El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-12-07
AID, NOT ARREST,
THE UNEMPL OYED
Superintendent of Associat-
ed Charities Says Mexi-
can Problem Big One.

J. B. Gwin. the new superintendent
or the Associated Charities. has been
IN FL Paso over week during which
time he has been investigating con-
ditions
He came from Paterson. y. J.. and
says that the social conditions Of the
criterion for the social conditions in Ell
PasO- He spoke OF the tuberculosis
problem here as an experiment to be
met first Of all by compulsory regis
tratiOn- He characterized the Chihua-
huita residential problem as an expert
ment in housing TO be remedied by the
people themselves rather than BY land
lords The problem Of Unemployment
and wandering men, he suggests.
might be met in a number OF ways far
better than arresting them as Migrants.
filming them and, upon turning them
loose, ordering chem to leave town.
Work Out Own Salvation
I don't know" said Mr.. GWin. but
what the Associated Charities might
make an experiment in bringing to-
gether representative people from
every block or district OF Chihuahua.
form them into a parliament of their
own, let them make suggestions; let
them debate their own sanitary con-
ditions. The association might act in
an advisory capacity and lend such aid
and assistance as is possible But IL is
always best to let communities and
people work out their own destiny. 1t
Is wrong to make people dependent.
Mextcans Interesting.
Il have been here only a little
while" the secretary continued, but 1
find these Mexican people tremendously
interesting They are not irresponsible.
They are alive to suggestion. They
have also that essential for 2 race
working upward. the gift OF imitation
or emulation l think they are quite
the same human timber as to be found
on the face of the earth
Better Homes.
If their homes are bettered their
lives are going TO be bettered- If their
homes can be made clean and whole
some there are not going to be so
MANY deaths among their babies
Now for the man problem 1 under
stand that men pass through here in
great numbers going east and west,
ana that FL PasO has a situation unlike
that of the coast cities A certain per-
centage Of these men are buns, but
not the bigger per cent I am rather
in favor of some form of a lodging
house where a man in hard luck may
work for his food and lodging.
Help the Unemployed.
4 think II mistake 10 lock up
these incomers as vagrants- There is
good material in them. There are
many Of them that. by the right use OF
heir energies and minds. help TO make
Fl PasO and the southwest Instead OF
lining them sentencing them, II would
be better to give them some construc-
i've work Then again so many OF
-neSe men only nee0 someone 10 look
nto their lives and make a suggestion
which would send them back to friends
)r home or speed them on to work j
I'm in favor OF a man being thoroughly
before he is arrested"
Lived With the Humble
Mr. Gwin. while secretary OF the I
Paterson Associated Charities. had
'epOrted to him the fact that the lodg-
ng houses Of Paterson were not at all
What they should be He decided 10
make a personal investigation and,
iressing as a man of small circum-
stances, he lodged for a month at the
-arious lodging houses. As result of |
lis investigation. local legislation was
.nforced that made for better beds,
letter food and better work
To Aid Poor to Help Selves:
Mr.. GWin says he is going TO work i
with view to aiding men. women /
nd children TO help themselves and 4
hat il is the last wish or desire Of the +,
lew association to pauperize families /
II communities IT think the Mexican Il
as a viewpoint considerably different /
rom that Of the AnElo-Saxon and that.
{ our work is to be successful among
hem we have to learn pretty soon his
iewpoint- And this I propose most
arnestly to do"
Supt- Gwin will make his report on
is Investigations this evening at
netting Of the Associated Charities in I
he doctors clubrOOms Of the Roberts
'anner building.