The Calumet news., 1913-12-27
MOYeR BlANKlY REFUSES
TO ACCEPT CITIZENS AID
Continued From First PAGE.

these families were destitute. in neel
OF clothes and food. Some wished I,
accept hut were afraid to do so oT
account OF the orders of the union
agents. In one instance. a committee
of ladies was ordered from house
| During the afternoon, the committees
reported that in almost every instance.
people other than members of the fam
lies of the afflicted were present and
that IL was next To impossible to
reach the families, that i'm several of
these homes. the families wanted the
assistance of the committee but said
they were actually afraid TO accept IT,
The committees reported that there
weio several families who said They
could well take care uC their dead
without assistance from the union or
the relief committee and preferred to
do so. \ Few families refused point
blank To take any aid whatever from
these committees, but great many of
these families would accept relief If il
could be done without the knowledge
of the federation.
The committee told Mr. Moyer that
they believed he was not actually
aware of the exact conditions that eN-
istcd amons the families. They cited
instances of extreme poverty and of
The absoiut' need Of immediate aid.
regardless of its source They said
they came To ask him. the man they
believed TO bc the responsible head in |
This district OF the federation. To al |
low these families tu accept the aid |
which was offered To tHcm 10y the citi- |
,cns of the county. lie was informed |
hat there had been raised more than |
10000 with which to and these people
ma all they asked of him was to issue
I statement that this ail should be or
'ouid be accepted by the afflicted.
We are not representing the Ciu-
ems Alliance or any corporation" said
he spokesman of the committee. I'VE
re here simply as members of the re-
iei committee who are asking you to
How these poor stricken families the
privilege of accepting our aid"
" To response TO this question
Ioyer was eyasiye bu' upon being
inned TO answer yes or no" on the
question If issuing statement tha,
hese people should accept this aid. the
nsWer was no" MoNer was then
sked whether he was the responsible
cad of the federation in the district
nd responsible tor the orders issued
nj If not, who was. To this question
e replied: / refuse TO answer"
The ladies' relief committee has
isited the homes of lrty-four families.
nd almost in each instance. immedi- q
te need for assistance was evident.
mother Calumet wum0u who was
ersonally Investigating cases of dcs-
tunon and who has been a friend ol
ne families Tor many years, asserted .
iat many of the scenes are nothing :
lort OF inhuman neglect on the part l
,he agitdtors. Numerous cases of
1vertv were told by this woman who
'serts that the strike benefits were q
sufficient To- provide for any family.
any OF the little ones were without Il
lderwear and there was barely any
'od in the houses. a
To add To the difficulties which con-
ont the committees, tie most unbe- Il
-vtble tales have been spread among
e strikers. one committee of women Al
's'erday was followed 10y several
Ell and as soon as ;he doors were
'ened, the men yelled above the -
ices OF the committee, Don't take =
lSthns from the blackhand."
committee entered an
'artmcnt IN the Butler house where Is
man lay dead. Annie CIemenc was y
50 in the room cOnycrsing with the -
dow. The committee was ordered Z"
lncdiatcly from the house. other c
n.lar instances are numerous. y