The Minneapolis journal., 1905-11-25

Endorsement Of the proposed club for |
young men and boys, as set forth in
The journal yesterday, is to be |
found on every hand, among the bust |
the community seems to have been
aroused to the sensitive point as to the
relation it bears and the duty it owes
to a less favored class. Evangelistic |
services, which have just closed, and |
the moral effect Of the high standard |
of the president Of the United States
and Of the mayor of the city on all |
questions civic and moral, seem to
have set the people to pondering on
matters not merely mercenary, and to
have awakened a sense Of personal and
public obligation. |
Former Senator W. D. Washburn goes
50 far as to say that the municipality
ought to contribute to the support Of
such an object. Other business men
share the opinion that as the commun
ity grows older it should more and more
direct it's consideration to the better
ing of the condition of the people who
go to make up the city.
Altho General Washburn has just re-
turned from a two weeks absence, he
had already taken up the threads of
the club story. In fact, he had been
aware Of the probability of such a
movement when he left Minneapolis.
He said today he had given the matter
considerable attention and that it's in
ception was along line he had con-
sidered. He is Of the same opinion as
the promoter of the plan, that 1t is
better to work for the prevention of
gage in reformatory work. He said
that idleness was one Of the worst
things for young people, and that to
provide a sound and sane method OF
employing the time of young men and
boys and entertaining them was a wor-
thy work.
Judge Waite's Opinion.
Judge E. F. Waite of the municipal
bench speaks very favorably OF the
plan. ''I am very heartily in favor
and sympathy with it, he said. 80 From
my experience as prosecuting attorney
in the municipal court and in the po-
lice department, know the very great
necessity of not only one, but Of a
number of clubs in different parts of
the city, where men who live in lodging
ing of unattractive homes, can meet
| with men on basis of fellowship. II
| well-to-do men with attractive homes
have need of clubs, how much more
have those whose homes are not so at
tractive, or who have none at all.
| Mayor d. T. Jones naturally mas close
sympathy with plan in the discussion
Of which he is no stranger. He said
today: "I felt long ago, when the
closing of the Sunday saloons seemed
to be logical. conclusion Of my admin
/ istration plans, that one of the deter
ring things which made me hesitate
was what to do with the man who fire.
quented the saloons, or what substitute
was there forothe ,so-called |poor man e
club Altho not a part of my message
to the council on the subject, the lques-
| tion was under consideration by myself
and my fellows. It was Of more than
passing interest to me. <se-~ ~. H. -
i A Critical Question. IL.
Zone Of the most critical questions
before the public now is, what are the
privileged class Of men, who have an
accumulation of wealth and prosperity
and who stand at the head Of mercan
Title enterprises, going to do for the un
privileged class and those less fortunate
While they are in comfortable. circum
stances financially and socially, hun
dreds of homeless men are floating with
no social attachments and very little
opportunity Of communicating with
| their fellows on a. social basis. At thit
time the wise promotion of a club pla1
for men appears to me as the fines
possible solution.
"There should be no idea to promot,
any religious principle. It should be OF
neither a religious nor charitabl,
basis. The object should be to creat'
a healthy environment SO that the hum
b1est citizens shOn1d feel that he ha,