Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-09-09
MEN ON
AUCTION BLOCK
FAIL To SECURE
BIDS FOR WORK.
Man Who Served Four Years
in Army Is bought But
Bidders Slip Away When
Sale Is Declared.
DOG BRINGS SIS BUTTS
RETURNED AS MASCOT
Leader of ''Church of Unen-
pIoyed" Conducts Novel
Auction; Object Is to Show
Human Misery,

Boston, Mass, Sept. 8.--Jobless
men were placed on the auction
block on Boston common today.
Stripped to the waist, after the
custom OF the old slave auctions,
they declared their willingness to
work by standing before crowd
Of thousands, offering their serv-
ices to the highest bidder.
"Shorn lambs Of unemployment"
their auctioneer, Urban Ledoux.
called them. Ledoux. a philan-
thropic worker who recently
opened the Church of the Unem-
ployed," led fifty men to the COM
mon TO bring home, he said, to the
people their stories of human mis-
cry, just as William Lloyd Garri-
son pleaded for the slaves there
seventy years ago.
1t was to prove his charges were
good citizens out OF a job that he
put some of them on the block, he
said.
Lndoux's efforts were not re-
warded OF the three who stood
up for bids none got job. all
though the crowd pledged help to
tide them over a week or two while
they sought employment. Their
leader said. however. he consid-
cred he had brought their plight
and the honesty Of their purpose
to public attention, and he an
nounced that the auction was to be
a daily event to be continued at
least this month. Ledoux and his
| men, box lunches in hand, came
to the common from his headquar-
ters, where he has fed hundreds.
While they ate he called for vol
unteers to stand at auction. pre-
pared to work for week for the
highest bidders. Eight men
stepped out. two world war vete-
rams, most of them in clothing
! and shoes well worn. Each was
asked how long he had been out
| of work and without food and shell
ter.
One man had not worked for a
year. Another had eaten only
| twice d week in six months OF un-
employment.
| James Ferris, 25,. an outstanding
man who said he had served four
years in the army, was called to
the block. He stripped to the waist
and while Ledoux waited went
through the army calsthenics to
show his muscle development.
This is one of the men that you
used in the war. What will you
do with him now How much will
you bid for this mans services for
a week, in order that he may have
food and shelter?" the auctioneer
asked.
I Bids were made, but when they
were called those who had made
them had slipped away. Ferris was
then declared to be without a bid
der.
A dog was brought to the block
He was knocked down for Sc with
the condition, accepted by the sue
cessful bidder. that he be returned
to the church of the unemployed
as its mascot.
Joseph Mitchell. a negro. was
called. His shoes were withou,
soles and his clothing was ragged
Replying to Ledoux's questions he
said he had been without food for
days at time in the six months he
had been out of a job.
There was no bid and the auc.
tioneer called on the crowd "a
pledge him food and shelter for a
} week. Mrs. Annie Jackson re-
sponded and went the autioneer
one better by saying she would be
responsible for Mitchell's susie
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