The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-05-29
CHARITY ENTERTAINMENT.
Commissioner Bird Ta1ks--The Capital
Stumbling Block.

Commissioner Bird Ta1ks--The Capital
Stumbling Block.
An enthusiastic meeting of citizens
was held in the parlors of the National
hotel yesterday afternoon to plan for
some relief necessary to be afforded to
the unemployed miners of Scranton.
Mrs. DR.. Hibben was unanimously chosen
as chairman of the meeting.
Among those present the desire seemed
to be to know the exact state of affairs,
and the course to pursue in the emer-
gency
The remark was made that owing to
reports given such as the one that ap-
peared in the morning Capital in bold
headlines, announcing mo One Suffer
ing-The Present Needs of the Scranton
Miners Provided For" make it almost
impossible to carry out successfully the
projected entertainment, that this meet
ing was called to perfect arrangements
for. Here Labor Commissioner Bird said
that he had certainly given no one to
understand anything of this kind and
furthermore that while their wants were
supplied for few days nothing was pro-
vided for for the future and no funds
except from charitable people were avail
able Mr.. Bird then gave a very plain
and comprehensive report making it pos
sible to see how those people came to be
in their present condition, through no
fault of their own.
The hours of labor have necessarily
been reduced, he stated, because there is
not a demand for large quantity of
coal and the price paid for the
labor has been cut since 1891, from
81 per ton for mining to $1.O5.
in April, 1895. Still if they could put in
anywhere near full time, they still might
into hoy co1u nd foT in
parative comfort, but when an able
bodied man is only given work enough
to make his wages amount to about 81
month, it is absolutely certain that they
cannot be comfortable.
Mr. Bird said that these men were in
dustrious, temperate and honest, and all
that they needed was employment
But where, oh, where, is that to be Sc
cured now? He states that some of
the men told him that they would walk
out along the road into the farming dis
tricts and inquire at every farm for en-
| ployment till noon, then they would re-
turn on another road, and if they secured
| any work they were very willing to per-
form it. He estimated that at least 800
per week would be necessary to keep
| them in comparative comfort till the
| opening of the mine in the fall. When
it is known that there are now forty-two
/
| seen that the estimate is not large, and
the number will increase, he said. They
all have large families, from four to
/ eleven children each.
| Mayor Fellows stated some of the diff
ficulties in the way of giving employ
ment to unemployed men as a rule.
Men will apply for work and say, Il
have no trade, but am a handy man"
This of course is here in the city, but
perhaps the statement made may cause
some parent to think on this line and
| help them to fit their boys for some line
of work in life that will make them pro-
ducers for the state and nation instead of
! leaving them incapable of doing any
thing we'll As there was d little fund
! on hand, and there had been a most
! commendable and successful effort
by MarshaIl's band for the Scran-
| ton people, it was thought best not
| to try to have the projected en-
| tertainment this week, but in the near
| future.
DR. Hamilton. with his usual generosity
| to all good causes, consented to donate
| the use of Hamilton Hall. the Modocs, "a
a club, have consented to assist others in
| giving one of the finest musical enter
tsinments that have ever been given in
the city. The full programme will be
given in time to let the people know
what to expect
A vote of thanks was offered the pro-
prietors of the hotel for their generosity
in allowing US the use of their parlors.
| The meeting adjourned to meet at the
same place next Tuesday at o'clock
o. m. Try and make your arrangements
to be present and help in the worthy
cause.
| MRS Z. o. CASE, Sec