New-York tribune., 1909-06-01
HONOR UNKNOWN N DEAD
UNEMPLOYED'S TRIBUTE.
Decorate GraUes IN Potter's Field on
Harts Island.


unclaimed dead. buried in the potter's field on
Hart's Island, were decorated yesterday by little
band of the unemployed of this city. 4 score Of
them, in ragged clothes, with unshaven faces and
only cup of coffee sustain them, each gathered
rev cents together each bought pot OF pansies or
bunch of daisies and placed the flowers tenderly
around monument marked. He calieth his own
by name"
This unique ceremony observed b. the In
ternatonaI Brotherhood Welfare Association, No. "a
Bowery. of which J. Eads How is national chair
man Under the leadership of Alexander Law. sec
retary the members left East 18th street at m
on board the Massassoit, steamer belonging 70
the Department of Correction The trip Of two
hours up the river into the Sound Hghtened their
hearts, and the sunlight cheered them as
they had not been cheered in many months Each
one carried a wreath. potted plant or a bunch
of flowers
When Hart's Island was reached they were
guided to the potters field and without ceremony
laid their offerings around the shaft erected year
ago 10 the memory of the unknown dead by Mrs
Greer. wife of Bishop Greer. Then they gathered
under great oak and. seated the grass. listened
to Cornelius Donovan. of No f144 Broadway. a good
friend OF the man who is down and out who
took occasion to say a few things about the op-
preston of the rich
Mr. Donovan said that the potter's field was filed
with men who were victims of the few who owned
the worlds wealth The laborer he said. did not
without the excessive interest that the laborer
paid. he asserted. there would no potter's field.
and there would be no need of one.
Every public servant he continued. who swears
to support the CONSTITUTION, to guarantee justice.
should hang his head in shame when ne hears the
charge. which cannot be controverted. that these
victims here are the result of his failure keep
his promises. These dead shouldn't have died They
have died as the result of their sacrifice, which
has been 20 add another million TO the fortunes of
men who we're already too rich.
NO matter how efficient or how skilful or edu-
Gated these poor men were. if they had not been
submerged there would have been an equal num-
Der to fill their trenches here"
The sequence. he said. the municipal lodging
house the hospital. the morgue and the potter's
field Harts Island. he said. vas a virtual para
disc and the only spot free from suffering which
many Of its silent residents had ever known
Rather would l be buried here with these vic
tins he said. than rest in cemeteries with those
who took nine-tenths of the products of the
poor mans labor"
Alexander Law started off with quotation from
Grays "Elegy." His speech was short Then the
party was shown about the island The guide
showed the great trenches in which the city buries
one hundred a week.
on the way back the men told stories of their
misfortunes. None Of them had had any work
for weeks. They were all willing to work. but
they could not get IL
Two boys were IN the party. one of whom said
he came from Boston There was no work there
ne said and he came New York But he had
been unable to get job I would do anything
he said. TO earn an honest living"
The other chap said that he stayed over night
at the Newsboys Home when he could earn
the 15 cents necessary for bed. supper and break
fdst- Yesterday. he said. he worked a few hours
in a bakery and earned Is cents
Another poor fellow said when asked how he
managed to live without work.
1 don't; I just sleep around and earn a few
cents wherever I can I haven't had anything ~
eat Tor TWO days except cup OF coffee I got
from Mr. How this morning But I wouldn't nan
handle for food if I had to starve All I want is =
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