The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1893-12-09
4 REMARKABLE DOCUMENT.
Kansas Governor Denounces the vagrane,
aw

Law.
TOPEKA. Dec. 5.-One the most re
markable documents ever issued by the
executive of any state was sent out by
Governor Lewelling. 1t is addressed to
all boards of police commissioners IN
Kansas and practically renders n gatory
all vagrant laws. After ~reciting the
hard ships of the poor in olden times.
speaking specially of the reign of Eliza
beth, and in France just previous to the
revolution, the governor reviews the
present condition Of affairs among the
poorer classes in this country. He scores
the laws now on the statute books which
calls the man out of work and penniless
q confidence man."
Condemns vagrancy Laws.
Speaking of the vagrancy laws Of
Kansas he says: 1t separates men into
two distinct classes differentiated as
those who are penniless and those who
are not and declares the former crimi-
nails. Only the latter are entitled to the
liberty guaranteed by the constitution.
To be found in n city without visible
means CT support, or some legitimate
business" is the involuntary condition
of some millions at this moment and
under the law we proceed to punish
them for being victims to conditions
which we, as a people, have forced upon
them.
The circular then continues as follows:
] have noticed In police court reports
that sleeping in q box carr is among
the varieties of this heinous crime of be-
ing poor. Some police judges have
usurped a sovereign power not permit
ted the highest function of the states or
of the nation, and victims of industrial
conditions have been p~eremptorily cor
aered to leave town."
A Part Of Personal Liberty.
The right to go freely from place to
place in search of employment, or even
in obedience to a nero whim. is part Of
that personal liberty guaranteed by the
constitution Of the United States to
tvery human being on American soil.
Even voluntary idleness is not for
oidden. II Diogenes prefer poverty,
4 a Columbus choose hunger and the
discovery Of a new race rather than to
eek personal comfort by engaging in
"some legitimate business" l am aware
Of no power in the Legislature or in the
city councils to deny him the right to
seek happiness in his W way so long as
he harms no other person.
If men commit offenses, let them be
arrested and punished whether rich or
poor; but let simple poverty cease to be
q crime. In some cities it is provided by
ordinances that iftpolice court fines are
pot paid or secured, the culprit shall be
compelled to work out the amount as a
municipal slave; and crock piles" and
"bull pens" are provided for the enforce
ment.of these ordinances. And so it an.
pears that this slavery is not imposed as
a punishment, but solely as a means Of
collecting a debt.
Twin Relics of the Auction Block Era,
Such city ordinances are In fragrant
violation OF constitutional prohibitions,
The crock pile" and the ''bull pen"
should never have been used in degrad.
ing the friendless and poor. Let these
twin relics of the departed auction block
era cease to disgrace the cities of Kan.
sas. And let the dawn of Christmas
day find the ''rock pile' and the bull
pen" and the crimo of being homeless
and poor obsolete in all the cities of Kan.
eas governed by the metropolitan DO.
lice act.
1t is confidently expected that their
own regard for constitutional liberty
and their humane impulses will induce
police commissioners to ca ry out the
spirit as well as the letter of the forego.
Ing suggestions.