New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-05
Our Full Duty to the Unemployed

Unless their hearts are harder than neither
millstones. people cannot come into direct cons
tact with the suffering and want now resulting
from unemployment without indorSing the views
of societv's duty so admirably expressed by lmml-
Grafton Commissioner Howe Poverty, destltu-
ton and unemployment are no longer personal
as they we're one hundred years ago he de
cJared. They are social, and society ought to
hear the burden. What society is doing now IS a
travesty on Justice That is broad Indictment
IN hot words Yet when a veteran OF the CNii
War stands in a bread line for two hours
through storm and cold, in order TO get 1000;
when boy Of twenty goes around seeking WORK
with feet protruding from his shoes, walking
through melting snow until pain and exhaustion
stop him: when thousands Of honest, competent,
industrious men beg bread because they cannot
obtain work, 1t is manifest that something Is
wrong. and some heat is justifable in advocating
remedies.
Society ought 10 bear the burden Of this IN
EMPLOYMENT situation. Society as represented
bv its governments, has itself prepared the
nrenise for that conclusion in undertaking u
care for its aged its sick, its helpless. Its help
az present, is given in ungracious guise-in char
itv wards" in hospitals and in almshouses. Yet
that help being provided for by statutes and enact
ments, Il Is only a step-and step now neces-
sarv-to making provision for the unemployed
who are as much the victims Of conditions they
cannot control as are any Of this city's wards
now in hospital or home. Society, a matter OF
Of
Of this care may be delegated to the benevolenct
of individuals. Some Of it may come through
community action like that observance OF Bun
die Day in which all elements Of the population
united so splenddly. Yet private benevoenc'
and public charity together are pitifully made
ouate-practically the "travesty on justice" whci
Mr.. Howe termed them. And the unescapab
fact remains that human beings cannot be al
lowed 10 starve in the streets; so society mus
care for them, adequately and in a fashion which
will foster rather than destroy their initiative
and self-respect, or by way of the almshouse, th'
municipal lodging house, the hospital and th'
jail.
Through the Mayors Committee on Unempoy
ment New York City has done considerable il
voorhees, 1t has not done enough. When tn
out-of-works have to sleep in saloon back room
and employment agencies or huddle in Railways
and walk the streets in storm and cold, there
need Of relief, which should be given. The Alder
men granted an appropriation to convert two ar
mories into sleeping places. There are other ar
mories equally available, and money TO equip then
should be forthcoming. The city is furnishing
penny lunches for school children. It might a
we'll furnish food for the unemployed, even if tn
Legislature has to rush through a special law t
clear up the question about authority to gran
outdoor relief" These are emergency meas
ures TO meet an emergency. Beyond that there
a big question Of policy for the Mayors CON
mttee 20 take up In other jurisdictions unen
ployment insurance has been deemed to be tn
best solution Of the problem 10 be found q
present. New York City and New York Stat
must face that issue and settle it soon.