The Topeka state journal., 1897-02-24
SUBMERGED
MILLIONS.
What Shall Be Done With the
Unemployed
Is Question Being Dealt With
In San Francisco.
HEADQUARTERS MADE
For Them and Supplied With
Food and Beds.
A Big Tramp Colony in In
diana.
HEADQUARTERS MADE

San Francisco, Feb. 24.-The number
of honest unemployed has become so
great in this city that an organization
of philanthropic people have taken hold
of the problem and established an en-
ergency headquarters for the men until
employment can be secured for them
There was a more hopeful outlook for
the unemployed today than yesterday
although the dispiriting condition OF the
weather, which initiated against out OF
door canVassing, was against the sue
cess which might have resulted had the
weather been favorable. This morning
the various committees were out early
and the reports brought back by mes
EengerS at noon today gave the men en-
coura cement. On the top floor OF the
new quarters, GA Howard street, lot
of men were hard at work getting tAe
new range donated by W. w. Mon
tague, in position. 1t is a splendid range
and is sufficiently large to do the cook
ing for the guests of a large hotel
There was another gang or men at
work on the plumbing of the Dulld1nS,
and Water-clOsets, laVatorIes ana SINKS
will be in frst-clasS condition In day
or two. One feature in the process OF
organization will be to make the men
who frequent the place keep it clean
The different committees, headed by the
chairman of each, to-Wlt: Messrs- A.
J. Swell, w. Grimmer, w. Rodgers, II.
Brissley and a. Mckenzie, were out
early on their several missions, each
COmnlTIee De1nS dGCOulpdIlACo OS q
messenger to carry to the headquarters
such things as were donated that they
could carry. Thus, by noon quantity
of hams, beans, potatoes, chairs ana
other articles had arrived and were be-
ing put in proper places. They want
coal, wood, meat, a barrel for hot water
for the kitchen and utensils in which to
make coffee and tea and cook the 1000
an. These will all come in time.
If the thrifty housekeeper will just
think of what is needed in setting up
housekeeping, he or she Will know what
these men want. They have no lights,
and intend to make application to the
electric light company to furnish the
same. They need lumber with which
to make bunks and in fact everything
And above all things they need kindly
consideration and sympathy, and not
the rebuffs and insults with which some
feW-and very few they are-meet their
appeals They are not beggars. They
ask for a chance to earn their living.
1t is their intention to open a register
in which will be recorded the name of
every member of the association, to-
gether with his trade or calling, so that
any one wishing to obtain the services
of any of them can just refer to this
register, and the record will show if
there is anyone of the occupation sought
for there. Almost every phase of life is
there represented.
Yesterday a letter was received from
w. B. Sullivan, the mayors clerk, stat
ing that Mr.. Phelan was sick. but that
due consideration was being given to
tHe boulevard prOpOSll1On, ana InaI eve
Tything possible will be done to better
the condition of the laboring classes.
Last night $50 were provided with shell
ter at the Armory, but it was a cold,
comfortless and cherries place, without
fire or light and the pitiless storm beat
ing outside. But it was better than
nothing. The soliciting committee re-
ported that they had received in addi-
tion to the range given by Mr.. Mon
tague, from Murphy, Grant & Co, $40;
from Police Judges Low and Campbell,
$6 each; a sack of coal from James
Cove of Mission street; 500 worth of
cooking utensils from HOlbrOOk, Mer-
rill & StetsOn; 20 pounds of tea from
the American Tea company and prom
4se from the Spring Valley Waterworks
OF all the water needed for the building
Tonight, after the committees have all
come in, there will be a meeting to hear
their reports. There will also be a set
of rules and regulations to govern the
large body of men, presented by the
president, Mr.. Leffingwell, and they will
be considered and adopted, rejected or
amended by the men. Meal tickets will
be distributed as long as the fund for
all things it will be made a subject of
inquiry and earnest endeavor to see that
no unworthy person gets into the organ
1zat1On. The men want work, and they
can be found a the Armory waiting for
anyone to come and employ them. Most
of them have tramped the city until
their shoes are worn out, searching for
any kind of a job. The Armonry is now
sort of an enlarged labor bureau,
where WOrkmen can be had without
payment of a fee.