New-York tribune., 1902-02-12
MORALS OF THE POOR
Mr. ELYs LAST LECTURE IN COURSE
BEFORE POLITICAL EDUCA-
TION LEAGUE

"The report of the Committee Of Fifteen which
viii be issued in book form IN a few days will give
people incorrect idea of the moral diff
ogties and dangers Of the poor" said Robert Frs
kne Ely yesterday. IN lecture On The Morals Of
the Self-supporting Poor" As a matter Of fIct
the sad and awful phases Of human wickedness
and weakness with which the report Will deal
are exceptional rather than characteristic con-
sidsrng The population OF the poor quarter
as whole. Always remembering that in these
lectures the term poor means self-support-
ing poor and does not include either the pauper
the criminal class. It may be positively asserted
that virtue. IN the technical sense of the word, is
perhaps. quite as often found among the self-sup-
porting poor among the very rich.
Poor people are naturally more open to the ap-
pssls for help than others because they know what
the sufertngs and privations of poverty mean. In
factories, where certain number of accidents
or cases Of illness are sure to occur among the
Eorkmen, it is the universal rule, under such cir
cumstences. for the men 70 pass the hat for a
fellow workman so afflicted. The very fact that
working people are compelled to live together
n great tenement blocks tends to cultivate among
them the social virtues They have sense OF
common life, of common JOY and sorrow. which
people who live in detached houses surrounded
by ample grounds do not have.
But how about the homclier, rather unlovely.
virtues Of every day honesty, truth telling and
reliability? Do working people pay their debts
conscentiously other people do? Probably
refusing to pay when they have little TO pay with
II Is possible that a majority Of the wage earn
ing class are rarely wholly out Of debt In money
matters they treat members Of their economic
class better than they do the well TO do and the
rich
Sensational reports are circulated now and again
about the exceedingly low tone Of morality which
rrevails IN the great department stores. These
reports have some foundation, in so far as they
apply to the most inferior grade of shops. where
The very lowest wages are paid. In such places
there are instances undoubtedly, where women do
not receive the living wage and they finally sue
curnb 10 the easiest way Of living, which, alas! is
always within their reach. Generally speaking,
however. in the shops the general sentiment among
the employees themselves never favors this sort or
thing and resents strenuously the imputation that
It exists It is bitter injustice TO those VINO are
innocent to generalze regarding the women en-
ployes Of any shop. even the worst II one were
70 make any general statement at all IL might
he this. That, partly through the work OF the
Consumers League and partly through the general
strings OF the social conscience, the evils which
result from the scandaousy low wages paid to
women tend to become less. and this tendency VIII
grow gradually stronger and stronger NO en-
ployer will dare TO resist the pressure Of public
sentiment on this point. when the women who buy
insist that by their purchases they shall not in
directly injure the lives Of the women who sell
goods over the counter The conscience of the
buyer when intelligent and active, has wonder
-liH favorable lnnuence upon tne COHStIeHCe VI
the employer
MORAL EFFECT OF RECREATIONS.
The moral influence OF dancing and the theatre
upon the poor is on the whole, not bad 1t is true
that balls. 10 which young people allowed to
20 insist on going without being allowed, too
often result in the worst possible way. But in the
majority cases the bad influence Of the ball is in
the demands IL makes upon physical vitality.
Working men ard who dance until l or
o'clock in the morning cannot lie in bed until Il
o'clock the next day. They must be at work at
= or o'clock and that probably causes bad temper.
me theatre is far from being what II might be ana
ought 10 be. n great moral teacher as well as
means Of healthy amusement. However, leaving
our Of the question the vulgar and insuneraol
theatres. the so-called legitimate drama among the
poor Is not bad from the point or view or morals,
s.though IL often is from the point or View or art
ohe sees fewer problem plays IN the lhSatres ire
euented by the poorer people than in the high
srade theatres patroniZed by the wealthy class.
And il happens absolutely without exception among
~ nationalities and in all places that virtue on the
tlage is applauded the echo. and villalny and
wee hssed with eXfrcmest disapprobaton II
Sls Indicates anything il indicates that the moral
IDEALS Of the humber people. crude though they
De are yet sound at the core.
REMEDIES Fer FAULTS AND VICES
Every one in New-York is thinking and talking
about the saloon. Some wise things and some
Very foolish things are said this subject. II is
lhtTiRsicaIly undesirable that saloons should be
kept legally open on Sunday any day Of the
lex ! mean saloons as they are popularity sup
oS1 So51 10 be- Whether we are CIVILIZED enough ana
question. The most stringent laws make
apparently fail of their object II is one thing TO
sy on the statute books the saloon must be closed;
y 81. s quite another thing TO enforce such laws and
'e the saloon and keep II closed. Ihls general