The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-04-30
TENANTS WILL
STRIKE AGAINST
RENT INCREASES
Monster Protest Mass
Meeting Tonight

Driven to desperation by the greedy
exactions of the landlords, a mass
meeting will be held tonight under the
auspices Of the Tenants League to
make-plans for the organization Of the
May Day Rent strike.
The meeting will be held in Vene-
tion Hall, Douglas Park Blvd. at the
corner of Ogden and Kedzie. The
members Of the Tenants League will
pledge themselves not to move or ac-
cept unreasonable rent increases.
"Innumerable children are under
nourished and poorly fed, even in the
better residential districts, directly be-
cause Of the profiteering of heartless
landlords" states Mrs. Mary E. Hol
land who has just finished 6-months
investigation of renting conditions
and reported to the Woman's City
Club
The landlord takes most of mans
income nowadays, according to Mrs.
Holland. AS a result many children
are given "only a dry crust of bread
and perhaps only sip Of milk" each
morning. This requires the schools in
many cities to supplement the home
diet with special cracker-and-milk
feeding of markedly under-nourished
children.
Chicago has some militant tenants,
Of the 100000 that ordinarily have to
move each May, who are planning
vigorous stand against the greed Of
the landlords this year.
AS one investigator remarks, ITO
what purpose is all this moving?
There is only a reshuffling of ten
ants :. 4. . the unhealthy tenements re-
main fully occupied"
In the shortage of housing facilities
of reasonable rent, many workers are
forced to live in single room apart
ments." Often family of three or
four, including small children, are
forced into one room and consider
themselves lucky to get a landlord
who will take children.
One reporter remarks that only once
has sign been seen Children We'll
come" and that was on wretched old
house in which the neat but shabby
interior was trying to belle the ex-
terror becmudged by Chicago SCOT.
Many little children are scarcely
permitted out of their limited quarters,
especially in winter. In summer they
are allowed the freedom of filthy
street for few hours. Their mothers
have to lock them up when they go
marketing.
Building reports for Chicago indi-
cate a boom season, but most Of the
buildings have been apartments along
the lake front or big bank buildings
downtown. Builders aren't interested
in the profits of the landlords of
smaller fats. AS consequence, work
ers are forced to accept dwellings that
have long since been cast off by the
better classes" in their retreat to the
outskirts of the city. Where the work
ers are able to rent modest fiat, the
landlord is sure to neglect to repair
it and then soak them an increase in
rent when the lease runs out.
1t is to attempt to prevent some of
these evils that the tenants of the
Northwest side are rebelling. They
realize that if enough of the tenants
refuse to move, the rent-hogs will not
be able to cheat the workers this year.
1t is only when everyone submits to
the landlords decree that he can raise
rents all around. If tenants do not
offer to pay increased rents and refuse
to move, the landlord is stuck. He
cannot attempt Wholesale evictions in
city the size of Chicago.
A correspondent informs us that
taxes have increased three times dur
ing the last year, correcting the state
ment of J. Richie Patterson who
claimed they had not increased.
University of Chicago students are
joining the fight against increased
rents in the dormitories. 1t was pro-
posed that 20 per cent rent increases
in rentals be made in the students
rooms. The students protested at
, once that Hyde Park rents generally
were being raised only ~ per cent
The President of the University has
promised to make statement be-
fore the end of the week.