The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-12-16
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THE TRAMP QUESTION
CONVENTION OF REPRESENTA-
TIVES OF CITIES THROUGH
OUT THE STA T,E-THE d.. .
TRAMP QUESTION
"a THE SUBJECT oa
.,.. i.". or DISCUS
aa SION.

The convention to consider the tramp
question assembled at the Board of
: Trade room at ten o'clock this morning
and was called to order by Mr.. Sherman,
of Lima. On motion, Mayor Heitmann
was called to the chair, and Mr.. Sher-
man, of Lima, was chosen temporary
Secretary, ..alr lf.I u8a51
Upon taking the chair Mr.. Heitmann
said the convention should decide what
class of people should be called tramps
and what should be done with them af-
ter their conviction as such. ,a1
APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES.
On motion of Mr.. Brooks, of Column
bus, a committee on credentials was ap-
b pointed. .ulml .Da " .
Messrs. ]. w. Underhill, of Stark ].
S. Keiter, of Green, and Charles Breyfo-
b gle of franklin, were appointed such
committee. This committee reported
seventy-fve delegates present. 1.
% 4. B. Frederick, of Mt. Vernon, MIR,
Peters, of Preble, and Mr.. OConnor, of
Seneca, were appointed q committee on
permanent organization. Mr.. Huger, of
Tlfin, ]. B. McWhorter, of Cincinnati,
Mr. Wadsworth, of Lorain, Mr.. Baker,
of Sandusky, Mr.. Dibole, of Wilmington,
and Judge Underhill, of Canton, were
appointed a committee on resolutions.
, THE CoMMITTEE ON CREDENTIALS.
Reported representatives present from
Canal Winchester, Urichsville, Mt. Yer
no, Lima, Tiffin, Wilmington, Xenia,
Dunkirk, Harveysburg, Clyde, Bryan,
Akron, Dennison, Lancaster, New Phila-
delphia, New Lexington, Mechanicsburg,
Mansfield, Canton, Bellevue, Wellington
and Hamilton. tr ..a',J
THE DISCUSSION.
The convention then went into dis
cussion of the tramp question.
Mr.. Ritz, of Hamilton county, was OPP
posed to any action that looked to ex-
tending aid to tramps. ou
Mr.. Sherman, of Lima, thought the
only way to settle, this question was by
uniform action of town and city authori-
ties, which compel this class to work for
their living He thought a State law on
the subject should be passed. ~ "a
Chris. Lewis, of Columbus, warmly OPP
posed CHASING all tramps as dishonest.
Indeed, he wasn't just satisfied what class
of men should be called tramps. He
cited number of instances to show that
at all times there had been honest men
who, by force of circumstances, had
been forced to beg their bread. He
hoped nothing would be done here that
void even hint at suggestion that would
shut the door of the benevolent in the
face of the honest poor, He knew hun
dreds of men who, from necessity had
been forced into the ranks of the tramps,
that would gladly earn their bread il
work was given them.
Mr.. PlumIaer, of Bryan, was willing to
help the honest poor, but thought that
some provision should be made to pro-
tect the smaller towns from the ravages
of dishonest tramps. |. a...
Rev. Mr., Prugh, of Xenia, sincerely
hoped the convention would do nothing
that could be construed into an attempt
to discriminate against the honest poor
That class should be helped-given work
anu w OlhN OAAOy UOlN
men and had something yet to do and
live for. ~. tI--l...u
Mr.. Elliott, of Milford Center, thought
there should be no foolish sentimentalty
in this business. He thoughtthe honest
poor could always obtain. work if they
wanted it. He wanted vigorous meas
ures adopted to rid the country Of
tramps a '.m. N'l
Mr.. Spencer, of Westerville, thought
villages should be furnished with some
legislation or plan that would relieve
them of this class of people. He would
hep the honest poor, but had no sym
pathy for mel who by reason of their
folly in striking for higher wages lost
their places and were forced to beg their
bread.
Mayor Kelly, ofSt. Clairsville, thought
this was time to say "Alas for the rari-
ty of Christian charity" He knew, by
contact with this class, that there were
many deserving men among the tramps.
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