The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1937-01-22

by more or less voluntary tunes
unon the incomes Of the more
fortunate. It is even doubtful
whether unemployment will recede
to a point making possible a re-
turn to the old way.
One Of the things taught by III
terrible scourge Of the modern
worlds greatest depression Ia the
lack Of relation between merit and
employment; that men and VIM
en- are out OF work because of inn
PROJECTIONS in our civilization; that
society, not a few Of its individ-
ual members, must bear the re-
sponsibility of its failure to dis
tribute equitably of its abundance.
These are rapidly unfolding
times. It Is hard to keep track Of
remember. II may be profitable
to sketch few high spots of
recent history.
In April, 1880, there were 5000
unemployed in Washington. BY
November of that year there were
p, 900. The then Commissioners
had appointed committee of citi-
zens to advise them what to do.
The committee decided that 1t
needed 100000 for relief of the
unemployed. It staged a benefit
football game between the Marine
Corps and the Coast Guard and
cleared $1,000.
Men and women sold apples on
the streets until a judge decided
that they were obstructing side
walks and the police wrove them
off. AS sandwich men they car
ried advertising signs. They were
set at exterminating rats IN the
old Center Market area. They
were farmed out to clean up,
paint up and do odd jobs Of re-
pair for the small coins of the
charitable. Some of them were or
gained into vigilance police in
an attempt to induce business
concerns to hire them as night
watchmen. There We're donated to
them little garden plots in which
ito raise their own food"
After six months of such boom
doggling at private expense, the
committee disbanded due to i'm
proved conditions the unemploy-
ed having increased meanwhile to
ID, 900 and the committee having
spent 1900 to get temporary
jobs for 1000 of them very tenn
orary jobs for men much less
temporarily employed.
A voluntary committee of con-
cerned civic workers demanded
that the former Commissioners
make more serious effort and the
committee was hastily reorgan-
lied.
Efforts still were made to fin
ance relief through the Communi-
ty Chest, which raised its budget
for that year to $2,OOO,O0O. Gov
eminent employees were told to
give three days pay to help make
np the fund. Public clamor forced
government chiefs to disayow
compulsion and promise that no
reprisals would be visited upon
those who did not contribute.
Finally a reluctant administra-
ton, early in 1882, was compelled
to consent to use of public money
for relief in this city. President
Hoover asked Congress to approp-
riate 100000. Representative
Blanton got is scaled down to a
compromise of $350,OOO. That was
the beginning of relief through
public funds in the Capital Of this
Nation.
Who wants to go back to char
ity? In the meantime the tech
nique has been developing, some
what stumblingly, of helping the
jobless without humiliation. That
development must not be inter-
rupted. Unjust be carried to q
state of less imperfection.
Unemployment grew until in
Washington the number out of
work reached $4,000 in December,
1892. Appropriations were increas-
ed perforce. Then the new Admin
istration took hold of the job in
more earnest. Even the new Adj
ministration had to be jabbed by
organized groups and stid has to
be, from time to time, but by the
winter of 19SS-19S4 it seemed to
have found out, what no preceding
Administration appeared to have
discovered, that work was the
answer to the problem propounded
by lack of work.
CWA, the apex of the relief eff
fort, followed; 30-hour week
jobs at prevailing rates. Social
students are still wistful that it
YVES discontinued under fire. Then
came the relapse to EVA; enough
work to barely meet poor mans
budget as determined by a case
worker, almost a return to chari-