The New York herald., 1921-09-29
SLEEPING IN PARKS
NOTFORCED, ,HESAYS
Major Underwood of Saliva
tiOn Army Sees No Need
for Mendicancy.
CITY GIVES FREE AID
Lodging, Food and Bath
Provided in Exchange for
Two Hours Work.
MANY OBJECT TO WASH
Committee Decides Use Of
Armories Not Necessary
Can Care for 5000.
MANY OBJECT TO WASH

No one need sleep in the park. or go
hungry, or ask for nickel in the
streets In this city.
This statement was made yesterday
by Major Edward Underwood OF the
Salvation Army, chairman OF the COM
mittee on housing and relief Of the Mu-
nicfpal Industrial Aid Bureau. He said
he is convinced that the great ma
tority Of the men sleeping in the parks
do not want to avail themselves of the
lodgings offered by the city. and that
many of them are from out of town
and not in search OF employment.
They have como here" Major I'm
derwood said, because OF the wide
publicity given to the efforts of the
city to alleviate conditions and the
prospect Of finding it easy to live here
on the generosity of the people and
the local government"
The housing committee met yesterday
and decided against the use OF arnories
for sheltering the homeless unemployed
The municipal lodging house. Major
Underwood said, coupled with temporary
buildings available and the facilities of
private organizations, can take care of
nearly 5000 persons.
He has distributed personally hun
dreds Of printed cards among the park
seepers inviting them in the name Of
he Mayor and the Commissioner OF
Public Welfare to get supper, lodging,
breakfast, bath and free medical at
in exchange for two hours work, but
Very few men have accepted. he said.
Many OF them told him frankly that
they objected to the city's hospitality
because the rules require them to take
a bath and have their clothes steriliaed.
Major Underwood warned against
giving money to street beggsrs. 1t Is
not helpful. he said. and should be dis
coura ged. The committee does not
countenance soliciting money either by
individuals or organizations in the
streets and subways. and such solicita-
tion is not authorized by the committee
or by any charitable institution asso-
cisted with It.
At the Municipal Industrial Aid Bu-
reau. Worth and Centre streets, it was
said that Louis Fl. Sullivan. who is in
charge there, had been called to Wash
ington TO attend the employment con-
ference About 800 persons registered
yesterday. and eighty-six previously
registered were placed In positions by
the bureau. No one accepted the offer
OF a New Jersey family OF car fare,
board and room for one week to any
one unable to support himself during the
first week in a new job.
For the first time this year bread
line was formed last night at ST. Marks
Church, Tenth street and Second av-
enue. About six hundred men were
waiting when the first free meal, con-
sisting OF coffee, with large chunks OF
bread and AXE. were served. When
word reache the Bowery that the line
had started the number grew SO rapidly
that q policeman on duty threatened to
asperse the crowd until Capt. O'Nell
OF the Fifth street station arrived and
promised there would be no police in
reference.
Tho line r. one of several resulting
from the crusade of Urban Ledoux.
who visited tile city a week ago as a
volunteer worker in behalf OF the un-
emplOyed,