The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-01-23
CRIPPLE CAN'T
GET JOB; FAMILY
Is STARVING

tcontinusd from Pags ons.,
typewriters and sound Of voices about
him.
Il told my wife," he said, II told
her. i 60 to the cemetery. and there,
maybe, they bury dead man. His leg
/ take. and put 1t on me. Then. they
will give me work. Then they will
let me inside. Then they don't stop
me at gate and say, John, where you
go, huh?" I am cripple. / got only
one leg. but can work. See here"
The man threw upon a desk letters
of recommendation from former en-
ployers. He worked as teamster. as
q drill press and punch press hand.
He is stong. despite his physical hand
leap. Among Baiscla's papers was q
red card, issued by the Dttroit Board
of Commerce committee In charge OF
the relief work for the unemployed.
The board, apparently. had verified
the recommendations, had given him
q card, and told him to present 1t at
any place where he thought there was
possibility of obtaining work.
Baiscla went once more to those
whom he knew. He had been to
friends before for aid. But this time
he asked only car tickets. One man
gave him so cents, he said. This, too,
he spent for car tickets. Then he
took his red card and rode and thump-
ed his way around to Detroit factories.
One day he went out woodward. An
other day he rode the Fourteenth line
cars. A third day he took In the
Mack-ave. Industrial section. And
everywhere, he says, the men In the
employment ONCE looked at the stick
OF wood which he uses for right leg
and shook their heads.
So, with all his resources exhaust
ed, with the bread supply slowly
dwindlink, Elias Baiscla came'to The
Times office. He had heard that The
Times was printing stories about the
condition OF Detroits unemployed. In
the hope OF awakening a greater inter
est In them and, II possible, obtaining
work for them.
Mister" were his first words, 81
do anything. Please, mister, like TO
buy something to eat. My one baby.
she nine month old. My oldest, she
only nine years. My wife, she getting
sick from just bread and nothing else.
I got no money. can get no Job. For
two months rent owe. My grocer.
he ask me to pay $1s I owe him. How
do live, mister, and how do my wife
and children live, II I get no job?
don't care IL I starve. I lay down in
street now, but they--they should
live, and they should have to eat
Then the crippled man without job
gave way to his emotions. He turned
and walked away, with his head still
hn~ad md ono hand 0ypr his ewes.
When he came TO The Times office, he
was penniless. He will eat ever sun
day, at least. because the rattle or
the typewriters and the sound OF
mems voices didn't drown out every
thing that Baiscla said. Before he
had made his way down the stairs a
bill was pushed into his hands. So
Iciety addresses are more sympathetic
than men reporters. anyway.
This man is No. 1s6 In The Times
list OF unemployed.
Others selected for Saturdays list
are:
157-A young man who has had
long experience as a steamboat fire.
man, and feels that he Is capable OF
handling any other kind of firing
position. His mother and sister are
dependent upon him, and he n al
ready I'm arrears In rent
15s-This man has been supporting
his mother and three sisters. but
since he was laid on. three months
/, ago, his mother and one sister have
gone 20 work. The son seeks Z posf
ton 90 that they can remain q home
again, - he feels that Il - his duty