
work for % cents. AS the one can not
do it and pay his debts, neither can the
other.
rA-- l.. .n-or.haxad kbat 1aaF aor;po
the city OF Los Angeles offered three g.
cent meal tickets for days work. This
was regarded as sublime example oil
municipal charity, while in reality the
zeal alms-giving was done By the men
who worked on the First street hill, fol
they donated their labor to the city o.
Los Angeles, and the city was beggarly
enough to accept the commodity Offered
ct one-fifth OF its value, and NEAR
enough to boast of its generosity.
Within the past two days. it lie report
cd that the order has gone forth to ar
rest every one sleeping in the open o.
asking for something to eat 1t is {
pity that the homeless wsnderer car
not overcome the law of gravitation anC
crawl up In the air to sleep, or tina
nature forces him to lie down and sleep
after tramping the streets number o.
nlRnte, Rnu 30 e5Chpo tno uecoi ASiou VI
ball and chain. Think of the innate de-
pravity, criminal weakness and tota
lack OF honor in man asking for some
thing to eat after several days starva
ton. A recent writer claims that NJ
man need fear starvation in this country
Y a. he has only to make his want
known; but the police regulations o
this city make the telling of his wants
crime punishable by term in the chain
gang.
1t is a strange thing that the unem
plored American mas not the honesty
patriotism and doCility to lie down anC
die quietly, as one would think truly
patriotic American should do; but onti
he reaches this point of self-abnegstioI
pseudo econimests will have much t
complain of and chaingangs will be
filed. OBSERVER.