davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The herald., 1894-12-20

less some means are taken to repress
it. and the legislature should take
up ths work in the most enlightened
spirit.
The vaRrant law, az il stands, 10 fatally
defective. 1t 10. to be sure, broad enough
in its provisions to authorize the arrest
OF every man who is friendlsss and out
Of employ ment, and under it the police
and the courts have the right to deal
summarily with vsgrants. But this is
only the beginning. The arrest OF the
vagrants 10 the simplst part OF the
problem. The more difficult question
remains OF dealing with them to make
them sslf-supporting citizens. il possi-
BILE, and make them as little OF a bur
den as may be il this is impossible. The
present law brushes the problem aside
with a sentence OF six months in the
county jail.
This simple and unscient6c way OF
handling the vsgrsnt queetion has the
poorest results 1t does not punish the
degraded vagrant. 1t furnishes him
shelter and food without the necessity
for work. 1t deprives him Of little, for
it il only in the winter. when outdoor
life is far from agreeable, that he is
usually caught and sentenced. On the
other hand, IL is the ruin of selfrespeot
in thoee whom misfortune or curiosity
has thrown into the ranks OF trampdom.
And finally it puts a heavy burden on
the community for the support OF these
men. who give nothing in return, and
tne great cost and bad results of the
remedy deter courts and communities
from enforcing it generally.
The first requisite of good vagraut
law is to recognize the three classes into
which vagrants are divided. The next
is that it should lay down rules for sep
arating these Glasses and dealing with
them according to their deserts.
The tramp element is composed OF,
first, men who are willing or anxious to
work; second, men who will work if
they have to. but prefer to depend on
begging, and, lastly, men who will not
work under any circu instances short OF
physical ccmpulsion. The German
method of dealing with these classes
has the reputation of being the hest and
NEST successful in the world. The first
class is assisted to find work the second
is put in a workhouss where, under mild
discipline, few industries are carried
on and attempts are made to secure the
men employment outside, and the third
is put in another workhouse where the
strictest discipline is maintained and the
rule is enforced that a man who will not
work shall not eat.
The legislature early in its session
should appoint committee or commits
sion to investigate the subject and to
prepare bill that shall adapt the best
methods OF other states and countries to
California conditions. 1t is unfair to
the industrious and eelf-aupporting
members of society that an able-bodied
pauper who will not work should 1e
given food, shelter and clothing at their
expense. II one man lives without
working it follows that other men must
work 60 much the harder to furnish him
living. The growth OF the vagrant
class should be represssd stsrnly, while
every aid is extended to those whom
misfortune or sickness has deprived OF
the ability to help themselves.
The herald., 1894-12-20
JAIL A HAVEN.

San Francisco Chronicle, Decs m bsr
18th: Driven to despair by hunger and
cold, James Watson deliberately COM
mittsd a crime early yesterday morning
In order that he might be sent to Jail.
whore he can get food and shelter for a
few months at least. At l O'Clock yes.
tsrdsy morning he applied at the cen-
trail police station for a nights lodging
and cup of hot coffee.
sWe cannot take in dodgers here. You
must 90 to the old city hail." explained
Turnkey Hickey.
"Well. ii you will not let me in now,
you will have to take me in after q
while," said Watson az he turned away
from the prison.
About two hours later Officer John
were on the south side OF Market street
O'Brien's dry goods store on Market and
Jones streets. With great deliberation
Watson took a heavy brick from his
pocket and hurled it through the large
plate-glass front OF the store. The crash
could be heard for two blocks. In
moment the officers we're by his side.
for Watson made no attempt to escape.
''Yes, am the guilty party" he said.
II intended to break that window. Now
you will have to take me in. An empty
stomach knows no conscience. and that
Ia about the fix | am in.'
The prisoner was charged with malici.
GUS mischief. He was taken before
Police Judge Consn and pleaded guilty
to the charge. He will be sentenced
today. Watson ia small man, about
40 years OF age. To a Chronicle reporter
he stated that he Ia an upholstersr, but
has not been able to secure work, either
at his trade or in any otner line. for the
past three months.
II spent all the money had earned"
he said, land have lived more like
tramp than human being ever since.
Hunger and cold made me desperate
enough to break that window. / could
not get shelter in the prison. and l
turned over in my mead whether would
rob some one or gmaah a window. l
thought that the window would be the
best. If l had known that this window
was 80 costly would have sent the
brick through a smaller one. saw the
officers when threw the brick, and in
tended they should see me. This is bad
business know, but starving is worss."
The herald., 1894-12-20
A SUGGESTIVE INCIDENT

