Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-13
Thirty-Five Men Offered to
Highest Bidder.
MARKED AND NUMBERED
Twelve Get Places and Rest Are Re.
lieved by Subscription.
YOUNG AND OF GOOD PHYSIQUE
All Except One Old Man-Guarantee
of Food and Shelter Are
Terms Asked.

NEW WORK February 13.-Thirty-five
men confessedly down and OUT and
ready TO sell all they had in the world
their services-to the highest bidder, were
auctioned off like so many sheep last
night in the Parkside Presbyterian
Church at Flatbush avenue and LenoX
road. Brooklyn.
The sale was held under the direction
of Theodore O'Loughlin and the Rev.
John O. Long, pastor of the church IL
had been advertised. and of the 800 per-
sons who packed the church, most and
come in a spirit of fun.
After preliminary remarks by MI
OLaughlin the audience saw thirty-hve
men march soberly in n ficck-masked.
At least dozen women began to sob
as the somber procession passed in 81
lenCe up to the pulpit.
The men were all decently dressed and
had clean collars. All but one of them
were young.
O'Loughlin ranged them in a row
against the organ as they came along
and then addressed them.
"Don't Feel Ashamed"
Boys" he said. II have explained to
these people here what all this business
is about. Don't feel ashamed because
YOU are where you are. These people
down in the house are luckier than you.
that's. all. If half of them were to lose
their jobs they'd be in here themselves
in a few weeks. trying to get me to sell
them. No. 1O,'
A nice-looking lad. far could be
guessed through his mask. stepped for
ward and Strengthened his shoulders.
Said O'Loughlin:
Look at this gentlemen. He's twenty
four years old. He's eight months out
of work. He doesn't drink. He's strong.
He's decent He'll work at anything.
him, and SO is father who is cripple.
Any bids?''
There was none.
We'll. I'll Begin said O'Loughlin, is
John D. Rockefeller here? No? Is An
drew Carnegie here? Is Commissioner
Hebbard here? No? l called up Hebbard
the other day. He gets $500 year and
his office gets an appropriation of
So. 800. 900, but / find that all the work he
can give men is cracking stone the
island. Come on. who wants No. 1O?''
Bugs Number TO-"
A little. short man jumped up.
III give him ten dollars a week to
drive a bakers wagon" he cried. My
place is on Coney Island avenue and 1
can use man. I'll give him ten dollars
a week and three loaves of bread
No 10 faded from public interest into
the figurative arms of his benefactor
and No. IL was put on sale
Bids we're a long time coming for No.
IL. Finally one who said he was w. +.
Copeland Of the Straitedge Cooperative
Settlement of Abingdon square rose and
said that at a pinch he could give all the
men work IL they wanted to come over
among his people and take pot luck.
One man went, the others hung fire.
O'Loughlin asked for more definite bids.
Eventually a half dozen more of the
men got places. One was drafted to
Orange, y. j., to do house painting. an
other got a coachman's job with Flat
bush family. another was given free
board by the same man that bought
No. 10.
No. IA, an old man. was taken under
the wing of some philanthropist. who
didn't declare his intentions.
Finally several persons in the audi
ence put s. apiece as loan fund TO
carry the remaining men along until
they found some kind of work.
OLoughlin expressed himself after the
performance as having accomplished
something anyway He said that he
had proved that the number of persons
in distress was greater than the public
imagined. and that now il was up to the
public TO do something TO take care of
men who wanted to work, but couldn't.