What does riis call "the elements god meant to be free, but man deals out with such hand"? explain your answer. what does riis call "poverty's honest badge" and why?

Jacob Riis was a journalist and photographer who dedicated great part of his life to the promotion of social reforms that would bring greater equality to American society.

In the phrase "the elements God meant to be free, but man deals out with such hand", Riis refers to the manipulation of the natural order of things by man which, in this case, creates economic models that favor the enrichment of businessmen that represent a minority in the population, at the expense of the vast majorities which live of their labor.

In the phrase "poverty's honest badge", Riis refers to the valid claims of working-class majorities, which see themselves facing the lack of benefits and services in order to live more decent lives.