The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-08-10
4 WCRD ABerT TIE TRAMP.
petty crimes. the Reign OF the Hobo,
vagrapcy Reguta items and Other
tnpieasant Thtuxs

Queer things are sometimes done in the
name of charity. The grace OF humanity
is frequently extended TO one apparently
needy person TO the detriment of many
Others. either directly or indirectly. A
case in point is the manner in which the
tramp nuisance is being dealt with in this
city and vicinity at this time. The gems
hobo is being made the recipient of more
kindness, by indirectiou at least, than is
ordinarily extended by one good neigh.
bpr TO another under circumstances that
would commonly suggest charitable treat
ment.
The general thrift and material progress
that so regularly characterize the com
muniiies OF Yakima and tributary valleys
have been heralded abroad until the army
III tramps, appraised thereof, has directed
its steady and stesl,hy march this way,
the result being that we are now harrassed
with number OF these human vampire,
greatly in excess OF that which would
usually be considered our Quota OF the
i5, 200 ut present wandering about the
country to pillage and steal and render
life burdensome to those upon whose
premises they rrowl and depredate.
This is primarily wrong-wholly an in
stance Of misdirected philan,hropy-abso
luiely case in which the authorities
chosen TO serve the thrifty masses permit
deserving. law-abding people to be inn
pnsei on and the laws of God and man
to ba ignored or defied by the WORTHLESS,
rag tag and rif'raf OF the slums Of neigh
boring rites.
We protest in the name OF law and
decenry, in the name Of business order
and good society, that this is unjust. Al
first it ~as ALLEGED that the tramp who
loa ell about the streets or the suburbs of
he city WAS an inoflensive ragamuffih
and that there was no eyidence present
that lie contemplated a breach Of the
law but presently petty thefts were re-
ported from the farm houses near town.
THE hobo continued industriously To-
familiarze himself with his surroundings
and af,er awhile burglary was commit
ted; fruit was stolen from the orchard-.
choice trees being stripped Of their lusc-
Gus burdens; meats were stolen from tll.
family larder saddles from the farmers
stables chickens from convenient roosts
honey from tempting hives and yet
1.-THE tramp is an inoffensive fellow" and
is permitted to enjoy his reign among u,
ian laws Of our land OF toll cannot reach.
But these professional knights OF the
dark lantern are daily growing holder
and more vicious. Their offenses are
srayer and more numerous. Farmer
aud residents OF the outskirts of the city
have begun TO arm themselves for pro.
tet'tion. and one of these bright morning,
a ditachment from the tramp army will
or lament convenient tree and their life
less bodies will ,langle, not only as hor,
rible example to their kind, but as niue
evidence OF the fact that there is no virtue
in forbearance that endangers life an
property.
The tramp will not toll honestly. H.
is generally born a criminal. He is az
outcast from choice; an ontsw from in
Stinct. No community should tolerate
him. To permit him stealthily TO ac-
quaint himself with your neighhorhood
is to invite him 10 rob you. To receiv,
him at your hack door and feed him ia t,
subject your family to the brutal ass AMI
nj fiend in your absence. To arrest him,
however, and put him to work on III
streets is to disgust him with such an un.
friendly community and discourage
protrncted residence among us. Relative
to this feature of the matter. by the way.
Marshal Liggett says that he will earn
estly enforce the city ordinance author.
iziug the arrest and punishment of vaya-
bonds if those interested will aid him.
So far those run in for vagrancy have
managed TO pay their fines and avoid thu
ignominy OF service in the chain gang
but il those who are being annoyed BY
The tramp element will notify him and
identity the offenders he will cheerfnlly
taxi the migratory scalawags into custody
and treat them rs the law directs.
The marshal should be assisted in this
work. Il is quite impossible for him to
rid the city Of obnoxious characters OF
that class without the cooperation of
thnse whom they offend. Our people
should refuse 10 feed them or in any way
10 offer them Involvement to remain.
They are an organized band of criminals,
N class, and when one of their number
Is b-lriended the entire gang is informed
ri the loeation Of his benefactor and ip,-
mediately annoy the Good Samaritan
NTH their persistent urgency for some
thing to eat aud wear. This received,
they prowl around till nightfall and then
steal whatever of use to them may be OBJ
tainable.
The tramp nuisance is becoming seri-
Gus matter to deal With in many com.
munitits. Near Walla Walla recently
they appeared in "droves" and became so
d etructive, defiant aud brutal that the
sheriff and his posse found il necessary
to inierede for the protection OF residents.
Great care shonld be taken to avoid that
trouble in this vicinity.
But the citizens must assist the author.
ilies in guarding their own interests.
4 Letter to Fruit Growers and Tree Planters.