The San Francisco call., 1897-02-14
WILL CARE FOR
THE WEAK FIRST
The Unemployed Relief
Committee Begins It's
Canvass.
Men Will Wait Until All the
Men Will Wait Until All the
Women and Children Are
Assisted.
Committee Appointed 10 Secure Head.
quarters Where Provisions
May Be Stored.

The members OF the committee for the
relief CT the unemployed, together with
sone fifty or sixty Of those who were
present at Friday afternoons mass-meet- |
ing, met in the small hall, lis Turk street, |
yesterday morning for the purpose of
further perfecung arrangements for the
. Immediate relief of the destitute. The !
sentiment OF the meeting was unanI- |
mously in favor of an active canvass for |
donations in the shape of provisions. tenn !
porary lodging or money, and second |
committee was also appointed to secure |
suitable headquarters where provisions |
may be conveniently stored and from |
y hch they can be distributed on applica- |
y don. The men present at yesterdays |
meeting generously agreed to subordinate
the question of their own necessity 10 the
more pressing needs OF distressed women
and children. 1t was pointed out that
the more or less able bodied among the
unemployed men could wait a few days
until the Mayor and Board of Supervisors
could consider some sort of action in re-
sbonse 10 the representation OF the dele
cation which will wait upon them TO-
. morrow afternoon.
Chairman Letfingwell presided at yes
terday's meeting and discouraged all ora.
torical ou! bursts. This committee" he
said has plenty OF work to do, and all
speeches are out of order. But practical
. suggestions will be gratefully acce pted."
An exception, however, was made in
favor of J. Andrews, who referred TO the
existing situation as in the highest de-
gree serious. He said that he was strongly
opposed to the doctrine OF physical force
or bomb-throwing, but he would advocate
' acuon calculated TO compel the authori-
ties to afford some measure of relief.
}. A. Rogers again presented his scheme
for combination of the present unem-
plOyed, with the object of securing con-
tracts for grading work on railways and
streets, suggesting that Mayor Phelan
might be induced TO act as treasurer until
such time as the contracts were COM
pIeted.
Chairman Leffngweli favored the con-
slderation of present necessity rather
;. than speculation as to the future. The
committee, hs thought, should get out
and rustic on behalf of the women and
children who were in immediate need
He criticized the manner in which the
emergency fund was handled at the City
Hall.
An old man named Volney here offered |
4 q suggestion to the effect that regular |
Y place should be found in which to store
food, and that the destitute should be no.
tined of the fact through the newspapers.
a. Fobe added that subscriptions to
that end should be solicited from the City
Hall officials in the first place. The un-
employed, he contended, would do well
10 handle all such donations themselves
in future.
The following were appointed to act as
the committee on headquarters: John
Richter, A. Fobe and 1. w. BeardsIey.
The meeting then adjourned until 1
O'Clock tomorrow afternoon.
3 a. Lefingweu, chairman of the or
ganlzation, has addressed the following
letter to The CALL for publication:
sANFRANC1sCo, Cal, February 13, 1897.
Editor CoIi-DEAR SIR: desire to express
thanks to the press of this City for the fairness
with which they have treated the efforts of
. the unemployed men and women of San
francisco 10 secure some measure of relief in
their dire distress without violation of the
law l have been requested to make a state
ment OF the present situation and to give an
outline OF whatWe hope to accomplish
As 10 the present situation, 1 believe any
fair-minded person will readily agree that
there is great desttution in this City at this
cases,
but there are many others unknown to them
because some people entertain sort Of pride
which stands IN the way of open comics.
sion. estimate that there are to-day at least
10000 souls in this City who are in a state OF
actual starvation.
As to what we hope to accomplish We
don't know what can be done. We know there
are many things which the UNEMPLOYED NAV
be put to do, ana we know also that there are
some funds IN the City treasury, but we do
not know whether these funds could be used
for that purpose. We can do nothing of our
serves and have, therefore, no proposition TO
advance. We originally intended to move
upon Sacramento, but we find many of our
nembers are men of family and while they
Ge OF no practical use to their families thev
- reluctant TO abandon their wives and
children TO the tender mercies of the cold
world. ~
We mold that in view OF the fact that in the
eteht oI thls country being involved in war
py an ehe1ny,we would be compelled to defend
1t. We in turn have q Joint claim unon tho
country we must defend Tor relief in our day
oil misfortune. We believe we have a right to
eat somewhere, inasmuch as we have done our
part IN the world OF production and even now
etsho feaoy 10 continue doing it. As indi-
viduals we have been trying to find a place
We cannot find it and have given mn the
attempt We simply ask that the community
assist us in finding place where we NAV
enjoy the right to eat.
There are many destitute women ana tnno-
cent children in sore distress to-day, and we
call upon them to acqusint US with their
whereabouts that we may share with them
whatever assistance our committees receive.
Moreover we guarantee an honest administra
ton of such charity as may fall into our hands
1t is simply question of whether this COM
munity would prefer that its destitute people
should com NIT violation of the law in order
that they may live, whether the citizens
will contribute TO the immediate needs of the
starving in their midst. Respectfully yours,
S. A. LEFFINGWELL
Chairman OF the Unemployed.