The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-16
Alleys and Blind Streets Of
Capital City Characterized
as Worse Than White
chapel.
INFANT DEATH RATE
TRULY APPALLING
Fight Against Bad Housing
Conditions Theme at An
nual Meetingof Associated
Charities.

confess / was surprised by the sights ]
have seen in the National Capital.
"You people of Washington have al
ley after alley filled with hidden peo-
pie whom you don't know.
"There are zes such alleysl
They tell me the death rate among
the negro babies born in these alleys is
457 out Of thousand, before they grow
to be one year old. Nearly one-halfl
Nowhere have ever been in the civ
ilized world have 1 ever seen such a
thing as that.
These people live in pigsties. They
live there because some man would
rather have IS per cent profit than keen
his soul
Where does the blame lie? With the
man who owns the house, you will saw
But it lies equally with the community
which permits him to use his house for
such ends.D
RMS indictment of a community which
has no slums'' this astounding sis-
closure Of condition not paralleled nv
the squalor of New York or London or
Paris. was the key last night to one
or the most remarkable meetings held
In Washington in many years. II was
the judgment of a trained mind deliv-
cred after trip through the Capital
ana expressed with manly courage and
plain speech TO an assembly OF renra-
sentative Neutrality-suspicious.. in the aud;-
torium Of the First CONGREGATIONAL
Church. When the speaker paused
looking impressively from one side of
the room 70 the other. this gathering
became sea of upturned faces. writ
ten over with amazement and horror
and a new purpose born while the
speakers arraignment still rang in the
air.
The occasion was the annual meet
ing of the Washington Associated
CHARITIES. For eight years-since the
reorganization of this work on the basis
OF systematized giving-these meetings
interest. But IL is much to be doubted
whether any succeeding session of this
body will present the union of mo
mentous subject. interested auditors
and ardent advocate which marked this
session OF yesterday.
Jacob A Riis was the speaker His
subject is fairly defined, probably. as
Washington Sums Versus New York
Sums" And the disclosures he made
to his Washington hearers were so
startling that every sentence was heard
intently and every picture viewed with
acute but apprehensive interest
Anxious to Hear Riis.
Many circumstances whetted the de-
sire of the community to hear Mr.
Riis- 1t was known he had himself lived
in the New York districts of which he
was supposedly TO speak His record
as fighter against disease and vice
and the housing which fostered them
were matters Of general knowledge. A
book he had written. The Making of
an American" had told the story of his
own struggle against tenement condi-
lions. He lad. moreover. fought these
conditions by the side of President
Roosevelt But the chief interest had
its root. in all probability, In a strong
sense OF local pride and the intuitive
curiosity bred by that pride to see Wash
ington through eyes familiar by long
acquaintance with the lowest sections of
other cities.
The officers Of the association shared
in this curiosity and dispatched the ron
tine affairs of the annual meeting with
all proper celebrity. Judge A 3. HaRner
who presided, Secretary Weller. Treas
urer John Joy Edison. and S. w. Wood
ward. chairman of the committee on i'm
proving housing conditions. all spoke as
briefly as the several reports they had
20 make would permit. The association
then reelected its old officers.
With that the meeting was practically
adjourned. The vice presidents and the
three District Commissioners-Mr Mac
farland having been chosen 10 introduce
Mr. Riis-Iifted their chairs from the
platform and sat where they could see
the guest OF honor clearly. The hall.
already filled and overlooking into @
Street. was further packed by the ad-
mission Of many who had waited more
than an hour at least. and the assem-
bly, became not an association assem-
bled to hear reports and adopt resolu-
tons. but an audience ready and eager
10 hear a lecture.
Refers to President.
1T has been pleasant hitherto" he
began. with rather a sharp foreign ac-
cent. ito come TO Washington. because
knew / shoes meet here that man
who. when he came into New York
made all my ideals come out into life
When ] meet him things begin TO hum
and come right where they have been
all wrong before. But" he waited for
moment on the laughter and applause
with which his hearers Endorsed his es-
innate Of the President. But today my
visit has been deeply saddened by the
death OF John r. Proctor. whom we
buried this morning, and the sights
have seen in your city.
Il am not naturally or easily discour-
aged. ! am always filed with notion
things win come out right But / con-
fess l was surprised by the sights
have seen in the National Capital. n
have been accustomed tn see only your
1or