FELIX ADLER (E)
Adler founded the Society for Ethical Culture
in 1876. Adler led the Second New York Legislative Commission of
1884, which was a major legislative endeavor for tenement reform.
Adler worked a great deal with the likes of Lawrence Veiller, Jacob A.
Riis, and others in the tenement reform battle. Adler’s social philosophy
of hard work, dedication, and helping others corresponded with the tenement
reform doctrine. Although he was not as active as other tenement
reformers, Adler stressed the moral importance of helping others, and making
the world as problem-free as possible.
Adler spoke his mind on the cause of the poor stature of tenements
in a lecture in Chickering Hall on March 9, 1884:
"The evils of the tenement house section of this city are due to the estates which neglect the comfort of their tenants, and to the landlords who demand exorbitant rents. The laboring classes are unable to build homes for themselves, and the law of morality and common decency bind the Government to see to it that these houses shall not probe fatal to the lives and the morality of the inmates. If the houses are overcrowded the government must interfere. It must compel a reduction of the number of inmates, enforce renovation at the expense of the landlord, and where that is no longer possible, must dismantle the houses and remove them from existence." (9)
Adler’s persistence in reporting the ills of tenement
houses prompted New York state legislature to appoint a second Tenement
House committee that same year. This newly-created committee called
for amendments to be made on previously-passed tenement acts. They
prescribed that all tenements should be rid of all privies, have a water
supply on each floor, and have lighting both via windows in all inner hallways/rooms
and electric street lighting in tenement districts. While the committees
demands were not fully complied with, Adler had carved his own niche in
the fight for tenement reform.
Later on, Adler expressed his frustration over the lack of tangible
tenement reform in New York City in an "Improved Housing Conference" in
1896. Adler criticized the belief that private philanthropy was the answer
to the tenement problem:
"Philanthropy! Bah! I am ashamed of the word. Thirty years ago we were tinkering away at this question. New York was then startled out of its stupor by the fear of cholera. Then, and not until it was frightened for its own safety, did it begin to look around. To what extent have we improved the life of the working classes who live in the tenements? Certain things have been accomplished, it is true. Better houses are going up, but more than half are still houses built before 1879. I do not understand why the city of New York is not afire, why it is not aflame over this matter." (10)
While he did not dedicate his entire life to tenement
reform (a la Lawrence Veiller), Adler certainly played his part—an important
part—well in the tenement reform struggle.
FELIX ADLER (E)