Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-24
INTERESTED IN WORK
OF LEGAL AID SOCIETY
GREAT MASS MEETING TO BE
HELD TONIGHT
Project of Forming Organization to
Protect the Needy Is Meet
ing with Much Suc-


Judge Curtis d. Wilbur. Judge N. p.
Conrey, Frank G.. Tyrrell and Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney Eddie will be the
speakers at the mass meeting to be held
in the interest of proposed Legal Aid
society in Symphony hall this evening.
This project for the formation of an
organization that shall protect the civil
rights of the poor has, since the tenta-
tive meeting of a few weeks ago. ac-
quired the momentum of a popular
movement and aroused the interest of
many of Los Angeles most prominent
citizens. Among the large bodies that
are giving hearty support are the Los
Angeles Fellowship and Ramona par
lor of Native Sons.
AS soon as the attention of the gem
eral public was directed to the matter
discoveries were made of appalling
abuse of the rights of the impecunious
and unfortunate. 1t became apparent
that while in law the presumption is
that there is legal redress for every
wrong, In practice said remedies are
available only to those who can afford
to pay from SIS up for legal assistance.
Never before have the more FORUM
ate members of the community realized
how the great mass of the people are
obliged to sacrifice their liberty before
the feet of an expensive judicial sys-
tenn.
Many Unfortunates
Among the unfortunates who besiege
the public prosecutors office for ADVICE
and aid, none are more to be pitied than
the large number of deserted wives who
are left without support for themselves
and their children, and have no means
with which to go into court and bring
suit for maintenance. These poor crea-
lures, forced to the Office where there
are not sufficient facilities for looking
after their needs, form a most pitiable
sight when they are obliged to turn
away without relief. Recently the wife
of a mining man who is making good
money here in Los Angeles was DESERT
ed with three small children, and for
four months tried to get along without
the aid of her husband. After she had
appealed to him several times, he told
her he had no fault to find with her,
but that he loved another woman for
whom he had cared before their mar
riage, and that now she demanded all
his affection and money.
The wife had shared with her hus-
band the privations and hardships of
a pioneering life. and on one occasion
had actually given him the last food
they had and had gone without, but
he had in his prosperity left her with
not enough money to secure justice for
their children.
Children Testify
One of the saddest features of these
suits for maintenance is the fact that
many times it becomes necessary TO
place little children on the stand to tes-
tify against their fathers. An average
of between twenty-five and thirty OF
such cases come before the prosecuting
attorney every month.
Another unfortunate class who need
a helping hand are the people who go to
employment agencies and are often
beaten out of their last cent for office
fees, and then are sent to some out-of-
the-way place where there Is no work.
If they have the means to return to
Los Angeles, they have no means OF
recovering against the sharks who bled
them of their last dollar. Employment
agencies frequently send large num-
ber of men to construction camps whore
they are paid by the month, and at the
end of the month they are discharged
without pay. Although 1t is suspected
that these agencies and camps are in
league, the men have no one to act for
them and have no redress. working
men and women who cannot collect
small amounts due them cannot afford
to bring suit, for costs in a civil suit are
from $25 up.
1t is not the duty of the prosecuting
office to attend to this class of cases,
and here the need of legal aid society
is indicated. 1t is hoped that as re-
suit of this movement and the Wide-
spread interest that is being aroused
an effective effort will be made to Sc
cure state legislation that will protect
the poor and needy.