The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-01-16
,r7...--, 1900. - ~ s..7 81.
ing other legislation.
.. g. TRAMPS.

D.
The habit may say the crime-of vag.
abondage is increasing in such unprece-
denied ratios as to demand most serious
consideration at your hands during the
present session. L have most profound re-
spect and sympathy for the honest man who
IN good faith travels from place to pls ce in
search of employment, but modern tramps
are not of this character. They have been
thoroughly tried, and it is conclusively es-
tablished that the only thing they will not
do, is to work.
The assessments these criminal parasites
levy upon individuals and communities
nearly equal in value our whole state tax,
yet this is as nothing compared with the
fear and mental suffering they incite among
defenseless women and children, and the
murders, robberies and outrages, too brutal
to be here named, by them committed. If
in the larger cities they are somewhat re-
strained by vigilant police, in the villages
and towns they have become the daily dread
and nightly horror of all well disposed per-
sons. The little girl on her way to or from
school, the farmers wife, busy with house.
hold cares, the aged and the infrm, are
alike the victims of their cowardly and
licentious violence. Whatever may be
urged in extenuation of other crimes and
vagabondage, which may now be Justly said
to include every crime known to the law, is
upon the individual, and not upon society.
In July last, small army Of these self
made social outcasts turned their faces
toward Wisconsin, and their advance guard,
taking possession of railway trains, dictated
the terms upon which they might proceed.
It is unimportant that the terms proposed
were only that the invaders should be fur
nished free transportation, for if that much
had been conceded them, more would have
been demanded next time. Fortunately,
the good, Judgment and firm determin alton
of the superintendent of the Madison divis-
ion Of the Chicago and Northwestern rail.
way, enabled the cities Of Beloit and Madi-
son to meet the issue of lawlessness against
law, fairly upon the merits, and with most
satisfactory results, for the time being The
disease, however, is too virulent and deep
seated to yield to the mild remedies pro-
vided for common vagrancy. 1t demands
more vigorous treatment, and [ therefore
recommend the enactment of a law clearly
defining the crime of vagabordage, and
providingfor its summary and severe pun
ishment.
MILITIA. o
The reports of the adiutant and quarter
master generals will put you in possession
of all the facts relative to the organization,
strength, equipment and expenses of the
state militia. It presents but meager
showing Of 1,402 officers and men, organized
into twenty-thyee independent companies.
Some wise provisions, looking to the great.
er stability of these companies, were incor-
porated into the revision of the statutes, but
am persuaded that our state militia will
not become what it ought to be, and what
we need to have it, until provision is made
for battalion and regimental organizations,
and annual encampments. l do not consider
myself an alarmist. but in the present con-
dition of society, it seems to me but the
commonest dictate of ordinary prudence
/ that there should be at least one organized
regiment of militia in state as large and
populous as Wisconsin.
commend to your attention, and most
cordially approve, the recommendations Of
the adjutant general relative to psrfecting
the military records of the state, and copy
ing such portions as are becoming worn by
use.) Year by year these records are becom
!! ing more and more valuable, and the state
owes to its living soldiers and the surviving
relatives of it's dead heroes, the duty o
maintaining the official record of their ser
vices. H9n5