The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-28
CAUSES OF DEsTITUTION.

Several papers have expressed what may
be called sarcastic surprise that the period
OF extreme cold has caused so many people
to be found in n needy condition. The
mills seem not to be Open" is the remark
of an exchange. This is true in part be-
cause many mills which were closed in
July, August, September and October of
1893 have not yet been opened; but the
larger part of the people who are found to
be in dire need are not those who worked
i'm factories. Dull times have reduced many
mechanics to straits. but the mass of peo-
pie who are suffering, and who. thanks to
the broadening and deepening humanity of
the time. are being relieved. are men who
depend from day to day upon common Ia
Dor. During the winter months, through
out the Northern States, employment is cut
off for many of this class. The improve
ment of streets and roadways, the con-
struction of sewers, the working of stone
a~uarries and all the employments depend
ing upon such industries are closed by win
ter weather. Nothing but a change of CHI
mate to perpetual summer can give that
large and necessary class of laborers con-
slant employment under the best of times.
There are tens of thousands of people who
have employment of various kinds which
is stopped by the intense cold. Even trade
is paralyzed. A large part of travelling
statesmen. the Journal is informed, are not
on their routes this week. If the cold par
alyzes the distribution of merchandise. it
must deprive many thousands of people
temporarily of the means of obtaining a
livelihood.
1t must be further considered that those
whose employment IS affected by the
change i'm seasons and periods of extremely
cold weather are those who receive the
lowest compensation. At best they must
live from hand to mouth. If all of them
were prudent and careful there would be
seasons when the loss of a weeks employ
ment would bring them face TO face with
restitution. There are many who are not
prudent, and some who will not work when
they have the opportunity. 1t is not sur
prising that in any city there should be
quite a number of people who are suffering
now or in any season when the labor upon
which they depend is cut off. Chicago,
from which reports of greater restitution
come than from any other large city, has
been the magnet which has attracted many
thousands of people who are fitted to do
only the toughest kinds of labor Under
any condition there is a surplus or such
labor. but now the usual employments are
locked by the severe cold. There never has
been. and it will be very long before there
will be. a provision which can give thou
sands of people labor during severe win
ters.
These facts must be patent to every
thinking man and woman; consequently,
the man who makes use of sue destitu-
ton and suffering to create ill will on the
part of those who are very poor against
the well-to-do is anything but a good citi-
zen. The men who have undertaken to
furnish relief are those who have saved.
Thousands who can i'll spare the money
contribute to relief funds, but most of it
comes from those who are called rich. But
for their timely contributions thousands
would perish during this season of unusual
severity. 1t is fortunate for the suffering
hat there are those who have the means
TO help. Reports from Chicago and other
cities Indicate that the well-to-do have
never shown greater %promptness and gen.
erosity.