Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-09-02
Philanthropist Ledoux
Explains Club House

Blddeford, Me-, August ol.-I
am mighty glad to see you and
hope you will give me a little
space in your paper to clear
up that alleged mystery in con-
nection with my opening the
clubhouse for unemployed men at
81 Howard street, Boston," said Ur-
balm J. Ledoux, the former Bidde-
ford man who has become promi-
nent in New York and Boston as re-
suit of his attention to unemployed
men and especially World war vet
Grams who are down and out fnan-
cially and are out of work, with any
thing but bright prospects ahead.
There is no mystery to my open
ing the Boston clubhouse. The only
part that you might call mysterious
is that I requested the Boston news
paper men to let UP on me and TO-
Gus their attention on the poor I'M
fortunate World war veterans and
other men who are out of work with
no funds. l consider these poor men
should receive all the attention and
not me, because | arranged for Civ
ing them a cup Of hot coffee, "a plate
of beans and bread and butter. l
should not be termed the mystery
man for doing this benevolent act
and my clubhouse called zero club
house. / freely admit that / have
certain resources at my disposal for
the benefit of the World war veter-
, I'D Of ar fpr ~, ta
| have neither a position or funds to
live on, and with winter only short
ways off. Ny Boston work is a re-
petition of the grand work at st.
Marks on the Bowery in New York,
where we fed 10000 men last win
ter. We pay particular attention to
the World war veterans, for l hon
estly believe that we cannot reward
them enough. But | will not over
look any man who is in want of a
cup of hot coffee, plate of beans and
bread and butter, no matter who he
is.
Il have kept away from the Bos-
ton and New Y ork reporters because
| did not want any publicity in the
matter, and when l have been ap-
preached by any newspaper men I
simply requested them to focus all
attention on the needy World war
veterans and other men who need
help. l don't think l should get any
great newspa per notoriety out of my
present undertaking. l admit I am
the prominent member. but the ST.
lert partners are the ones who are
deserving of credit. 1t is what might
be called brotherly act, to help
make life happy for unfortunate
men. The clubhouse ct 81 Howard
street. Boston. has been leased for
500 a month, the first month being
given free of charge.
IN regard to a Miss Anna Jones
being in charge of the clubhouse. as
the Boston papers reported, please
say that it was my daughter Lucille,
and that no other woman has any
connection with the house. MY
daughter accompanied me Sunday to
Eliot where / gave an address at
Greenacre and from there we went
to Old Orchard and then to Bidde-
ford. i needed a rest greatly after
three weeks of strenuous work in
New York and Boston. That is
why I am down here"
Mr.. Ledoux returned to Boston
Tuesday morning, to take up his
work at the clubhouse He is great
ly interested in the World war vet
Grams and told the Journal that he
wished he had money enough to
make every one of them happy and
enjoy the rest of their days on this
earth.-Biddeford Daily Journal.