Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-01-24
MINDFUL OF POOR
City of Boston Will Allow No
One to Starve or Freeze
DEMANDS OFUNEMpLOYED
Replied to by Governor Guild, Who
Points Out That Conditions Are
Better at Present Than the AveraE >
For the Past Twenty Years

For the Past Twenty Years
Boston, Jan. demonstrating the de-
mands which were presented to the
governor at the state house last week
by committee sent from several hun
dred unemployed which had gathered
on the state house steps, a statement
was issued late yesterday from the ex-
ecutive office replying in detail to the
many suggestions embodied in the de-
mandS.
The statement declares that the
writer of the resolutions which en-
braced the demands showed an almost
complete ignorance of conditions and
laws in the commonwealth, as some Of
the commissions demanded were al
ready in existence and other legislation
sought was clearly unconstitutional.
Regarding free employment agencies,
which was one of the demands, it is
stated that already such offices are do
ing effective work in Boston, Spring
field and Fall River, securing positions
at the rate of from 1000 to 2OOO month
without charge. An appeal is made to
further aid this work on the part of the
public.
The office of the overSeers of the
poor in this city is open and no person
need starve or freeze. declares the
statement. Not only is this means
available to the really suffering poor,
but it is shown that Il dozen or more
charitable organizations stand ready at
all times to help those in need. They
declare themselves well equipped for
the purpose and will be supported thor
oughly," is also contended.
while many are out of work at this
time. especially those in the building
trades and farm work, as every year,
the reports to the governor. it is claimed,
show that the conditions are better,
rat Their than worse, than the average
for the month for the past twenty years.
The overSeerS of the poor of Boston
also report that there has been an actual
decrease for the year in applications for
aid.
The state board of charity, it is also
III, IL
featuring town from which sensational
stories have come Of starvation and i'm
pending suicides that the operatives
have been steadily sending through the
postOffice money orders to their rela-
tives on the continent of Europe,
amounting TO from $4,000 to $4,000 a
week.
The proposition to impose new tax
to raise $500, 900 to provide work for the
unemployed is compared with the spe-
cial legislation to reduce rents as both
unconstitutional and impossible. 1t is
shown that real estate must impose
rents to get the money with which to
pay taxes, and that reducing rents at
the same time as increasing taxes is in
compatible.
Pensions for the unemployed is also
termed as absurd" as tending to idle
ness, and universal idleness meaning
universal starvation"
The statement says that an investi-
CATION by the police shows that the
agitatOr responsible for certain recent
disturbances has no regular residence
in the commonwealth. that his recent
stay has been scarcely Il month, that
although posing as a Socialist he did
not register and vote for those prin-
cples. and is ineligible for election in
any genuine labor union. as he is not a
wage Garner. His own admission
shows he is not himself unemployed
and that he needs no relief in food,
clothing or shelter.
The right to free speech extends
even to a man who as matter of
record openly and publicly reviles all
religion, encourages unchastity in wo-
men and advocates house breaking and
theft. Selfrespecting citizens must
judge for themselves whether they can
afford to associate publicly with one
who so abuses the privileges of Amer
/ lean freedom.
"Constituted authority. however, will
not countenance such abuse. The com.
mon sense of the people is the only
! defense needed against bombastiC
mouthings too silly to he dangerous"
Schooner Lands on Lodges