The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-25
NgEFNRAN EsH
UnkUHEgb EEV
ii DAU WAT.
of Work.
Meetings of the Authorities
Called In Hot Haste.
1900 HOMELESS MEN
Slept In the PoliceStatiOns Last
Night.
FRepudiation'' Kansas Should
Send a Train Load of Corn
To the Sufferers In Care of
"ChicagO Tribune"

Chicago, Ill, Jan. 25.-Mayor Swift
has issued a public appeal to
the citizens of Chicago for sub
scriptions toward fund of 100000 for
the relief of the thousands of needy
people in the city. This appeal sets
forth that there exists today in Chi
cago an emergency greater than at any
time since 1898, a condition which can
not be met by the county authorities on
account of lack of funds.
The mayor decided to issue this APP
peal after he had been convinced by a
committee composed of representatives
of the various charities of the city that
its need was absolutely imperative. This
committee met at the mayors Office
Saturday afternoon. It's members are
Franklin MacVeagh, Colonel w P.
Rend Mrs. Lucy NJ. Flower, Miss Jane
Adams and DR.. Philip Ayres. DR..
AyreS, as secretary of the Bureau of
Associated Charities, gave to the mayor
a condensed report of the condition of
the city as compiled from the reports
of the districts covered by the bureau.
This report showed that the condition
was terrible, so great was the want
among the people in all parts of the
city. Colonel Rend went even further
than DR.. Ayres in his statement of af-
fairs, taking his data from the reports
of the county agent. He said that there
We're at least 70, 900 men out of employ
Enent and these must be assisted, as the
county was unable to go beyond its ap-
preparation.
Mr.. McVeagh expressed his confidence
in the benevolent people of the city who,
he assured the mayor, would meet all
demands made to them for relief of all
within the confines of the city. Mrs.
Flower and Miss Adams also gave
their assurance that the churches and
the settlements would cooperate in the
work of raising the fund. The mayor
consented to take the extreme measure
of issuing an appeal TO the public.
MUST BE QUICK.
Chicago. Jan. 25.-This afternoon, re-
alizing that during this severe weather
delay in offering relief to the destitute
might prove fatal in many cases, Mayor
Swift has called upon the police force
of the city to aid in the work of gather
ing information concerning the urgent
needs of the thousands of suffering poor
of Chicago. Through the complete or
ganization of the force, covering the
entire city by divisions and precincts,
and the elaborate telephone system by
which each precinct may be in ready
communication with the headquarters
of the departement, the mayor hopes
to prevent the loss of life which might
ensue through a more tardy means of
dealing with the more urgent cases.
1t is the mayors purpose. pending
the time when the work ofraief through
intelligence gathered by the police can
be put into organized form, to be per-
sonlly responsible for whatever sum it
may be necessary to expend to relieve
extreme cases of need and save the
poor from freezing or starving. Fifteen
hundred homeless men partook of the
hospitality of the city last night and
slept under the roofs of the police sta
tiOns.
F'ifty-three persons are listed as over
come by the terrible cold in Chicago
yesterday and were rescued in a partly
frozen condition. One death occurred,
which was due to the cold and q num-
Der of people are likely to die as the re-
suit of frozen limbs, or exposure. Most
Of the sufferers succumbed to the cold
while about their usual tasks but a
number of the victims were homeless
wanderers mainly. The indications at
the weather bureau are still more freez-
ing weather today.