The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-08-01
PAUPERS AND TRAMPS.
Timely Topics Discussed in Two Lee
lures at Acton

The audience which listened to DIR. Dod-
bridges address, cause of Pauperism and
Crime. and the Remedy" at Acton yester-
day morning was an attentive one. The
Doctor introduced his subject as far
reaching and vital, touching the vitality
of the social, political and religious world,
threatening the very life of the common
wealth-a gigantic evil demanding heroic
treatment-which may become the one
question before the American people, but
the enormity of which few realize. 1t is
an evil which demands a sociological
science search light. Unrestricted immi-
grafton was given as a great cause or
crime and pauperism and he characterized
the officials as straining out Chinese gnats
and swallowing European camels. The
saloon is a second cause of pauperism, one
and all upas trees of crime are watered
by rum. Heredity as a third cause was
proven by many quotations from Oscar
McCulloch's Tribe Of Ishmael,' and the
State urged to assume control of the mar
riage relation. Environment, proximity
to crime as a nursery of vice was clearly
shown. and the liability of infection OF
evil rather than good, disease is CATCH
ing health, never" The fifth cause or
pauperism he found a defective common
school system. Victor Hugo said: who
ever opens a school closes a prison. but
the training of the good school must culti-
Xate the hand, the head and the heart
Enforced idleness and unrequited toll are
a prolific cause of both crime and pauper-
ism and of evils attendant upon the de-
Of another for a daily living. In consider
ing the last cause, insufficient and vicious
legislation, DR.. Doddridge gave a brief re-
view OF the political situation and the re-
sponsibility of the people in the selection
of lawmakers.
In the afternD~-. DIR. Curtiss, having ex-
changed nlapPG nnOn the nrOpra ina with
Captain Ritter, delivered a lecture upon
THE American Tramp, and Some Prob
which was full of characteristic epigram-
matte thoughts, and given in his own Wig
orous style. He said tramp life or vaga-
bondage must be studied in the light of
facts. 1t does exist, not elevating, but al
ways tearing down society, a nondescript,
unwashed class, found nowhere else except
litical freedom when the reacting power of
Jesus Christ is not a dominating factor.
E There are FIVE phases Of vagabOndage;
purely local, and who prefers the idle COM
fort of the poorhouse to a better life with
a personal effort; next, the gypsy. a for
Egypt. filthy, unproductive wanderers, as
afraid of water as a mad dog; third, the
southern cracker, a product of old slavery
times, which chiefly runs to dirt, children
and dogs; fourth, the commOnwealers, a
legitimate result of hard times and the
discussion of anarchistic subjects, who
may be harmless in a minority, but If a
man born to rule should marshal him In
force more trouble will follow than was
caused by the French revolution; fifth, the
tramp, aimlesS wanderer who has many
and various causes for his origin-mis-
fortune, natural love of rowing, some crime
escaped from, desire for easy life, out or
work., overtaken by want away from
home, reading Of pernicious literature, and
last and greatest of all, intemperance.
Finally the following questions were pro-
posed: Is there any danger from tramps
combining into classes? Is there danger OF
tramps combining with other dangerous
classes? How do tramps estimate them
selves-as amenable to law, or otherwise
Can tramps be reformed? How many
able-bodied are required to support the
tramps? Can moral influence be brought
upon tramps TO induce them to reform?
Has the government any power to induce
the tramp to abandon a life of idleness
and become a useful citizen?
Mrs. Wiles and daughter, Mrs. Wright,
Mrs. Richey, Mrs. Thompson, Miss Hattie
Simmons. of S~helbyville, and Mrs. Rom
niger and family, of Hope, have taken cot
tageS.
To-day is missionary day and the chief
attraction will be the presence and ad-
dress Of DR.. w. II. Curtiss. NJ. d., medical
missionary to Pekin. China. He will an
swer questions and give most interesting
personal experiences. At night Rev. T.. Il.
Rawls will preach and recitations from
Misses Ora and Bessie Catch, of Milford,
o., and a solo by Miss Alta Roberts, OF
Indianapolis. will be attractions.