New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-15
WITH THE UNEMPLOYED
WALTER A. wYCKOFFs EXPERIENCES
IN CHICAGO
HE TELLS THE PRESBYTERIAN UNION or HIS
PRACTICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE coNDI-
TIoN OF uNsKILLED LABoR-A SOCIAL
rsT MEETING DESCRIBED.
TsT MEETING DESCRIBE

TIoN OF uNsKrLLED LABoR-A SOCIAL
rsr MEETING DESCRIBED
Walter A. wyckor instructor in sociology in
Princeton University lectured on AN Experience In
Reality" at the regular monthly meeting of the
Presbyterian Union at the Hotel Savoy last night.
The meeting held in the banquet hall Of the
hotel and at least four hundred members Of the
union and their friends present.
Mr. Wyckor told OF his experiences In the vast
army OF tho unemployed. when he a colege-bred
man, started out without cent. and for two years
earned his living unskiled laborer. He did
this in order to find out the actual condition OF the
laborng man His unique experiment has been
largely discussed in the newspap ers and the maya
zines.
Last night in his lecture Mr.. Wyckon took up
phases OF his experience hitherto untouched. He
stated that the real title q; his talk vas The
Army of the Unemployed" and that the expe-
rences he would give the result OF his life In
Chicago He arrived there cold December
day. after having had varied experience as farm
laborer In different parts OF the country IN I"
picturesque way he told Of the impression Chicago
gave to person just entering it. He entered
Chicago without a cent I'm his pocket. and after
wandering about the city until night time with
nothing to eat, he met a young who Invited
him to go TO religious meeting. lie went there
in order 10 get warm. He described the meeting
and how the men who out of employment had
gathered tnerc 10 get warm
HIS FIRST NIGHT IN CHICAGO.
As he YVES leaving this meeting, young man
approached MIN who had apparently been an at
tentive listener. He had the appearance Of a sue
cessful mechanic As he approached Mr.. Wyckof
he said, 1t is tough TO go out in a night Ike
this isn't it?" This man. whom the lecturer called
Clark was a skilled mechanic who had left Cleve-
land after losing his situation there, and had
worked his way Chicago in the nope Of hndlns
better times there He had there several
avs and knew the ropes As neither man had
| money Clark suggested that they 20 to one Of the
police stations for quarters He advised. however.
tina, this be not done until after Midnight As
| the night was cold and stormy Clark proceeded 10
| show the speaker how keep The first
| place they went to concert hall in Clark-st.
| where they warmed themselves for short time.
| until the walters finding that they did not intend
| 10 purchase anything. ordered them out
| After that they TO Of the cheap lodging
| houses where Clark mad stopped when he was In
| funds Here they waited in the office on the plea
Of looking for some person until the yiglant clerk
ordered them from the place unless they oii
station, and after being admitted TO the room
| where several other unfortunates were trying 20
| the cold stone floor. and rolled UP their coats as
/ pillows This ended Mr. Nyckons hrst highi = u.
| Chicago He had yet had nothing TO eat The
| next day ne started again to seek employment
HOW HE EARNED THE FIRST QUARTER.
He approached contractor after contractor. seek
| ing the commonest kinds OF labor and the answer
| ne usually received was: Il sorry for you, out
there are hundreds Of others after situations ana
| have nothing for them" He earned MS nrs'
twenty-five cents by carrying bundles for woman
| When he Arst offered his services the woman De
cl,ned in alarm. fearing that he was bunco
steerer Finally she allowed him 20 assist her
and when she had reached her destination she
handed him a quarter expressing the hope that ne
would not spend 1t for drink. .,.,.,,.
sny greater success Clark had meanwhile man;
aged make IS cents; and on TINS ihe Two , w.
long days search for work. Clark and ne stood IN
front OF cheap restaurant ana looked INTO, INTO III.
the food displayed Say. partner, We could get al
we wanted II We would only heave rock through
Instead OF continuing on tn. story Of his efforts
| TO obtain employment in Chicago the lecturer ae
| scribed a meeting OF Socialists that he ATTENDED
there. He said that it was on the first sunday tha
he in Chicago that he had desire 10 S.e son.
H mn was being held and when aid and he wa
~ tb. passwords and other signs However
ne was agreeably disappointed In hnding me Hes
nafd tbs there was no mystery or secrecy abou
IL and IN fact he likened IT TO pray e. III :
ng and quoted extensively from one Of the speeche
'' After Mr. Wycko left mis- meeting he saw w.
little children searching IN GARAGE ar idsr nn
ne asked them what they we're DONG the o1uet ON
said "Na sent us 70 look for some grub Ma ma
three boarders an two haini paid LOT ,"9 weeH' '
pas go no Job. He shovelled snow to-day am
then gor drunk the money. so we mas nolhlh'
10 eat. -, -Lua~.. ho,,. . -,
saw tho yretched condition in when they lived.
The lecturer does not look Ike man VINO colIC
On through the experiences that ne had Tor I'VE
Sears in order TO study practically the problem o
life among workingmen OF all classes he is mar
Win his ready command OF language could s.
adapt himself 10 the conditions OF the unemployed
unskllled lsborer.
After the lecture refreshments were served, an
the Alpha Male Quartet sang number OF selec
lions