The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-07-23
BY MARLIN E. PEW
Special Correspondence to The Press

BY MARLIN E. PEW
Special Correspondence to The Press
NEW YORK, July 23.-Hard
times-cruel, relentless, crushing,
killing hard times prevail in the
metropolis at the present time, to
a greater extent than in any other
city of the country.
1t is estimated by the free labor
bureau that 100000 people of all
classes are out of employment.
Other estimates range to 100000.
The parks are full of Involuntary
idlers.
The streets swarm with people
without destination.
| The midsummer sun beats down
upon the tenements of the poor
wretched enough in good times and
now terrible beyond description
and babies die fer need of ice and
air, wives and children are hungry,
and men are in desperation.
The newspapers proclaim that
the cloud of financial depression is
clearing, business conditions are
improving. This may be the fact,
| but nevertheless the summer heat
has brought new and more terrible
suffering among the poor. 1t is
certain that the business revival
has not struck the tenements yet.
1t is said that the very rich feel
poor this year. They have, how
ever, enough ready money to buy
transportation to carry them from
beautiful Fifth av. to cooler New
port. But the East-side is tied by
poverty to the reeking garbage can,
perhaps without carfare to enjoy
a days rest at Coney Island.
The free employment bureaus,
opened some months ago, are now
crowded throughout each day with
sad-faced, disappointed men and
women. In these clearing houses of
human tragedy may be found the
skilled mechanic looking for ANY
thing; the stenograpner seeking
work as a holsemaid; the book
keeper willing to ply the shovel.
Charity organizations admit
their utter defeat. They are swamp
ed with applications for help which
they cannot even investigate. More
than 5000 families-more than
three times the usual number
are dependant upon the United
Charities organization. Last
month this single charity organiza-
ton had 1881 applications from
distressed people. There was less
than half that number in June of
last year.
In one month the Municipal
Lodging house, where the city pro-
vides beds for the homeless, 1864
people were housed, and it is now
crowded nightly and hundreds are
turned away Thousands of people
sleep in the open parks, streets,
doorways, upon the docks-any
place that may offer.
Charity and police officials admit
that fully rs per cent of the pow
erty ridden people of New York
who are seeking their aid are will
ing and able to work. More than
200 men a week present them
selves at police headquarters ask.
ing to be locked up and sent to the
workhouse, whore they will at least
have food and bed.
Here are some hard time incl
dents, selected from the news OF
two weeks:
According to an official state
ment, for the six weeks, June l to
July IL, there was an increase in
the death of babies over the same
period in 1907 of 66 per cent.
In one week 81 died of diarrheal
disease, most of whom could have
been saved with proper food, medi
cine and care. From other causes
than diarrheal diseases in si>
weeks, according to the report
1,161 infants died, large percen
tage being the babies of the very
Ipoor.
Five sisters named Cisco, rang
ing in age from IS to 4, were found
in a tenement at SAG e. Sixteenth
ST., starving. They had subsistet
for nearly week on 20 cents
which they had begged. Theil
mother was in an asylum and thei
father was in New Jersey, looking
for work.
Mrs. Martha r. Wood, because
of financial troubles, drowned her
self in a bath tub in her home, III