The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-12-30
During the Latter Part of jan
uary Unemployed of United
States Plans to Hold Big
Convention.
| MORE THAN MILLION
HAVE NO OCCUPATION
In This Country, Right in the
Dead of Winter, and in the
Midst of Good Times
Unique Meeting.
(American News Service)

Chicago. Dec. 3O.-Plans to secure
legislation for the employment of every
person in the United States, will be
made at the big convention of unem-
ployed to be held here Jan. "a to 81.
More than a million persons in
the country are ont Of work. during
thus supposedly good times" said
Mrs. Cora D. Harvey today. national
secretary Of the organization.
Il can not tell you the exact num-
Der for l have no: the figures, but on
a conservative estimate there are more
than $1,000 out of work in Chicago and
more than 100000 in New York.
Representatives from all nations
have been invited to come to Chicago
to take part in the convention. Among
those asked are Lloyd George. the En-
glish chancellor, Winston Churchill.
the English novelist, and Ambassador
James Bryce. Several prominent En-
glish suffragettes also have been ask
ed to attend the convention.
Prominent German and Swedish So
cialists are also included among the
invited guests.
King Of the Hoboes.
]. Fades Howe. known as the King
OF the Hoboes" will preside at the
meeting.
Charity organisations were, seversly
scored by Mrs. Harvey, while she was
speaking on the forthcoming meeting.
They are supposed to aid those suf-
fering." she said. ''They do nothing
of the kind. The officials know little
of the real work to be done.
1T is not charity that is wanted. It
is work. Give those men work. They
all want it.
Many will tell you that most Of
these men do not want work. l tell
you that they all do, every one. They
want it under the right conditions
which we have not got now.
II admit that many of these men now
out of a job are incompetent. but they
have been made so by the system. II
they had had chances from the time
they were children, they would not be
in such condition.
But most Of them can work if given
| a chance. We propose to see that the
state provides idle men with work.
Those who have gone past the stage
where they can do efficien: labor
| should be given a pension. We hope
to secure such a law.
OF the $1,000 out Of work in Chicago
according to Mrs. Harvey. 10000 of the
number are women
Many Women JobIess.
There certainly are more than 10000
women and girls out of employment in
Chicago. she said. They would like
| to get work, but can not because of the
| system.
Babies are going without first class
nourishment for this reason.
Scores are starving. Yes, actually
starving. right here in Chicago and
more than double that number in New
York.
1T isn't the individual that is re.
sponsible. There are few men, who
If they saw any one suffering the pangs
of hunger, but that would reach in
|
1T is the system. We are so eager
to grab the dollar We do not watch. We
do not know. and seemingly we do not
care what our neighbor is doing. They
starve to death and next door to us
and we know nothing of it
1T is time We woke up. We want a
new system. A system by which men
can work and earn their bread. II
isn't charity We want for these men
and women 1t is simply a chance to
earn their living. to provide for their
wives and children by the sweat OF
| their brow. hey have not even the
chance at present.
| Pass q Resolution.
| The convention will pass a resolution
according to Mrs. Harvey. demanding
that congress pass a law to provide
work on streets. roads or anywhere for
any man ont Of work who asks it.
| Only regularly appointed delegates
from the various cities Of the country
and invited guests will have the privi.
1ege of the floor ar the convention. but
the doors will be thrown open to all
It is expected thai thousands of unem-
ployed in Chicago will be present
Mrs. Sophie Loabenger. Of New York
is scheduled as one Of the chief speak.
ers. Mr.. How. st. Louis. Nicholas
Kloin. Cincinnati and Prof Will OF
Washington, will be among the speak.
ers. Some Of the themes to be dis.
cussed are How to get away from
Destitution." Charity Doing Nothing .