New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-31
WHAT THE BREAD LINE DOES
II Helps the Down and Outer" il
Body and Soul.

TO the Editor OF Tn, Tribune.
Sir: The Bovery Mission bread lin. ear.
into existence several years ago becsus. .,
tremendously pressing need. There We,
at that time thousands OF men, American
citizens mostly. in destitute condition, gho
we're doomed 20 walk the streets all nigh.
in the severest kind Of winter weather, With.
out anything like adequate provision being
made for them by the city government Evu
then there were those who doubted ths. th.r
we're any really bona fde workingmen in d,
line, but close investigation soon established
the fact, and in recent years really earnes.
efforts have been made 20 solve the problt-
Of unemployment.
The Municipal Lodging House has beer en-.
larged and improved. Facilities for shelter.
severe weather have multiplied Other inst.
tutions have established relief stations, s't
many labor bureaus have been opened. Final
~, the city government has been enabled
through its Police Department, to get down
to the question OF what to do with the Va
grant who will not work when he has ih'
chance.
The present situation is that most Of he
men found in our nightly bread line are
willing to work when they get the chance
This is sbundantly proved by the records o.
our free labor bureau and by the esgerns"
with which these men have worked on The
snow shoyeling in the recent storms. bl'
for this fact the Department Of Street Clesi'
ing would on some occasions have beer a.
most helpless 20 deal with the snowfall.
The jobs that have been recently ofe'';
at the bread lines by Mr.. Leroy Peterson, o.
Police Headquarters, have only been sult''
10 strong. vigorous, well-nourished men, Nsa
who have been unaccustomed 20 msnua
work and men hslf-famished for wan, o.
food and halr-maddened for want OF sep
could not, of course, accept them. Nhsa
Mr.. Peterson visited the Bowery Mission "
other evening he had no jobs 20 OFFER ~
simply gave the addresses o. three sgone'o
where. he said, employment could be hsd' an
TO some individuals he said: "Sce ne a. :"
lice Headquarters Tomorrow Not ven
inviting proposition.
What must be done with the delinquen"
who. while able 20 DO so. will noi von,
Commit them as yagrants,' says me ROW,
Department. That means thirty days '".
labor on Blackwelrs Island and retufhios
them 70 the streets Of New York CiV
exactly the same dependent condition. p.'
some amount Of bitterness IN their near
and the prison brand upon their reeo'os,
the meantime the city payG the Dill ana -
evil is still with u. Is tits the oes' "''
ton OF the question? l.,
Regarding the worthy and wiling man w
whom the bread line is primarily PROM
our humble aim has been simply 10 heip n..
bridge over a few difficult days until re 20"
secured a Job for him. This has vorAeo 60
tirely TO our satisfaction, and we are
position TO judge. ..J
But. as We view the situation. ne -
point OF il all has been overlooked en'''.,
The real mission Of our institution, a. =,
name indicates, is the spiritual as wei
bodily uplift OF tho men Who req.s".
night after night From our point OF -
II is not enough merely 20 conserve me P'.
ical wollbeiug OF the doWn-and'ou'e'
strive to save his soul as well. And 10 -. ,.,
ing TO do so VIC end that some Of 'ne -
remarkable cases Of regeneration nav, -
their beginning IN tho bread iine' NJ ",
line has represented for many 81 "g
Of the Bowery .he LAST pitch Of their o,. /,
cation. as u was also the turning TO- "a
their lives. since through the minist'A'V..,,
their physical being. sllied with 'he .
tratiou to their spiritual being tnei, 81,
Grafton was accomplished To Us 'n' "a,
bocn tho most important question a.
and ono which transcends all otner 'VH 60,
lions. j. &. HALLlMoNp'
New York. March p. 1915.