Ear on Chicago; Morning Spect #3

This is Hugh Hale speaking from Traveller's Aid Society office in the northwest corner of Union Station in downtown Chicago. And this is the story of Traveller's Aid and what it does for the people who are traveling through the city of Chicago. This is only one of several offices of Traveller's Aid but we have come to Union Station to do the story. Throughout the program you will be hearing from Mr. Herman L. Goldberg who is the director of Casework, Miss Kathleen Witters who is Casework Supervisor, Tech Club Kankowicz who is a Case Worker here at the Traveller's Aid and two volunteers Mrs. Gordon Warren and Mrs. G. Heiss. Now let's get into our story and we're going to tell the story during the program of a family, a refugee family, traveling through the city of Chicago on their way to Tacoma, Washington. Mr. Goldberg, could you tell us something about what you may do for this family? Well, this family will probably need some, will need some planning, Miss Laos, you want to tell me what to file? The family has a limited funds, 40

dollars or under for the complete trip to the west coast. I would suspect that this would not be sufficient to purchase food on the train. And therefore, probably we will have to buy food and let them make their own sandwiches, which is most of the time they prefer to do anyway. But you're going to use their own money for buying food. You think they have enough for that? They would have enough if we did it in that way. And then you're going to discuss with them how they're to use the sandwiches and their food and their money so that they'll have enough till they get to the west coast. That's right. They will have money then for a milk or a hot coffee or tea on the train then. Do you know of any other needs that they have asked for? It's morning, they were hungry. And what time did they come here to the station? You know, it was early because I arrived here around 9 o 'clock and they had already gone to the restaurant, I think, by then. The red cap brought them to us about 845 just before you came. He found them trying to find their place in the

station to get on the train and thought that we would help them. He knew this. Red caps usually bring people to us whenever they find that they're in need of some assistance or planning. Who talked to them this morning? Did you? No, actually Mrs. Lioleus did since this is her responsibility as case worker and till she found out that they were hungry and immediately got them some food. They also felt they were lost in the station and that was along with the hunger was the reason that they both were weeping. Well, now there's one thing that isn't quite clear in my mind, why weren't they met by an agency that is supposed to sponsor this family? Probably because the wire probably reached his office this morning and he would not receive it until he came down to his office at 9 o 'clock which had been too late to meet the train. In other words, there just must have been some sort of confusion about it. That's right, it should have been received last night to see and it probably got in after his office closed. A lot of agencies sponsor these groups but sometimes there obviously has to be a little confusion and the travellers aid is the best place to go. That's right, now actually

this morning we're communicating with the representative of the sponsoring society for this family and that representative will be here very shortly. I see some people coming up for some information over here at the counter, suppose we walk over with our tape recorder and record what's going on over there. Well I would suggest that since there are so many conventions and shows in town that you telephone first to get see if they have a room, don't go down there, it would be waste time. So I will give you that telephone number and then you can call them and if you don't find a room there, you come back and we'll see what else we can find and then you can call these other places. Is that all right? Okay, you do that and I appreciate it. I'm very glad to do it. May I ask you just a question or two, what was the problem that this family had? Well they're just strangers in town, they're going to be here a short time and they don't know the hotels and he has business in the loop and would like a hotel that wouldn't be too far from where he's going. I see, thank you very much.

The Hungarian family has returned from the restaurant and first of all let's listen into a phone conversation with a case worker, Miss Cancawicz calling up the Lutheran Refugee Service. Hello, is this Webster 92731? Is Mrs. Mary Wilson there, please? Mrs. Wilson, this is Miss Cancawicz, Traversated Union Station. We have a Refugee family here this morning who have arrived from New York. Last name is Mott's Amazon Mary, OTZ is in zero. Uh -huh, they have five children with them. They're on route to Roy Washington to a sponsor there. They're ticketed to Tacoma according to the information that they carry on their form here from Lutheran Refugee Service in New York. The sponsor has been notified but we don't honestly know whether he's going to be meeting them in Tacoma. Would you be sure about that? Would there be any question of there being met there? Met

