The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-06-23
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR WORKERS

q S is usual at this season OF the year, reports
| come from nearly all parts OF the State OF
demand for workers for the fields the orchards
and the vineyards whose crops are ripenlng
already ripe for the harvest At the same time
the streets OF the city show large number OF I'M
employed men, some of whom genuinely seeking
for work, but many of whom seeking only Tor the
aims that will enable them to live in ldeness.
In interview with representative OF The CALL
F. W. Zele president of the Mercantile Trust Com
pany has directed attention the extent OF the de-
mand at this time for labor in the rural districts He
has had opportunities to learn the situation from
landowner in nearly all parts OF the State, and re-
ports they are complaining OF lack OF help to get
in their crops In the OF his interview he SAID
In the big valleys there is hay and gram to har-
vest and in the smaller valleys the orchardsts are be-
ginning TO feel the necessity of having a few addi-
tonal men to help handle the fruit crop From what
can learn all kinds OF good wages offered. The
common hay and grain handler get from ST rs to
s. 80 per day and found The expert harvesters
can earn more. Order after order has been sent TO
the employment offices here and still they remain I'M
filled There has been talk to the effect that the
aboring in the city have not the means to reach
the farms and that is what is keeping them from
going into the country. Whatever may be the rea-
son. the fact remains the same-the farmers sadly
in need of help and hundreds OF idle to be
seen around the city every day asking for work.
There is apparently justification for the belief
that city workingmen OF employment cannot avail
themselves OF the demand for labor elsewhere by
reason of lack of means to get the places where
work is to be obtained. 1t has long been the custom
of the employer to advance the money necessary for
transportation Men who willing to work can
therefore with comparative obtain situations at
good wages for the harvest season least they de-
sire it.
Such being the condition Of affairs, it is time for
TIE people OF San Francisco be less generous to
sturdy beggars the street, There too many
people who really need help to make it commendabc
support in ideness and vagrancy those who do not
need it. AS a rule the we'll to do people OF American
cities are so thoughtess in their liberality to street
beggars that maintaining in every city in the
Union a class OF such persons that ought to be pun
ished rather than helped.
That, however is minor issue at present. The
one thing to be done is make clear to the un-
employed OF the city that abundant work at good
wages awaits them, if they choose to apply for it
The work must be DONE for the farmers and orchard
lists cannot afford to lose their crops. Unless white
men will undertake the work resort must be made
to Asiatic labor. Thus double harm will come il the
than to work in the country California has plenty Of
work for all her industrious citizens and those who
have no share all in the general prosperity OF the
year will have only themselves to blame if they neg
lect to earn it.