The San Francisco call., 1897-03-24
Bunker. Mr.. Bunker on assuming the
chairmanshin smoke In nart as follows:

CudlTmauSDlp spoke III part dS lOlioNS
Fellow-citizens and friends. we are here to
help the homeless and lift the hopeless to q
higher plane We not here from mere
sense of duty. We are here because we wanted
10 be here. And glad we are that we are
here.
Hard times have besieged the people, press
ing poverty has pressed harder than ever and
sickness and suffering have been felt on every
hand; but n ow, thank God, the siege is raised,
and in the distance we seem 10 hesr that
famous cry, "Dinna ye hear the slogan? The
Campbells are coming!" The Salvation Army
is TO the fore and all is we'll
We know that in these times happiness is
not the proper thing, that 1t is bad form, out
of date and plebeisn, but as it suits us to be
happy and try to make others happy, we will
rejoice and be exceeding glad. Who has bet
ter cause for general rejoicing? Are we not
fathering glorious movement-a movement
for permanent prosperity? Mark the distinc-
tion-permanent prosperity! Any movement,
public or private. that simply alleviates the
suffering of the poor is a makeshift, an emer
gency necessity, one of dozen social ills the
conditions force upon US.
In planning homes Tor the homeless, or,
rather, in SO planning that the homeless may
get homes for themselves, the army is true 10
its principles and fighting for the right II
rests its cause on the crucial test of utility.
Is it useful? Does it meet material needs?
These are questions it asks and answers.
Satisfied that it is right that it has blessing
for mankind, it dsshes at the problem OF pow
erty with the living force OF truth.
Booth-Tucker was then introduced and
was received with ''volley."
He said: I'VE came here as practical
soclologists; we deal with the problem of
the homeless in a fashion that is likely TO
bring relief most speedily. We believe it
IS the business of the Lord and the busi-
ness of the Salvation Army to look alter
the homeless. We regret that we are not
able to do ten thousand times more good
than we are doing. but we are on the road
toward doing more and mora.
"We are criticized from some quarters
because we do not give aid for nothing to
all who apply because we have donations
given to US for the purpose. l can illus
trate to you readily now impossible it
would be for us TO do the great work We
are now doing if we did it that way. If
we did not require them to help them
selves little We could only help 200 where
we now help 1000. Besides we don't be-
lieve men with manliness in them want it
that way. Since | was here | have trav-
eled over great part of the country and
talked with prominent men everywhere,
legislators, leaders, and newspapermen in
al the cities.
There are about 4, 600 900 people in this
country who are receiving aid in some
fashion, or who are In need OF it. We
must grapple with this problem. | had
hoped that here it would not present
itself in such proportions as elsewhere,
but find that you have the same trouble
as aff1icts the rest of the world. If we
undertake the remedy unon specific lines,
| think 1t may be met efficiently. / speak
hum bly,, but / have the advantage of
having studied the question in the places
of the older civilizations, not only London,
but in the great cities of the Continent,
where the problem is in Its most aggra-
waited form. and Legislatures and writers
look forward gloomily into the future"
The speaker then outlined the plan,
which has been given in the report of his
meeting with the mem bers of the Cham
Der of Commerce. Briefly. it Is to inaugu-
rate the "Pingree plan" of cultivating the
vacant lots of the City, and then to secure
large tract of land near the City where
small houses could be built, the tract
being divided into five and ten acre lots
and colonized, the little farms being
properly stocked and sold upon install
ments of 81 per month, with interest at 5
per cent. He held this to be a simple and
entirely feasible plan for permanent relief
of the congested population OF the cities.
The meeting concluded with singing and
PRAYER.