into coma because we'll have to find out how far away Roy is from Tacoma. Now, they have about $40. It is a question. We're going to have to work out and see just exactly how many meals they'll need. And if there is any shortage of funds, would you authorize us to advance additional? Because it's still a long trip. I see. Well, we'll ask them exactly how much money they were issued in New York. And of course, you know, meals on route are expensive. It'll be a question as to, the other thing is we might run into a hitch because if they're supposed to go out on this two o 'clock train, they have no reservations, no coach reservations for that. So it's likely that if we can't get them on the two o 'clock train, we'll have to take them on the late train and re -notify the sponsor. Would you want us to do that or would you do it? Well, we have, you had no worry at all. Do you have

any idea whether we're expecting any more families today? They came in. Oh, let's see. They flew in because they came in at out of wild air flight, you know. Oh, you don't have any idea what train that would be. Uh -huh. Oh, okay. Well, thanks ever so much, Mrs. Wilson. And in case I need to, I'll get in touch with you. Otherwise, we'll give them our regular travel service. Okay. Thanks, Mrs. Wilson. Bye. And what's the latest from the Lutheran Refugee service? What do they have to say? Well, they have given us authorization to give travel service to this family. We're going to, first of all, the very first complication is that they do not have reservations for the two o 'clock train. Now at the party of seven, it's going to be a question as to what the space is on the two o 'clock train and whether we'll be able to place them on route. The other thing that we

need to know is exactly how much they have in the way of funds, whether that will be sufficient to cover their meals, because they still have a long trip. The third point, although we know that the sponsor has been notified, we want to make certain since these people don't know the country at all, they're getting off the train into coma, but their sponsor is in Roy Washington. We want to be pretty sure that the sponsor will know the exact arrival time and will be into coma to meet. Now, this is our regular service. There may be other complications. We don't know. We'll find out how the children are feeling if all of them are healthy. If they need any medical care and get into any other problems that are indicated. Well, I think that explains it thoroughly. Thank you very, very much for talking to us. We're going to listen in now as one of the case workers is going to talk to the family that was brought over here early this morning as you heard earlier by the red cap. Now, let's listen. They'll be talking in another language, but it'll be interpreted. Romania, their native country is Romania, and they have stayed in Austria for a year. So volunteer, by

the way, that is going to speak to the family. They've been in Austria for 12 years. Did they have to flee from Romania? Yes, they did. They flew. They had to flee from Romania to Austria. And they stayed in Austria 12 years. That's right. And then the Lutheran refugee service assisted them in getting to this country. Is that right? How long did they have to work on processing before they get in? We longed Varys, Ersis, couldn't hear common. We longed Varys in Austria just before you came here. Five months? Five months. Five months. Five months. Yes. Five months. Five months. We know that they flew in from Austria to New York. I'm wondering how the children are doing. That's Miss Canca, which the case were asking questions. Were they able to make the trip alright? Or did they feel, did they feel ersec or how they feel? In their crunk or Varnsee alright? Yeah, they were in the same place.

But they flew. They flew. During their flight. They, the children were a little bit ill. A little ersec. Yes. How do they feel now? Yes, since they alright? Yes, they're fine. Yes, they're fine. They feel fine now. How about the Mr. and Mrs. Hathen? They have a good breakfast. They did. And they said that everyone here is so very nice to them, that they can't help feeling so much better. Now you tell Mr. and Mrs. Hathen that any questions that they have, that we will help them with everything through up until the time we put them on the train. We will get them onto the train now. They have an awful lot of luggage. And that's a question as to whether we can get this checked through on their tickets. Or do they prefer to keep all of their luggage with them on the coach? What would they like to do? Mr. and Mrs. Hathen, I'll air a pocket and eat it in the name, the name and they would rather take their, they would rather keep it with them. Mrs. Canca which is going to go over to the phone, as a matter of fact she's reached the phone

