New-York tribune., 1905-01-29
THE PINCH OF WANT.
Dissertations and Suggestions of a
Settlement WOrker.

X.
/ Inc Macmillan Company.
What practical sociologist like Mr.. Hunter
mas to say on the subject of poverty as he has
come in contact with it in the course of his
settlement work in New-York and in similar
activities elsewhere commands attention. 1t
| is interesting as being the first hand impress
slons of keenly sympathetic mind, and vaIua-
bic in its recognition of the fact that the causes
OF poverty are so inextricably interviewer with
the fabric of our economic, social and political
institutions that its removal involves a radical
change in our views of life and its responsible
ties. Mr.. Hunter, indeed, is too greatly moved
1 by the misery which he sees about him TO be
willing TO wait for a social revolution, peace
/ ful or otherwise, to bring about a new set of
| conditions, which, in abOlishing poverty, might
/ also abolish much else that could less easily be
spared. He makes certain definite suggestions
Of reforms in the line OF advanced modern
Geologic thought, which, when carried out, will
| serve measuratly to lessen the causes of much
of the poverty that exists. These reforms,
while to certain extent merely palliative.
at least practical and within the possibilities of
quickly awakened public sentiment
4dr. Hunter does not claim to be a scientific
| investigator. and. in truth. he is not. But ne
has long been intelligent observer, and what
he writes loses nothing in force from being in
spired by a warm feeling of human brotherhood.
An instance of the authors lack of scientific
exactness is his statement in the preface that
one OF the main objects of the volume is Ito
define poverty and his neglect to do so.
although he aptly describes those who are lin
poverty being unable to obtain those neces-
saries which will permit them to maintain a
state of physical efficiency" A pauper he de-
fines one who depends upon public private
charity for sustenance Since he includes the
paupers among those who are in poverty. we
must allow for a little looseness of definition
here, as it is obvious that many paupers do OBJ.
tain through charity all and more than is neces-
sary for their physical efficiency. However. it
is easy to get at Mr.. Hunters meaning, and un-
kind TO cayil at lack Of precision in a volume
that in its general scope is so admirable.
For pauperism, Mr.. Hunter neither sees nor
proposes any cure. So long as there is poverty
and the charitable impulse survives there will
be paupers. Pauperism must be prevented by
removing or lessening the causes of poverty
from the ranks of which those of pauperism are
recruited. More charity, of course, will only
make more paupers; and while Mr. Hunter
would not withhold relief from those who are
the victims Of our present social and economical
conditions. he is insistent in demanding for un-
skilled labor a consideration that it is not now
able to obtain either from employers or the
state. He estimates that there are in the
wholly or partly dependent, who at all times
or at some time during each year feel the pinch
Of want While he is a little uncertain as to
the trustworthiness OF his figures, the exact
number is quite iInmaterial Whether the poor
are SO fsW to be the exception, or so many
TO be the rule, their condition and
its causes are properly subjects OF in
vestigation- But IL Mr.. Hunters estimate is
only approximately correct IT is evident
that more important subject affecting the
welfare of this country confronts it's people to-
day. book like this. which helps to arouse
the sentiment OF the public without appealing to
it's passions accomplishes a great service,
whether we agree with all its conclusions or not
To make all tenements and factories sanitary,
to regulate dangerous trades to prohibit child
labor these and the other reforms which the
author advocates only the first steps toward
raising the minimum standard of living. and so
widening the margin between unskilled labor
and poverty. But the agitation leading to these
reforms will be effective also in awakening
the public consciousness to the economic sick
ness whose dangerous symptom is the existence
Of millions Of would-be workers in or bordering
on a state of physical ineficency.