Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-02-21

lat1On OF every ordnance on the SUI
ject. Scores of the tenants complained
that their landlords refused to do any
thing
Miss Andrews said nothing, but she
eyed John Gordon with her customary
calmness. 1t was the calmness OF one
who has been through the entire hell
of political apathy and municipal In
competency and criminal neglect and
still preserves, it's equanimity.
Let me know the result Of your in
terview. please" she finally said as
John Gordon lapsed into silent brood
ing.
He went into the business city next
day and entered the bank Of which
Rufus Gordon was president with
feeling that he strove to subdue and
the prayer that he might not be pro-
voked into saying some things that
burned in his heart At the same time
when he was once in his fathers pres
ence ne began to doubt his ability to
discuss the facts calmly.
Mr.. Rufus Gordon showed no sur
prise at the sight of his son, although
the two had not met since that event
full day when John Gordon had taken
somewhat formal leave of his home.
Twill you take a seat?" Rufus Cor
don spoke with the cold politeness he
might have shown any man who had
in all probability come to negotiate for
loan.
John Gordon remained standing and
came at once to the point of his er-
rand.
"Father, we have decided each to 60
his own way. but that does not mean
that we are never to have anything
more to do with each other, does it?'
when you are tired of your present
foolishness, you can come back" There
was the faintest suggestion in Rufus
Gordon's manner of relenting in his
tone and attitude. The lips tremb!ed
slightly, and the eyes rested for just
an instant on the sons face before
coming back to the apparently indiffer-
ent gaze that had been directed at the
table.
Il have not come to talk of that,
father. 1t is impossible for me to
change my purpose. What have come
to see you about is this: You control
some tenant property in Waterside dis
trict, Bowen street, two blocks south
Of Hope House. Do you know from
personal knowledge the condition of
that property?'
Instantly over Rufus Gordon's face
swept an angry wave Of color.
ut is none of your business! This is
part of your contemplate meddling as
reformer in other peoples affairs!'
But it is my business! 1t is the
business of every man. Father, do
you know the horrible condition of that
property and the awful condition of
the people living there?'
Rufus Gordon made no answer, but
the anger was evidently deepening in
him. John Gordon waited moment.
ALL his accumulated passion growing
Ing that one short week in Hope House
was in danger of rising like torrent
against his own father. But when he
spoke it was with an earnestness that
revealed his attempt at sell mastery.
mos. II and 10, owned by you,
father, contain seventeen families
They are, as suppose you know, front
and rear tenements They are both
horribly out of repair and absolutely
unfit for human habitation. Take the
case Of the plumbing. There are NO
revents to any of the pipes, and only
one waste pipe has a trap. That is OF
! no value because Of the condition OF
the catch basins, which are below
ground and have simply become sc
clogged with grease that they are cess
pools that overflow the court and even
run over into the basement, where two
families are living. Back of No
! 10 on the alley is stable in which
q vegetable dealer keeps two horses
| and COW. These are directly under
room which has been added to the
| old brick bakery, that is in a terrible
state of decay and threatens to fall
at any time, it will certainly result in
the death or injury of the tenants. All
the plumbing is in direct violation of q
distinct city ordinance which makes ii
an offense to put in piping without
traps, revents and catch basins to &C.
cumulate material.that clogs the sewer
connections. The overcrowding is SIM:
ply indescribable.
I'm both these tenements that you
own and control there is less than 200
square feet of floor area for. families
of from five to seven, living in three
and two rooms. There are six bed
rooms in No. II that are absolutely
dark and that in spite of the ordinance
which provides that every room of a
tenement or lodging house must have
window space equal to at least one
tenth of it's floor area. These rooms
not only do not have one tenth window
space, but they do not have any at all.
They are simply dark rooms, the only
light and air that ever enter them be-
ing what can get in through the door,
which in many cases opens on a middle
room, which in turn has no light or
air except what can enter through a
shaft between the front and rear tene-
ments only six feet wide and into