The Washington times., 1921-09-09
BOSTON AUCTION
OF JObLESS MEN
HAS NO BIDDERS
Unemployed Stripped and Offer.
cd on Block as in Days
Of Old.

were placed on the auction block on
Boston Common yesterday. Stripped
to the waist, after the custom OF the
old slavery auctions. they declared
their willingness to work by stand.
ing before a crowd of thousands, CT
fering their services to the highest
bidder.
"Shorn lambs of unemployment"
their auctioneer, Urban Ledoux.
called them. Ledoux. a philantrophic
worker who recently opened the
Church of the Unemployed" in the
West End. led a group Of fifty to
the COMMON to bring home, he said,
to the people of Boston their stories
Of human misery, just as William
Lloyd Garrison pleaded for the slaves
on the same spot seventy years ago.
1t was to prove that his charges
were not parasitic floaters, but in.
stead good citizens out. of a job. that
he put some of them on the block,
he explained.
The Efforts In Vain.
Ledoux's efforts to get work for
his men were not rewarded. OF the
three who stood up for the bids none
went away to a job. although from
the crowd came pledges Of help to
tide them over q week or two while
they sought employment. Their lead.
or said. however, that he considered
he had succeeded In bringing .hsir
plight and the honesty Of their pur-
pose to public attention, and he an
nounced that the auction was to
be . daily event. to be continued at
least for the remainder of the month
Ledoux and his men. box lucnhcs
In hand, came to the common from
the West End headquarters. where
he has fed hundreds In the last week.
While they nunched their sand.
wiches he called for volunteers to
stand at auction prepared to work
Eight men stepped out, two Of them
world war veterans, most of them in
clothing that was frayed and shoes
well down at the heels. Each was
asked how long he had been out Of
work and without food and shelter.
One man had not worked for
year. Another had eaten only twice
a week in six months of unemploy.
ment.
No Bids for Veterans.
James Ferris. twenty-five years
old, an outstanding man who said
he had served four years in the
army. was called to the block on the
steps Of the Parkman Memorial Band.
stand. He stripped to the waist and,
while Ledoux directed. went through
the army calisthenics to show the
extent OF his muscular development.
Bids were called for.
This Is one of the men that YOU
used during the war. What will YOU
do with him now7 How much will
you bid for this mans services for a
week in order that he may have
food and shelter?" the auctioneer
asked.
Bids were made. but when they
were called those who had made
them had slipped away. Ferris was
then declared to be without a bidder.
A dog was brought to the block.
He was knocked down for SIS, with
the condition. accepted by the sue.
cessful bidder. that he be returned
to the Church Of the Unemployed"
a. its mascot
Negro Has Better Luck.
Joseph Mitchell, a negro, was than
called. His shoes were without soles
ana his clothing was ragged. Reply
Ing TO Ledoux's questions he said he
had been without food for DAYS at a
time In the six months he had been
out OF a job.
There was no bid for his services.
and the auctionser called on the
crowd to pledge him food and shelter
Tor a week. Mrs. Annie jackson re-
sponded and went the auctioneer one
better by saying she would be re-
sponsible for Mitchell's sustenance
and shelter for a second week II
necessary. John Farley, Of Dor.
chester, wearing a G. A. r. button,
added q dollar. another man prom.
ised suit Of clothes. and a second
man passed Ledoux a 81 bill to buy
some beans for the boys
William Davis, a boy Of eighteen
years, out Of a job for a year, was
offered to the crowd as one willing
to work. He said he had kept him.
self going for a time on 5000 that
he had saved. but had reached the
end Of his rope and was in hunger
yesterday. He was promised a home
for a week by Mrs. J. H. Gran
ninger, and the man who promised
the clothing to Mitchell gave 81 to
Davis.
With no bids for the three men set
up. Ledoux suspended his auction,
announcing that II would be re.
peated tomorrow.
RambIers Dance Tonight.