The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-12-22
THE TRAMP CONVENTION.

The State Convention, called by the
Prisoners Aid Society, met at Baltimore
on Thursday, and organized by the APP
pointment of the following officers:
President, Hon. Montgomery Blair; Vice
Presidents, Hon. Robert Gilmor and G.. S.
Griffith, BALTIMORE John Merryman, Bal
timore county; G. w. 7. Perkins, Kent
county; Charles Albert, Montgomery county;
Benjamin NJ. Crawford, Cecil county;
Joseph Newcomer, Washington. Secre-
taries, G.. S. Griffith, Jr., and Harrison W.
Nickers.
Cecil county waa represented by DR.. c.
NJ. Ellis, and John Z. Alexander, on be-
half of the Trustees of the Poor, and Mr..
Benjamin NJ. Crawford of the Board of
County Commissioners. Baltimore county
and city were largely represented and
Frederick, Howard, Hartford, Kent, Mont
gomery, and Washington counties also had
representatives in the Convention.
The following questions were discuss
ed:-The origin and underlying causes OF
tramps and Migrants How far is society
responsible for this class? What remedies
will most effectually remove the evil?-
Should the State adopt some legislation,
uniform in its action, to suppress the tramp
nuisance, and what should be the character
of said legislation?
The Hon. Montgomery Blair made one
of his characteristic speeches, but failed
to suggest remedy for the tramp nuisance.
He talked much about the stagnaton of
business and the accumulation of capital
in the hands of few millionaires, and the
want of employment by the working men
of the country, who, owing to this, become
tramps. He is reported as having said that
"he erl ,r0uld require the htcman touch to
cure it," Just what that means we are
unable to comprehend. Possibly the
learned gentleman knew, but we very
much doubt it.
Judge Gilmour, of Baltimore, was the
next speaker. He said that, while we in
woke legislative action, we must secure the
cooperation of private enterprise. The
Judge seemed to have much faith in the
virtue of stringent laws for the punish
ment and suppression of the tramps.
MIR. J. 4. Pearce, of Kent county, fol
lowed Judge Gilmour. He was in favor of
of law that would take up every tramp
and put him to work, and if this could not
be done it might be possible to drive him
hall ba tran ms
thoroughly enjoyed their Summer in the
country. He counted at one time fifty
nine tramps, including one woman, who
enjoyed themselves whole day under the
shade of clump of trees i'll his town, and
the only way they could get rid of them
was to raise money and send them off.
Dir. Charles W. Chancellor was intro
duced, and read an exhaustive paper on
the subject of " ldleness as an underlying
cause of pauperism; antiquity of Migrants
and tramps; classification of tramps, and
proposed remedies for the evil
Rev Andrew B. Cross argued that the
licensed sale of liquor made the tramp evil,
and the blame should be laid at the doors
of the State Legislatures.
DR.. J. E. Snodgrass, of Washington,
said in that city tramps, who were in the
work house, were employed on public work
of simple kind, and, by "labor ex
change work at low wages is furnished
for tramps who are willing to work.
practical illustration of the subject
under discussion, bona fide tramp, rag
ged, dirty, unkempt and penniless, entered
the hall Just before the evening session of
the convention, and, creeping up to cler
gymen in attendance. stretched out his I'M
washed hand for aims. The clergyma
looked at him in surprise, told him he
smelt whisky, and passed him off to
physician. The physician had business
with friend in another part Of the room.
and left the visitor il the hands of one of
the committee calling the convention, who
gently placed his hand upon the tramp's
shoulder and kindly elected him from the
room, explaining that some of the expires
sions which would be uttered in the con-
vention might shock his self respect and
wound his self-esteem.
The convention held night session, and
after much discussion of the tramp and the
best method of suppressing the tramp nuis-
ance, adjourned to meet at 10 o'clock, on
Friday morning. 1t is to be hoped that
the convention will be able to suggest a
remedy for the nuisance.