New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-07-23
MAYOR LOW PRAISES DE FOREST.
HE TELLS EMPLOYEES OF THE TENEMENT
HOUSE COMMISSION HOW IMPORTANT
is THEIR WORK

Mayor Low yesterday visited the office Of the
Tenement House Department at No. 81 Twins,
Place. and made brief speech TO the two hundred
employees who were present. Robert W. De Forest
Tenement House Commissioner, introduced the
Mayor. and called attention to Mayor Lows in
terest in tenement house work. The Mayor said
in part:
II, II any one of you go into the country to live
oulld little home for yourself. and want water
you dig a well. and you have solved the problem OF
the problem Of the water supply Of %eY 70 II r
oD the most expert engineering talent that the
many millions OF dollars in order TO carry out that
men and the passage Of long space of time before
that problem has begun to be solved, and when
The water supply Of the Individual family in the
only one family but When You have three mito ,0
ana a naII OF people and many hundreds of thou
problem o1 , and it changes its character.
muItitudes of people are crod iSt Tpfn gTsat
1ngs and into single blocks 1t is exactly that and
problem Of the city of New York but it is a prob
lem none the less because II is easily explained
people with the landlords and with the tenants,
both of them and your problems-as they touch
sbund St ii IS ~ Ia Ihe 5sI place, vita
spirit that Is willing 10 reeognize that there is a
not happen to agree with you. In other words. in
: If you will approach your problem with spirit
that is ready TO make allowances for things that
sisting upon the gradual approach to higher
standard and il you will bring patience bear
upon your work. then / think you accomplish
a good deal But do not think that you can make
landlords. tenants either. Improve things very.
much with club. Everybody resents that sort OF
approach. and the people who live in the tenements
will resent it just as much as you or would
think you viii come to feel have to
feel. the result Of my life among many different
sorts OF people, that men wonderfully willing,
TO cooperate in improving conditions. Whereas. II
you approach them in the other spirit. trying to-
compel them TO change. and to compel them TO
change arbitrarily because that is the law, be-
cause you say they must. think then you arouse
every spirit of antagonism that there is in man.
Now, you cannot have a better model in your
dealings with your problems than your commits
siOner 7 think / know few men who have that
quality OF tactfulness in dealing with others.
bined with the necessary firmness in bringing
about the desired result, in greater measure than
he. I hope, therefore that you viii, in your eft
forts to act upon these suggestions or mine.
fer with him freely, and take him as your work
ing model, for you cannot have a better.
/ do think there is any department the
whole scope Of the city government which has a
greater capacity TO the city to its advantage
than the Tenement House Department You ara
the who do more than any other body OF
men ten times as numerous as you 10 improve the
conditions OF life where they are hardest in the
city of New-York. and if you do that Won may be
very sure of your reward in the gratitude and the
esteem OF your fellow citizens