Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-11

Karl X. hltcnen IN =
DHE boy problem in Cleveland is one
of the most perplexing and impor-
Il tant problems that confronts the
city.
Even under the most favorable condi-
tions the bringing up of young boy
in a large city to be a strong, resourceful
man is fraught with difficulty, and the
strongest restraint of parents or guardians
is often necessary. What, then, of the boy
who is living under unfavorable condi-
lions, without parents or guardians, with
out any one to give him advice or aid
in time of trouble?
This is the problem the Cleveland News
boys association is trying to solve. This
Is the work s. Sanford Alden is devot-
Ing his entire time to and which is as
important as any charitable work in the
city. The fact that such men as Harvey
d. Goulder, Frank Masten, Frank r.
Baer, H. M. Briggs, Edgar e. Adams,
Charles A. OTIS Harry Coulby, A. w.
Lamson,. John Price and Henry N
Stats are giving it financial as well as
moral aid is sufficient to indorse 1t as
most worthy work.
AS its name implies, the work of the
association is among the newsboys of
Cleveland, particularly among those who
have no homes and those who have been
unfortunate enough to fall among evil
associates. The most important work of
the association is to wean these boys
away from their evil companions and get
them started right" But the associa-
tons work is not confined to that. 1t
keeps a close watch over the boys until
their habits are fixed or until they give
evidence that they are able to make their
own way unaided. 1t is unique among
the charitable organizations of this city.
The boys that the association aims to
help are those who have not had a fair
chance in life. The association is not
even for the poor boy. 1t is for the
homeless, the destitute, the flotsam and
jetsam of a great city. Nearly all the
boys 1t helps are bright, cheerful lads,
despite their handicapped condition. They
are self-reliant to a surprising degree,
but even the bravest meet with trouble
which, but for the assistance of the asso-
citation, might turn them into other paths
and wreck their whole lives. This help
ing hand which is always ready at any
time Of the day or night is invaluable.
Something of Its History
The Cleveland Newsboys association
has been in existence eleven years, and
during that time it has aided many thou
sands of boys, the waits and "strays"
of big city. Practically all the work
has been done by Mr.. Alden, who is the
superintendent of the association. Hun
dreds of boys have been rescued from
lodging houses where they were asso-
ciated with thieves and yeggmen and
placed in homes where they were given
more equal chance in life. Hundreds of
boys have been given employment, aided
In times of sickness, given good advice
and encouraged to live honest, straight
forward lives. The association has been
literally manufacturing good citizens out
of the raw product which, IL left to go to
waste, would become an ever increasing
danger to the community.
1t is impossible to give exact figures,
but it is estimated that there are 5000
newsboys in Cleveland While the ma
jority live at home there are hundreds
who are making their own living. Their
earnings are necessarily small. They are
forced to live in cheap lodging houses,
where they soon fall into evil practices,
and unless they are taken in time become
young criminals.
Then there are scores of "strays' or
runaway boys in the city. They are
usually without money, and unless they
are aided they soon find their way into
| the juvenile court In addition to these
there are hundreds of boys who live with
| their families, but who are forced to
earn their own living, and being with
| out any restraining influences soon be-
| come undesirable citizens" The aSSo-
| citation helps these boys as well, but its
chief activity is in getting the waits and
"strays'' started fright" Aid is given
to those who need 1t most.
For nearly ten years this work was
carried on under the name of the Cleve-
land Boys association, but as the ma
jority of the boys who were aided were
newsboys a year ago the name was
changed to the Cleveland Newsboys' as
ISOLATION, The old quarters on Vinegar
hill were abandoned for more commodi-
Gus quarters at Jos Prospect avenue,
southwest, and the scope Of the work
was considerably broadened.
To Counterfeit the Saloon
From the start it was evident that a
large part of the work in helping the
older boys would be in keeping them
away from saloons. In order to do that
the association provides various kinds of
entertainment for them. At the present
time there is a "stunt" at the associa-
tons headquarters every night.
Mr. Alden organized a band, which
meets two or three times a week for
practice, in addition to giving occasional
concerts. There is asso debating club,
which has half hundred members Then
there is an athletic association, which is
probably the most popular with the boys.
On certain nights it's members meet in
the improvised gymnasium on the top
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