The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1875-12-16
TRAMPS.

The country is literally overrun with
tramps, or sturdy beggars, who are too
honest to work, and too lazy to steal.
convention was held in Columbus last
week to devise measures to protect hon
est, industrious people, against this grow
ing nuisance The following is the re-
port of the committee on resolutions.
and the action of the convention:
On motion committee of one was ap-
pointed to wait upon the committee on
Resolutions and inform them that the
Convention was awaiting their report.
The committee on Resolutions coming in
their report was offered by Judge Under
wood, as follows:
Your committee on Resolutions having
considered the matter referred to them
to as great extent as the limited time
would permit, would report:
Vagrancy in our State appears to be a
growing evil, requiring the deliberate
consideration of all, and so far as it may
be eradicated from our midst, requiring g
the united action of all
1t is fruitless to inquire how it has
arisen, but the practical questions are,
how vagrancy is fostered and how it may,
if possible, be ended.
All persons, poor as well as rich, indo-
lent, as well as industrious, must eat,
must be clothed While one leafs bread
in the sweat of the brow" another de-
sires to live by the industry of others.
In this matter of vagrancy, we would
apply principles of the higher law and
say to the tramps, "If you will not work,
neither shall you eat" Giving to va
grant food without labor, is to encourage
him in his idleness. Offering work to the
honest, poor man, is not an insult to
him; he will gladly labor for his food,
and his hearty endeavoring to render the
qtad pra quo, will distinguish him from
the undeserving poor man-the tramp
the vagrant. After the separation so
made by the application of this touch
stone, labor, let the vagabond receive
that which is his meet in divine and hu
man law, let him not eat, let him be ar
rested as a vagrant, and labor be en-
forced from him; let compulsory educa-
ton in the divine law, ''in the sweat of
thy face shall thou eat bread" be given
him.
We then offer for the adoption of this
Convention the following resolutions:
l. A large class of persons exist in Ohio,
known as professional tramps or va
grants, persons who have no fixed place
of residence, no employment, and who
seek to obtain livelihood by preying
upon the community.
g These tramps are great and grow
! ing evil in the State which evil can only
be eradicated by furnishing employment
to all vagrants in such manner that their
labor may be remunerative.
3. To this end we recommend the es-
tablishment of warehouses in all cities
and villages which are sufficiently large
- ho hot
| al legislation be asked for, by which any
district composed of one or more coun-
| ties, may be authorized to erect such
houses.
f. That authority be conferred by law
upon all magistrates to arrest and try all
vagrants, and upon conviction to commit
them in the proper workhouse.
5. These workhouses need not be ex-
clusively for vagrants, but persons con-
victed of minor offenses may be confined
therein.
6. The system of workhouses, in order
to be efectual must extend over the en-
tire State.
Z. The furnishing of transportation to
tramps from one place to another is dis
approved Of
s. Upon the establishment of work
houses, all relief by individuals should
be refused.
9. The proper authorities should be
authorized to employ persons sent to the
workhouse, on the public highway or
other place outside the workhouse prop
erty.
The report of the committee was ac-
cepted and the committee discharged.
On motion it was resolved that the re-
port be acted on by sections.
The first and second sections were
unanimously adopted.
The third section being read an ami.