now and she's going to get some train information. Let's listen. 12. Now if we can't get reservations on this two o 'clock train, what would be the next train out, Burlington G .M. 1110 tonight arriving Friday AM 912. Okay, thank you very much. Did you get your information? This is the train information. If they can't get out on that two o 'clock train, they have to wait until 1110 tonight, not reaching to coma until 912. So the first thing that we have to do is see what the Burlington depot passenger agent may have in the way of information from New York, or if he doesn't have any information whether he can get coach seat reservations on this two o 'clock. Yes. So I'll make the phone call now. Mr. Hagen, this is Travers A to the other end. Do you have any information on a refugee family by the name of MOTS, M is a very OTZ regarding reservations to Tacoma

on the two o 'clock seat reservations? Yes. Look, we have, there are seven in the party, two adults, five children, oldest child is 14, the youngest is one. What's the chance of getting them on this two o 'clock? Pretty good. No, I haven't. You want me to call through up there? Yeah. They've got a lot of luggage, too. Should I find you in case we can't get anything from your past, your reservations bureau? I'll check with you at 1 .30 in case we can't get seats. Okay, what's your reservations number there? 671 on this line, or a, yeah, that's, yeah, your Burlington line is what I've forgotten. Uh -huh. Okay. Thank you. Bye.

Looks pretty good for the two o 'clock. Yes, it does. I'm going to be calling the Reservations Bureau now since the passenger agent doesn't have any information. Hello. Reservations? This is Travers A to Union Station. We have a refugee family who are ticketed on the Burlington GN from Chicago to Tacoma. What's the chance of getting them out on the two o 'clock train? Could you, uh, spare seven reservations for today, yeah. Pardon me? The train for today is what? It's all sold. No space at all. Uh, can you put them on a waiting list? Applications? Yes. Number one, uh, all seats are sold out to Tacoma on the two o 'clock unless this ticket number indicates that reservations are being held in the number of the ticket. That's number one. Number two, there is no direct service to Tacoma now. The 1130 AM train

that would be leaving in an hour and a half is the train that goes into East Auburn, which is a very short distance from Tacoma, but the destination of this family is Roy Washington and the Reservations clerk is now checking to see how far Roy is from Tacoma. It's a question of how we're going to ticket them now. Hello? Well, what are the approximate distances Roy to Tacoma or Roy to East Auburn? Twenty miles. Uh -huh. Yeah. If he has a car and I'm assuming that probably this is so, it won't be too much of a drive. Yeah. Now, can you tell me about the 1130 train this morning, do you need seat reservations on that? You do. What chances have we got of putting them on the 1130? There are seven people, six tickets.

One child is one year old, the rest are from five up to 14. That'll get them into East Auburn at what time? Seven people, about minimum of six meals, and a dollar a piece would be $42, they're short of money. We'll have two dollars short. Well, no, at that, you see, actually, if we figure just a dollar per meal, which is way below the budget, oh, I'll bet you need on the railway train, it would still mean that they're short, but actually, they need more than, well, they probably need somewhere within the vicinity of $50 to $55 to be the least bit comfortable. Just money will probably come from the Lutheran service. Yes. We'll request an authorization after we explain what the budget is. Arrived Thursday, 7 .50 a .m. in East Auburn. Okay. Now, what can you give me

in the way of seat reservations? Yeah. Well, I'm hoping that maybe once the family gets into the car that we can readjust there are two youngsters who probably wouldn't mind being away from the family as long as they're in the same car. It's just a little distance from them. There's one that's 14 years old and I think another 12 -year -old, yeah, 12 and 14 -year -old. So as long as you've got five seats that are exactly are together across the aisle and then back, right? Okay. Well, that would work out all right. Now, could you give me the seat numbers and the, hold them in and then go to the other Well, I'm glad that they got seats on that 1130 train. We won't have to listen to the rest of that conversation. I'd like to tell you just briefly a little bit about the family. Families last name is MOTZ. The father is Johan, he is 39 years old. The mother is Maria, she is 38. The children are 14 -year -old Gerda, 12 -year -old Johan, 9 -year -old

