The herald., 1897-02-28
SUNDAY. FEBRUARY as, 1897.
ASSUMING PRACTICAL SHAPE

The business men and property own
ers of Los Angeles will make another
effort to relieve the immediate neces-
stiles of the worthy unemployed of the
city. The movement inaugurated some
days ago having come to naught, an
other meeting of the board of directors
Of the Merchants and Manufacturers
association, with a number of promi-
nert citizens, was held in the rooms of
the association, in the Wilcox block, yes
terday afternoon. Representatives Of
the labor organizations were also in at
tendance, and the subject was discussed
in all it's phases. AS a result of the de-
liberations, committees We're appointed
to canvass the city and secure subscrip-
tions. These committees will COM
mence their work tomorrow morning,
and it is to be hoped that every one
able to contribute will do so. It is be-
lieved that there are not more than from
400 to 500 needy heads of families in the
city, and a comparatively small amount
will bridge over the difficulty. The
gentlemen in charge of this work are
among the most active and pro-
gressive business men in the city, and
they will do all in their power to make
the movement success. All of the COM
plications have been cleared away, and
the proposition is to be put upon a bust
ness basis, which should insure its sue
cess.
While the merchants are leading in
this benef1cent work it is not reasonable
or just to expect them to carry the en-
tire financial load. Owing to their ac-
knowledged enterprise and liberality, as
we'll as their accessibility at all times.
the merchants have to stand the brunt
of all the subscription papers that are
going. Other classes Of citizens-the
retired capitalists, the money loaners,
the owners of profitable business prop
erty, and well-to- do citizens generally
who happen to be out of the regular
channels of trade are apt to be over
stances no doubt they are willing to be
ignored. But in the present case every
man should subscribe according to his
ability. He should not even wait for
committee to seek him out. 1t is to the
interest of property owners investors,
and professional men no less than of
merchants, that the cry of want In Los
Angeles be stopped, To say nothing of
the humanit1es in the case, we cannot
have marching column of the unem-
paoyed as daily spectacle without in
juring THE reputation OF the city and in
f1icting great damage
Whatever method may be desired for
setting the Idle men to work, we can rest
assured that a committee such as the
Merchants association will appoint will
make it practical and the community
will derive great benefit therefrom.
Let the movement be led off with a good
private subscription, and there will be
no difficulty in reinforcing the fund
with both city and county money for
work rendered.
With the scheme of relief well or
ganized, and enough funds in hand
to offer living to every man wishing
to work. there will no longer be an
excuse for anybody to beg on the streets
or from door to door, If any are found
doing this, they should be gathered in
by the police, and on conviction of
vagMncy sent to the chain gang. De-
pend upon it, the most of them will not
want to work out more than one sem
tenoe. At the earliest possible-date they