Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-04-27

WASHINGTON, ID. c.. April 26.-
Until short time ago the pretty town
or Glenwood Springs. Col. suffered
from verltable plague Of tramps
Located upon branches Of two trans-
continental lines. and Just about half
way between Denver and Salt Lake
City. il had become summer Mecca
for all varieties OF tho great fraternity
that travels without funds. They gath
cred about Its water tanks and coal
chutes, which were carved and marked
with the strange symbols of their fra
ternity: they committed petty crimes,
and frightened women and children
and. above, all, they begged Glen
wood Springs was famous among them
FOR Its generosity. The housewives OF
the town fed almost all corners. and
ever their numbers grew. At last the
nuisance and burden became intolcr-
able. Two powerful organizations Of
Glenwood Springs, the Board OF Alder
men and the Business Mems League
concentrated their combined intellects
and talents on the problem. and this
is the way they solved IT,
When the next hobo hit Glenwood
Springs he found posted OIL the water
tank a great placard informing him
that IL he would apply to the city
clerk or the chief of police he would
be given work TO do for the city. and
that for Two hours work he could
for the night Now. when the typical
and professional knight errant OF the
box car saw this legend. he snorted
and boarded another freight. Or per-
haps he went about his usual solicit
tation Of refreshments. II so. he found
on the back fences of homes that had
long been famous for generous hand
outs other big placards which stated
that the inmates were prohibited by
the city authorities from feeding va
grants, and repeating that suggestion
about working for the city.
Some Welcomed Chnnce.
1t was painful experience for tho
professional wearies, especially since
Glcnwood Springs Is the only stop
worth while between Denver and Salt
Lake. But not all of the drIfters who
pass through Glenwood Springs Cor any
other town. are Of that class which
makes dleness a religion and work
crime. There are also numerous men
who want work. and are hoboing
across the country in search of IT,
When these saw the Glenwood signs
they hailed with Joy the chance to
earn square meal. Often they ap-
piled for permanent employment, and
places have been found for many Of
them on ranches in the vicinity OF tho
town. The city clerk has become an
employment bureau, and the tramp
nuisance is no more.
Thus Glenwood Springs solved its un-
employed problem. and In so doing. il
unconsciously applied three principles
which students OF the question say are
absolutely necessary to success. In the
first place. the men who wanted to
work were separated from those who
either couldn't or wouldn't work. In
the second place, bureau was O.
tablished to bring the applicants for
work together and find them jobs In
the third place, city work was provided
for those who could not he otherwise
employed.
The experience OF the winter OF
1914-15 has shown all thoughtful
Americans that in unemployment they
have big problem. and that 1t is
primarily a problem Of the cities, little
and big. Most of the monetary loss
falls on the cities. In the winter OF
1a14-15 there were at times 1000 900
men out Of work. Figure the loss in
wages for yourself. Next to the un-
employed men, the burden of this fell
most heavily on the city merchants in
tho form OF decreased buying power
and many bankruptcies resulted.
Unemployment Increases Crime.
Another direct result OF unemploy-
ment is an increase in petty crime, and
here again tho cities suffered Their
police had to cohtend with the Offend
ers, their jails support them, just as
their charitable institutions had TO sup
port thousands of paupers. Every un-
employed man is q burden and a men
acc to some American city. If you are
q taxpayer in that city you may pic
ture him as having his hand In your
pocket as long as he is out OF a Job
SO waiving the philanthropic aspect
of the matter, you can see that as
business proposition 1t is necessary
for the American cities to solve the
problem Of unemployment.
Tho time TO solve this problem is
now. The experience Of one hard win
ter has demonstrated that 1t cannot be
handled successfully IL no preparations
are made until 1t has become acute
Many OF the larger cities in the United
States have come to realize this. and
arc in some degree putting into prac-
ticc the necessary methods.
Few OF them, however, are taking
the first necessary step. which Is to
separate the unemployed from the un-
employable. 1t is n waste of time and
money to find jobs for men who either
cannot or will not work. Before an
employment bureau can be really ef-
fective. 1t must have some means OF
separating these unfit ones, and some
way OF caring for them. Both Chicago
and New York now have trained men
to investigate the inmates of the mu-
nicipal lodging houses and determine