Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-03-24

The Mistake of the Present Mode of Treat-
ment-victims Of Misfortune Rather than
Criminals-Strong Prutestations of vii.
Hngness to Work, but Inability to Secure
It-Tramps of Necessity and Not Choice
Occupations and characteristics as Told
L by Themselves.
a prominent st. Paul lawyer to GLOBE rep-
resentative as the twain emerged from the
municipal court room one morning last
week, after hearing the customary sentences
pronounced on score or more of these
Americanized sans oulotts, whose growth
has been of such a marvelously mushroom
character since their first appearance on
American soil.
'Ask me something easy" was the jocular
reply of the scribe, as the twain separated at
an adjoining corner, the question in the
meantime having kept up persistent buzz
in the reportorial tympanum, as though
it was unwilling to be put off
without some attempt at an answer
A few streets farther on procession was
encountered that would have made the rag
tag brigade of jolly jack Falstaff almost
split for very envy. Strineing along for half
a block or more, progressed or shambled a
half hundred of the Republics malefactors,
whose brief audience with the magistrate re-
suited i'll their commitment to the county
jail. Thither they were winding-a logged
ly, sullen, furtive-eyed crowd of men, whose
shiftless, serpentine swagger was kept in
subdued check by the subjective presence
of the police. The lawyers ques-
ton had not ceased ringing
in the reporters ear, and it now tattooed with
redoubled energy, until the mental response
came of, "Why not ask tramp?' A tramps
opinion of tramps-it came like an inspira-
ton. The experiment might result bene-
fcially. and it had the merit at least of not
being hackneyed. A half hour later and a
diminutive newsgetherer might have been
seen trying to reach tbs ear that adorns the
commanding pericranium of Deputy Sheriff
Harrison. "Want to interview the tramps.
do you?" "Tbat's it exactly" replied the
GLOBE man, and it was forthwith decided
go. The courteous jailer was called, the
iron door swung lazily inward on its cum
bersome hinges, and in a moment afterwards
the visitor was extended the freedom and
liberty duplication imited) of the house.
Ascending short flight of iron steps, and
the upper corridor of the Jail was reached,
where, huddled III cells by tours, reclined in
various pastures the objects of the report
er's visit.
THEY DON'T LIKE TELL
Before giving the following interviews it
is necessary to remind the reader that while
the average tramp is glibly talkative on
points where his grievances are concerned,
he is also reticent, to degree, questions
concerning that portion of his outlawed ex-
istence bordering on criminality. The ut
most ingenuity of the enquirer felis entirely
short Of the cunning exercised by the tramp
in his replys to equivocal or terminating
questions, and while the interviews that fol
low Inny be relied upon as genuine, no at-
tempt is made other than to arrive at z
negative status of the question from the
tramps' own standpoint, deductions ant
inference alike remaining for solution at the
readers own option.
The cells were approached in turns and
their inmates questioned individually, not &
few or whom we're keenly alive to the odiun
attaching to their "profession," and all O
whom attributed their misfortune to thei
inability to procure work during the white
months, while in most instances SINGERS
desire was manifested to quit the "business
A few utterly repealed tho imputation O.
"tramp," as applied personally, and com
plants against certain railroad corporations
who advertise in Eastern papers for laborer
to work on new roads in this section of thu
country, were numerous and bitter, the ind
gence and recklessness of many bein.
directly attributed to this reason
1t will also be seen that majority of thos,
interviewed are exceedingly young men, mos
of them being unmarried, while with one O
two exceptions, none of them have serves
during the late war, thus exploding thread
bare theory that the tramp, as an institution
is the product of the rebellion.
The first twenty interviews were had with
mon, who were confined to their cells, TO
refusing to work on the stone pile, for til,
reason, mainly, that they were "men,'' ant
declined to be made spectacle of by beiDs
paaraded through the streets like cattle
"We are men," said one fellow, "and VIII,
don't they give us chance.
was arrested the first nigh
1 got here, and after seryine
my time, was released and arrested owe
again the same night, without having ,
chance to earn money enough to leave town
tell you, he continued, they must quit bad
gering us fellows like dogs,or something viii
happen. They keep us penned up here, and
let US go without money. We can't always
got work the same day we are released, anG
having no means we are compelled to ask
for something to eat. Then we are arrested
again. tell you, young fellow, the tramp's
IS no good business, and knows it, but
we are men; and that is no way to treat u.s. ,
The above, more or less modified, and
stripped of its dialect, is the echo of nine
out OF every ten men interviewed.
WHAT THEY SAY.
The interviews, thirty in number, when
boiled down present the following food for
reflection:
Thomas Mcclure, "a years of age, of Irish
descent, unmarried, laborer bv circnm.
stances, and tramp by necessity. Came
west three weeks ago to work on the North
ern Pacific railroad. Has been on the 1urf o
week. Has poor opinion of tramps. and
thinks 1t is bad business. Is WILING to
work, and will jump &! tie first chance.
william Forest, a 25-year-old Scotch-
man. Has family and three children at
Watertown, N. Y. Came from Rismarcl-
three weeks ago. A railroad worker by
choice, and has poor opinion of tramps.
Prefers work to a prison cell, and thinks the
authorities ought to discriminate in favor of
married men.
George Smith, 25 years old, unmarried
and Pendsylvanian by birth. Has been
out OF work five months and came from
Iowa last week. A miner by profession. and
has bad opinion of the tramp bnsiness
which he likened to flock of wild oeesc
p1rsued by the hunter-society. Wants
TO work, but didn't succeed in getting anv
look to the road, hence his arrest.
Edward Green, a laborer, "a years old and
unmarried. Left Pennsylvania four months
ago, and has been in the State two weeks
Had bad opinion of the tramp business. and
would like to get work, but wouldn't make a
public show of himself on the stone pile.
John Murphy, an independent tramp,
VINO won't work on bread and water. OF
IRISH descent, 81 years old, unmarried and a
iaoorer; came from jersey, and has worked
for the ST. Paul &c Pacific railroad. Fol
lowed tramplng for two weeks, and says he
could get work if allowed to look for it.
John kerney, q disp1sted trarp 90 ,.o.,