Walter, 5 -year -old Renata, and 1 -year -old Hildegard. And Hildegard is as cute a little child as you've ever seen. A little blonde girl dressed in European clothing, a very beautiful little girl indeed. In fact, the whole family is a very handsome family. We're glad to see that they're going to get out to Roy Washington before long. This happens to be recorded on Tuesday morning and they're going to be in Roy Washington on Thursday morning at 730. So it doesn't take the travelers aid very long to move and they usually get the best reservations they can in a case like this. So we have concluded the case of the MOTZ family and there are some other questions that I'd like to address to Mr. Goldberg about the Traveler's Aid Society. Now, we have done almost a complete story on this family, a refugee family coming into the United States and moving all the way across the continent from New York to Washington State. And it's been a very interesting story indeed as to how the Traveler's Aid

helps them. But there are many other things. We've also recorded how information is given to a young family coming in here trying to find a hotel room, another family coming in trying to find something to do that they have a layover in Chicago of approximately eight hours. Some of the other things tell us about. The other things that we face here every day are not only the inexperienced travelers who come to us for assistance, but the Traveler who may be elderly or aged and is not able to get along very well and for whom we have made arrangements to meet and provide for them while they're here. We also plan for children who are traveling alone. And what other services, Mr. Goldberg? There are also runaways who are brought to our attention either by the station personnel or by police or when they come to the desk and ask volunteers for a certain kind of help. The volunteers recognize that they may be a runaway and bring them to the

attention of the caseworker. Sometimes people get sick. They may be mental, they may be disturbed or they may be physically ill and can't go on and then we provide for their care here and make arrangements for their going on. We communicate with their families through the other travelers aid societies or through social service agencies and the other towns. Occasionally somebody coming to Chicago does find employment but doesn't have the means to keep himself going until he can get his first check. If these are newcomers and they come to us and we try to plan with them either by our service or by referring them to a proper resource in Chicago for this kind of help. The fact that we are here to meet travelers who are in difficulty and newcomers to Chicago who have emergency needs as a service that constantly goes on throughout the year. Travelers aid, you know, is open each day in the year and under the direction of Mr. Ralph W. Collins, the executive secretary, has been

expanding services and directing the services so that we now have facilities not only here at Union Station but at all the major railroad stations, the airport and the bus station, the Greyhound bus station. Thank you very much Mr. Goldberg for talking to us. Now there is one other person that we want to talk to before we conclude our program and that is Miss Kathleen Winter, who is supervisor of caseworkers. Now Miss Winter, first of all I'd like for you to explain to me the difference between a caseworker and a volunteer. Well, the caseworker is a trained worker usually with travelers aid. She must have her master's degree and some experience in a casework agency before coming to the agency. She is working full time that is a eight hour day. And the volunteer? The volunteer donates her services. Usually this is a period of six hours per day and the volunteer services are in three

shifts per day. The volunteers are very, they usually report right on time and are just as interested in the work actually as the paid workers. Where does the money come from to support travelers aid? Well, the money comes partially from the community fund, partially from membership drives that travelers aid sponsors each year. And partially from benefit balls, the railroad donates our space and also is quite generous as far as our money is concerned. The travelers aid certainly is doing a wonderful job in Chicago as they are throughout the United States. And we want to thank you Miss Winter for talking to us and helping us on the program. You've been a very great help indeed. Thank you. And Mr. Goldberg, thank you sir for allowing us to come down to do the

story of travelers aid at Union Station. Thank you very much. It's been a real privilege to have you here to see what we can do and to record it for the community of Chicago, which I am certain is so much interested in our work and watches what we do very closely. Once again, thank you to all of you down here. It's been one of the most interesting shows that we've done, the story of this family and some of the other services that travelers aid disposes down here at Union Station. And that is the story of travelers aid. This is Hugh Hill speaking.