The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-03-28
By WILL DE KALB.


against the public veal has been
proved by previous articles in this
series. Now the question of para
mount Importance is, "What and who
caused the housing shortage2"
After the war, the American expe-
dictionary forces We're demobilized in
and near New York. This brought
many new prospective tenants into the
clutches of the landlord. Postwar de-
preston made it difficult for people
to get jobs elsewhere, SO they floclled
to New York, wonder city of the
world" as it has been press-agented.
Workers in foreign countries found
the rehabilitation period too difficult
to live in, since only the wealthy were
being rehabilitated, so they emigrated
to America, were admitted through
Ellis Island, and they settled in New
York. Conditions became unbearable
down on the farm, so many country
folk left their homesteads and came
to the big city. All in all, New York
became a lodestone that attracted all
classes and races OF people, all
anxious to work, make a living, and
live good, normal and productive lives.
Landlords ReOrganize.
But the landlords sensed this new
demand for rooms. They knew that
the line of applicants would increase,
instead of diminish. He saw his
chance. He re-organized his dying
organizations. He started new ones
Rents were raised. Tenants, who
could not be raised high enough, were
evicted. No repairs were ever TO
bring a frown to the brow of an all
powerful landlord. His were the
legislator and the jurist. All he had
to do was gather in the coin.
Then the era Of rent-gouging be-
gan. In the coolest nights of winter,
families were forced on the streets,
with all their possessions, because
they could not meet an additional
raise. People starved to pay the
landlord. As many as a dozen lived
in one room. Two and three families
occupied enc three-room apartment,
meant only for one. Boarders were
taken in, in addition to the family,
and morals were thrown by the board.
People lived ina squalor and filth that
almost belied the fact that this is the
twentieth century,
Legislators Revenge.
Then the emergency rent laws, after
much agitation, were passed. The
landlords organizations had a power
full lobby that made days Of debate
necessary before the bill received a
majority. Many lawmakers did not
attend the sessions so that they would
not have to declare themselves.
But the public demanded relief.
The lawmakers knew that their
chances for reelection were not worth
anything if they did not remedy the
housing situation. The emergency
rent laws We're passed and the rent
gouging activities of the landlords
were curbed.
Laws Curb Gougers.
The landlord could gouge almost as
much as ever. though. Only, if he
raised the rent too high, the tenant
could fight him in court. He also had
to Improve" the flat a little before
he could raise beyond the limit fixed
by law. And if judge who had poll
teal aspirations was sitting on the
bench, he occasionally turned down
the graft offered by the landlords
organization, and decided against him.
So the landlord had to watch his step.
But always his organizations were be-
hind him, fighting for him, conniving
new ways to beat the tenants, and
comforting with legal experts to find
ways and means Of breaking the law.
Who are the men, and organizations
who brought about the housing situa-
ton? Who are the men responsible
for the high rents paid by the work
ers even today? Right at the out
set, | would mention Stewart Browne,
president Of the United Real Estate
Owners Association, and untiring
fighter for the rights" of the land
lord. For the past ten years, Browne
has headed his organization, and it is
freely admitted that there is none who
can succeed him.
Browne, The Lobbyist.
AT every session of the Legislature,
Browne is to be found, lobbying, talk
ing, pleading, conniying, to get laws
passed and quashed, all to the favor
and for the benefit Of the landlord.
Browne has as his lieutenants Charles
w. Eidt and Ernest n. Adler, two Of
the cleverest realtors in the city. A
diabolical triumvirate, il one con-
siders the tenants side Of the ques-
ton.
The "big-moneyed" gang, however,
is the Real Estate Board of New York.
1t is this organization, to which many
of the builders are affiliated, which
brought influence to bear so that only
less than one per cent of tho new
buildings in Manhattan, and two per
cent in the Bronx and Brooklyn,
rented for less than $12.50 4 room.
Headed by Lawrence w. Gilman, this
organization is next in importance to