The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-18
MORE AID NEEDED BY THE POOR AND THE
HOMELESS IN ZERO WEATHER HERE

\trom getting 10 far down that public RELIEF
.s necessary
.The scope of our work il broadenin g.
and as a result Of the blizzard weather
We are expecting many cases OF Illness
| when wage eamers will be helpless.
Every one connected with the society
ca rnestly hopes that the reports are true
which tell of a revival Of activity In mills.
factories and on railways"
In a statement especially prepared
describing the pressing situation OF men
who have been out Of work for weeks,
Cornelius n. Bliss, Jr. president OF
the Association for Improving the Con-
dition Of the Poor says that assistance
is wanted at once.
I'VE want clothing" he declares,
clothing Of all kinds. all sizes. for men.
women, boys and girls Of all ages. The
association is having twice as many
applications for relief as usual and
We are spending twice as much In
funds.
"The situation is serious for many.
many families. and II will not ease up
until the winter is over. unless a revival
Of general business sets in, with OPP
portunities for men to get work who
have not been earning any regular In
come for weeks.
81 think | know the city Of New
York. the sympathy and generosity OF
its people. And / am sure that If they
only realized how urgent the necessity
IL they would send subscriptions of
money and clothing that they can spare.
and that a multitude Of those who are
well to do would find some work. even
| If for only day or two, that could
| he given to anxious fathers and dis
tressed mothers who do not know
which way to turn.
"ln time OF crisis or misfortune.
whether at home or abroad, this great
powerful city has always come to the
: 'front.' and without delay. Now Ia a
time when New York once more may
show its splendid spirit"
Superintendent Wyburn OF the Nc
Auley Mission. down in Water street.
Is of the opinion that opportunities for
workingmen already are brighter.
During the month of December" he
says. here at the mission we had heavy
applications for food and shelter. but
with tho exception Of the several bliz-
card days this demand has fallen OFF
perceptibly since the first of the year.
Perhaps one reason why public and
private relief agencies were over
whelmed during the severe weather is
because the new bridge over the East
River has caused a number Of lodging
houses to be demolished-in other
words cheap lodgings by the hundred
have been wiped out OF existence to
make room for the new bridge. That
is one little phase Of New York's social
and economic problem usually not con-
sidered or provided for"
One of the men keen1y interested IN
social conditions prevailing IN this city
is Fred Il. Smith. As secretary of re-
ligious work for the international COM
mittee OF the Young Mems Christian
Association. his field OF work includes
Shanghai. Cape Town. Honolulu and
London. as we'll as New York and San
Francisco--in fact II includes the re-
ligious work of the Y. NJ. c. A. through
out the entire world and he holds
some decided opinions regarding the
function Of churches in such a crisis as
the recent spell OF zero weather.
ITS all right 10 double the accom-
modatons Of the Municipal Lodging
House by fitting UP the recreation pier"
he said. IT'S move In the right d.
rection, and both the Mayor and Com
missioner Kingsbury should be- given
full credit for this prompt step. But
you will remember that the Municipal
Lodging House and recreation pier are
away over on the East River front.
What I want 10 know Is how home
less man down by tho Battery or away
up by the Harlem River can be shell
tered in time of blizzard without
fighting his way for miles through an
eighty mile gale that would tax the
vitality Of the strongest man?
Think OF an old man, man en-
f-ehlcd. or n frali woman. weak from
hunger or exposure or dvink-or all
thrce---trying to walk from l2Jth street
West down TO Twenty sixth street and
the East River. That is the situation
] hope and believe that our new Mayor
and his cabinet Will he able in reason
able time to provide places In as many
sections OF the city as are necessary
which can be thrown open a. refugees
from sudden storm and terrible cold