South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-06-15
DISCUSSES HOUSING PROBLEM.

DlSCl Sis HOUSING PROBLEM.
Editor News-Times.
Dear Sir:-Several times in the
past. your paper has come 20 the re-
lief OF a suffering public. therefore
am confident that you will give
space for this protest against the
housing conditions in South Bend.
have letter before me from the
Chamber OF Commerce 20 a member
OF organized labor stating that the
housing problem had been turned
over to the Chamb Der Of Commerce
10 solve. I remember distinctly that
a committee was selected by the
Central Labor union 10 act in con-
junction with the Chamber OF Com
merce. So far we have had no re-
port which would cause some of US
to think that the Chamber OF Com
merce had never received or enter
tanned the expression from the la
boring people"
Further. the condition instead Of
being solved is growing worse.
Whose fault is il? Is the housing
proposition jus; a scheme of the real
estate men 20 rob the work rs Of the
few dollars they have been able to
save? IL would appear so from the
exorbitant prices that arc being
asked for nearly all the places for
sale. Easy terms. small payment
down. balance like rent, percent
Oh. Shylock, you wouldn't be n
she game here a al You only de-
manded your pound OF flesh. The
real estate men OF South Bend are
demanding the flesh and blood for
the next generation. The ordinary
working family paying $500 will
work like slaves and deny them
selves OF most the pleasures for a
generation 10 pay that much if they
don't lose out in the next dull
period" Meanwhile those who are
unable 10 make the first small CD
payment OF $3.50 TO $500 down are
trying 10 find some place TO rent
and landlords are determined not
TO rent but viii allow houses TO
stand empty month after month,
knowing that in time the poor vic
tim will be forced 10 come 10 their
terms or easy CD payments. like
rent. and Z percent. Two thousand
three hundred homes needed. and
only $50 being built; 10000 people
in South Bend without homes. Mr.
Editor. can this be true2 Homeless
people are naturally disconnected:
10000 Disconnected people in as
small a city as South Bend. Who.
Mr.. Editor. is manufacturing all this
discomfort? on the one hand we
ind the owners OF the property de-
handing double rent II perchance
he can be persuaded 10 rent at all.
the grocer and butche- hand US the
cheerful news that lard Will be up
10 4Oc next week. or that potatoes
have taken another raise. In fact
he smiIingly tells us that all staple
groceries are going up. Encourag-
ing. isn't it2
Then we meet our employers and
tell them that on account OF the
continued increase IN the necessaries
OF life we VII be compelled 10 ask
for more wages To meet the increase
usually a committee Is chosen 10 go
20 the front and II one OF that COM
mittee happens 20 be able 10 present
an intelligent argument IN favor OF
the requests OF the men and Is cou--
ageous enough 10 stick for il then he
Is classed as a bolsheviki or an agi-
tator. The foreman has his instruc-
tlcus that II he can catch th1s fellow
ON the wrong side 20 car him
These are only "A few OF the Difficult
ttes we OF the working class meet
Meantime. we are being notified by
our landlords that the place Is sold
and YOU viii have 10 get out al The
end OF the month. No one has
house 20 rent. all for sale Small
90 payment down. balance Ike
rent, per cent.
Oh, ysS this VIII build up South