Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-08-03
THE TRAMP As A R1orRR.


that they deserve no pity from p~eaceable
and industrious people and no mercy
from the authorities Not only nc they
everywhere turn up as rioters, but IN
some of the Western States they we're
discovered in considerable bands en-
camped near the cities and towns ready
for organized incendisrism and plumber.
Most OF the States have vagrant laws,
and these ought to be enforced against
the tramps with vigor aud rigor. They
are becoming a dangerous nuisance, and
unless summarily dealt with may be-
come formidable to society. -LNew York
Herald.
The tramp is a beast Of passage.
He winters down South among the
orange groves and fig trees. Wher
summer comes he disappears with
the snow birds, and is next heard
of at the cool farm houses Of the
North, where he leyies contribu-
tions on the people, frlShtens
women and children, and often
commits outrages of the most
frightful character. Last winter
when there was no work to do,
Memphis was full of the tramps'
everywhere begging for work. AS
spring came ON the whole army
emigrated. Not one has been seen
in two months. The brutal, stol-
id-looking wretehes went from
door to door in pairs, calling for
the best in the house with
as much assurance as high
way robbers would stop a
a solitary traveller in the wilder
ness. These same fellows helped
t, swell the mobs at Pittsburg and
Reading, Chicago and st. Louis.
The strike was just to their hand;
it gave them an opportunity to rob
and destroy. From wandering,
aimless Migrants they have become
organized banditti, with signs,
fixed purposes and even leaders.
They take what is given them sui
lenly and without thanks or mark
of the slightest gratitude, evidently
assuming that the world owes them
a living, which they are determined
to collect one way or another. The
blear-eyed .rufiian begging for his
breakfast always takes the meas
ure of the house, the doors,
locks, bolts, windows, ETC., and
if not stopped at the door
walks directly into the private
apartments. This has occurred FIRE.
quently in Memphis. They gen.
orally call when they think there
are no men about, but when mis-.
taken in this cut their visits short
The same old greasers, who fa.ten.
ed on the misapplied generosity Of
our people last winter and slept a
the station-house or at vile ten cen
lodging houses, where disease anC
filth abound, will be back here earl
in the fall calling upon their olC
patrons and friends. They know
every house, aud who viii give o
not give, and how much to expect
The horde to be expected will b
much larger than usual, and it j
time the people of this city an,
vicinity were deyising measure
I to protect themselves against thi
! growing evil and nuisance. We shal
discuss this later in the season
but suggest in advance a rigid Ell
forcement of the yagrant laws, an
that the people positively refuse
give these able bodied hummer
e anything to eat or wear. Let theI
stay up North where they belong
Il HON. HENRY w. billiard, VIII
@ has been appointed Minister
J. Brazil, was the commander {
ii billiards legion in the Confedera.
!, service. lie is a North Carolina
n by birth, but has resided in Alabam
n the greater part of his life. L
.e is lawyer by profession, was in Il
n Alabama Legislature in 1888,
of Presidential elector in 1910, repr
is sented the Montgomery district
A. Alabama in Congress from 1913