The San Francisco call., 1906-06-05
WANT THE CAMP
INVESTIGATED
Refugees in Jefferson
Square Ask for I'm
DrOVementS.

Letters have been addressed to Mayor
,Schmitz. Colonel Febiger. United states
army: Mrs. John F. Merrill. president
of the Red Cross Society. and Governor
Pardee. enclosing the following petit
ton, signed by over 1000 refugees no"
harbored in Jefferson Square Park;
we. a committee appointed at a mass
meeting held by the refugees of Jener-
SON Square Park on Friday, June 1.
1906. desire to appeal TO you to lnXesu-
gate certain conditions existing there
This request is made not Tor the Pur-
pose of complaint, but that condltlonS
may be improved and the lives OF our
women and children properly projected.
The facts which we desire TO call your
attention to are as follows:
First-The women and children lack
underclothing and shoes For some
reason. either a conflict OF authority or
incompetency on the part or those IN
immediate authority, this condltlon mas
arisen New supplies are furnished to
other portions of the city. We are glad
that they have been. but lament the
fact that we have been overlooked The
stormy weather of the last few weeks
has made the demand for shoes and un-
derclothing imperative Many men who
cannot secure employment need aid IN
this line.
ment of a food station is. in our opin-
ion, a failure; its work is incomplete
1t would be a strange mother VINO
would administer n the same s,Id ddet 70 Ian an
attempt it. Mature men and women
might exist on il, but for women in va
rious conditions of health and children
il is a simple absurdity,
possible for such an establishment TO
furnish the diet necessary to good
health for a person of 80 and a child OF
years at the same table Surely a
banquet of corned beef hash for dinner
made of canned corned beef is poor
diet for a baby. The babe has its rights
under the present order of things.
We call attention to the fact that no
vegetables have ever been furnished
save potatoes, though they are drug
on the market. We would therefore
suggest that the system of rations was
far preferable for all concerned. No
matter how small they are the result is
better. 1t will do away with all COM
plaint. as the rations are carefully hus-
banded by each individual and are well
cooked.
Time only will show what the real
necessities of the people are We re-
gretfully say that there are many VINO
will need assistance for long time 10
come
Third-We would request that at
small expense two shower baths at
least for women and a similar number
for men could be established. This is a
great want. it is difficult for a per-
son even with means to secure a bath
except at a disprOpOrtionate expense
Fourth-The camp has been godsend
in the trying times of the past five
weeks. Few realize that fully 10000
people have at various periods taken
advantage of the aid furnished there.
It's location is central; il is near the
temporary business quarter of the city.
Men located here can reach any portion
of the city with greater ease. and less
expense than from any other location.
We desire to thank the United States
army and State SOl6i6rV for their I'm :
firing zeal in the discharge of their du-
ties. as they have attained as much
honor as could be won on the field of
battle. The Red Cross Society has Ia
bored night and day in our behalf.
To our fellow citizens of California
of the United States and of the world
who have SO generously aided us we
give thanks more than words can ex-
press. We do not complain; we know
and appreciate the honest efforts in our
behalf. but suggest that a proper in
vestigation of these matters will result
in a marked improvement in our condi-
tion