The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-02-20
Unemployed Men on Auction
Block at Parkside Church,
Brooklyn.
THE PRICE ASKED WAS
ONLY FOOD AND SHELTER
Would Be Slaves Were Young
and Strong and Willing
to Work.

NEW YORK, Feb. ia thrilling
spectacle, and one not likely to be
forgotten by those who have wit
messed it, was the sale Of men that
took place Friday night at the Park
side church. Lenox road and Flat
bush avenue, Brooklyn. There were
800 people to be sold, out of which
two dozen with faces masked, each
designated with a number and re-
scription Of his characteristics and
qualifications, took the PLATFORM
They stood there ready to be sold,
asking to be sold, pleading to be
sold. They made no high demands,
and asked no price, but were ready
to give their skill knowledge, health
and powers to the man who would
promise food and shelter. They were
strong, and masters Of trades, we'll
built and neatly dressed.
E. T. O'Lougnlin, the man who had
arranged the sale, acted as auctioneer
and he ordered many Of the would-be
slaves to take off their coats and dis
play their muscles and strength, hold
ing out to the prospective buyers the
profits of the investment. But not
withstanding the fact that the church
was crowded, and that 1000 people
were outside of the place, who could
not gain admission, the demand for
men was small.
O'Louehin Explains Sale.
Mr.. O'Loughlin, before bringing the
men on the platform, explained the
conditions that brought him to
auction off human beings. IT once OBJ
tanned a job for a friend, who was
down and OUT he said, "by placing
an advertisement that I wanted to
sell him. Since then got 400 letters
Of people asking that I do the same
for them. I did not want to do it.
I have neither the time nor ability to
give myself to the task, and was
about to dismiss the applicants. But
1~began to read the letters Most Of
them read: For God sake sell me. I
have no food and no place to Sleep
MANY of the writer's" continued
O'Loughlin, stated that they were
on the point Of committing either
crime or suicide. and as read, I be-
gan to realize in what a social hell
we are living.
I have a wife, and I have a little
baby home. And as I was reading
the letters to my wife she said: You
must try. something must be done,
Perhaps you can do something for
hlm-for the one who says he will
jump into the river-and for those
who have little children, like ours!'
'Friends," continued the speaker
i am sick, sick at heart, when ]
think of the contents Of these let
ters.
he brought to the platform a dress
suit case, which he opened and dis
played to the audience, showing it to
De full of the letters. He then told
now the task Of answering them be-
came an tmpossibility, and how futile
1t would be to take Individual action
He, therefore, advertised for church
in which the auction could be con-
Quoted, and Notwithstanding the fact
that the advertisement for a church
was inserted for six days, the only
one that answered it was DR.. John D
Long, of Sne Parkside church.
Ask to Be Put Up First.
OLoughlin told how he had been
asked by the applicants to be put ur
first.
II called a meeting Of these first
up men last night in the library OF
DR.. Longs Church. have been out
of work TN months said one man
whose hair was verging on the grav
and I feel that am at last on the
eve OF q job
His face lit up as he talked. II
was as If the threshold Of heaven
were about to open to him. The
chance Of a job, to labor with his
hands, to take home bread to the
wife and little ones, was the goal to-
wards which he mad been striving fo]
long, weary months.
This Is the nearest i've gotter
to It, he continued, and I don't wan
to be thrown down now I want yo,
to put me up. I'll strip and show
what fine, strong arms I've got. II
work like a horse, just for the chanc,
to live. I can't keep this thing III
much longer. I'll do anything to b,
sold first
Auction Sale Begins.
No. II was the man put up first
The auctioneer gave the description:
j, Young man, "a, out Of job TO,
eight months; is a driver by trade;
strong and willing to work He mas
tramped all over New York anC
Brooklyn in search of work; 1a:
seven little brothers and sisters 81
home; father is sick: What am Of
fered?''
At this point a man from the audi
ence called out that he offered SO &
week. This was greeted with ire
mendous applause. The man was A
a G.. Will, baker, at 614 Coney Islan6
avenue. Mr.. Will also offered three
: loaves of bread for the mans family
/ The next man to take the bloch
S was No. 10. Again did the voice O.
~ the auctioneer rise:
s8 t8ass5s.''No. 10 is a young man, rs year.
old; out Of work for eight months; i.
IT, g. 4 s; ...,.s 555GtW" = nE4si