Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-05
GEORGE W. WILKINS
On the DoWn-and-Oute

THE problem Of the man who is down and
l. out Is more acute at the present time
than it has ever been, in the opinion of
Gailec Mission.
mot only" said Mr.. Wilkins, lis it
more acute, but we actually get more men
in this condition today than at any time in
my long experience
MANY things have contributed to this.
At present, | should say that the three
principal causes are unemployment. drunk
enness and domestic troubles. A large per
centage of those who come to us now are
shipyard and munition workers, thrown out
Of employment when the war came to an
end who became stranded here.
In addition, the adjustment period has
added to this condition, and hundreds OF
men sincerely anxious to be employed are
unable to find places.
Drunkenness is large factor. In ali
my experience ! have never seen more
drunkards at our doors than we find almost
any day. For the first few months after
prohibition, when 1t was enforced, the
number of drunkards was cut away down,
but since the enforcement agents have been
diminished alcoholism has had things all
its own way.
Hair Tonic FavOrite Beverage
Anything with alcohol in it seems to be
welcome to those of this type that we find.
Hair tonic is favorite beverage All the
gamut of spirit comfort from this form to
shellac Is to be found among the men who
have come to my attention. Prohibition
seems TO have increased the number of down
and cutters rather than decreased It,
"The dope tend is another of our GUS
toners. Things got so bad that they came
right to the doors of the mission to use
drugs. | finally was compelled to shut down
drinking fountain outside the building as
the addiCts came here and mixed their doses.
1t was not only bad moral influence for
the children in the ncighbOrhood. but an
actual source Of physical contamination.
domestic troubles help materially to
swell our lists. Men who fall under this
cause are at once both very hopeful and very
difficult cases. In most cases their prlue
had been badly hurt and they require the
most sympathetic and delicate treatment to
bring them around again. On the other
hand, there is enough innate dCcency in
them to make them come back for good when
the first difficult problem mas been over
come.
This class has included some splendid
men, men whose service to the world was
great and whose careers apparently were of
the brightest. In many cases, though, the
shock from this cause has meant II broken
heart aud II consequent tragedy.
Lazy Man Hardest Problem
The constitutionaly lazy man is one
problem that it is almost impossible to solve
Here we have our panhandlcrs. our hoboes
and others of their ilk. The ultimate course
for them is in all likelihood the Jail
I'VE have the great unwashcd, those who
meyer wash and never intend to wash. at
least not voluntarily, and the kind who
would embrace religion or anything else to
get something for nothing,
'One thing that is imperative here is the
requirement that the recipient of our hoIn
must pay nominal sum. or, if he has no
money, must do some work for his food and
lodging. 1t is not so much that we want
either from them, but it is great wsy IN
instill that pride in themselves which is the,
first step in bringing back the fellow who
is down and out. Something attempted
something done, has earned nights rruosc
said Longfellow. The pride in earning what
you get is one of the greatest little ways NJ
bringing to the surface self respect that 7
know OF.
"Thc oldup man or crooked business
men do not come to us. We have too in
quiring disposition for them Neitbar
does the fellow who would nut one over
If man comes here we help him m boI,
himself. but b." must help himself. lie must
arise by q O'Clock in the morning umIeSs
he is too sick or crippled to do so. and mIIst
be in by Il O'Clock at night. lie has tn got
out by O'Clock in the morning and can1n,
hang around here during the day 'rbc nh'
jcct OF TINS Is to push him to hunt work.
Often Advance Funds
IL a MAJ. is out Of funds and has oh.
tanned a position VIC advance him S9oVUh VU
lunds 10 tide him over. But if lie tries TO