Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-22

~ ~ fought here for fourteen long years
to bring about forces that would tell for decency;
fought here and is fighting STILL because the battle
with the slumS is far from
Morning and night, again and again. went with
workers through this unwatered, unweeded human
garden, and returned each time and more per-
picked.
Ris tells me that in this maestrom of misery
there are still at least million men, women, and
children housed in foul tenements and pestent
cellars.
Naturally asked as hundreds of onlookers have
long before this day. What are you going to do
about it,?
For sign, Riis replied, Look forward not
backward" and he pointed to the green trees IN
For many years army after army of social crusad-
ers has in turn battered at the doors of the dens.
On the other hand, Ris made for the most part
long, lone fight and when in the fullness of time he
blew his trumpet blast the walls began to totter,
the rubbish was cleared-and there stood the park.
flag, serving master except his own conscience
and his outraged of brotherhood, Riis, the
boss police reporter, became the most formidable
opponent encountered by the su1n.
His gorge stirred every time he the old
rookeries with their men, women, and children
herded like cattle 1t is all easy enough to under
stand when you know something OF his personal
history.
As a refornler, he was held in check by coldly
practical training first rate journalist Facts,
he says,-"th power of facts-are the mightlest
power of this any other day" So he hammered
facts facts, facts, the lives of the slum people
His plan was based on cooperation. He was
willing to help men, but not to carry them and at
all times he sustained by the high courage of
the true reforrner distinguished from the zealot.
No wonder then, that Roosevelt, who too in
the thick of the fight and hence well qualified to
pass judgment, once alluded to R11s as the most
useful citizen of New York!
A Pioneer in Publicity
IT is OF importance to make clear Riiss method.
He used an old lever in new way, publicity
refor1ner toppled several hundred tenement
rookeries and let in the daylight The striking fact
is that Ris began without plan. The opportunity
Widened as he went on: but at no time did he pose
in turn reacted on the popular mind. That part is
Journalism, pure and simple; but it by no means
explains the ultimate victory
Yes must make large room for something
else. Otherwise shall understand Riis
the man. and his work in the sum. There is, l
soon discerned, subtle something in his personal
ity l fell under its spell l talked with him. 1t
foated me- the way actors personality
floats the footlights
What man he is! Frank and open as the day;
simple as big boy; kind hearted to fault stub
born yes enough for two; proud yes in the best
sense of this much misunderstood term; open
minded but candid that at times his words stab
like stiletto,-such is Riis. And l ready to
believe that question of principle this rough
and tumble fighter would crush friendship a
wineglass would 60 down before the smash of a
blacksmith's hammer
You see he kept men alive the problem of
the slum but for all that his intellect, unaided,
did not express the whole force of the movement
1t needed a man behind and that man was Riis
l read his books talked with him. tramped his
slum district; but still found behind everything
largeness that eluded mere definitions That factor
is Riis the fighting man. with his hard qualities
retormer,-courage, desire to help, and common
With his living pictures from the Sums the
drink curse, the deadly moral contagion, tramps,
beggars, loafers the devils money, outcast
and women, and the general harvest of tares and
the wages OF SIM Rs told plain, unvarnished facts;
but, more important STILL proved his brother