Evening Express, December 10th:
The case of the man who last Monday,
in San Francisco, threw brick through
O store window in order that ne might
get into Jail and have soms place to
sleep and something to eat, emphasizes
the i'm portsnce OF the legislature giving
its early and CAREFUL attention to the
ira mp question. When society gets to
a state where people are anxious to get
into Jail instead OF out Of it, it 10 evident
that the body social 10 In = bad cundi.
ton and soms remedy 10 badly needed.
The difficulty, as the Express has
pointed out bsfore, 10 to make lava that
will not work any injustice to the un-
fortunate who are willing to WORK, but
who cannot find employment.
The man who threw the brick evil
IDENTIFY was very hard up, and perfectly
willing to work If he could get it; be-
cause he applied to the police for per-
mission to sleep in the jail. but they
refused 1t because he WAS not criminal
What a remarkable situation that is (!
Provision is made BY the state or COM
munity for the care of thieves, drunksrds
and law-breakers OF all kinds. but an
honest man can nnO no place TO sleep
and no one to give him q mouthful OF
food. 1t is the great trouble with most
OF charity, that it proposes to reform in.
stead of saving; there is everything for
the evil person. nothing for the good.
We actually put q premium on crime;
and it is q well.known fact that thou
sands of persons Voluntarily commit
petty crimes every year 30 as to bs sent
to Jail during the cold weather in north.
ern climates.
There is a social problem here that
cannot be ignored or overlooked. 1t is
a problem that demands solution and
that all classes in the community are
interested in solving, for on its solution
depends the welfare of the country and
the maintenance OF the republic. No
country can exist fres and independent
in which crime is encouraged even by
indirect means, for it lowers the ideas
and independence Of the individual and
thus undermines the state. A man who
is desperate enough to commit crime
to get into Jail, will not hesitate long
when an offer 10 made him, to cell mis-
vote.
The herald., 1894-12-20

turned the whole building over to a
board oitrustees elected by the people in
sympathy with the movement, and they
elected a superintendent who got right
down to work at once and fitted up the
whole building. The basement was used
for washing clothes, baths and some
beds. The first floor was turned into a
mission hall. the second into bed rooms
and reading room and the third floor
into bed rooms, kitchen and dining
room.
After ii was open two weeks they
lodged from 65 to 80 men each day. l
must say right here they fed these men
for less than cents head. Every man
who had little money was charged 5
cents for a meal. All beds were free.
There was free employment Office in
connection with the building. But out.
side of this there was a large number of
families who were almost starving, and
"a the winters in Eastern Washington
are severe, large numbers of families
were without fuel. So they bought a
carl Dad OF wood to begin with and opened
wood yard. Each man who could
work was asked to 60 to the wood
yard and work about two hours each
day to pay for his meals. And this
wood was sent TO the families who
were in need and had been before the
county commissioners and got an order
from them. The wood came in four
foo. lengths, 80 the men had to cut it
into stove wood. They also sold quite
lot of it, and all profits went to pay the
expenses of the institution. There was
only one man who received any salary in
the whole institution, that WAS the su~
perintendent. and he did not get very
big salary. They had several thousand
tickets printed and gave them to all the
merchants and others who would take
them. And II anyone asked a merchant
or anyone who had tickets for food or
money they would give him one OF
these cards. but before doing go he was
asked to put his name on the cnrd, so
they knew where each ticket came from.
And in that way 70 men were lodged
and 800 fed every day for five months, all
for 5000 per month. OF course, there
were some among that crowd of men
who were professional tramps. but they
were soon sifted out and sent on to
some other place. and in that way the
city OF Spokane was delivered from
tramps-so said the chief of police, Pc
ter MertZ,
The herald., 1894-12-20
NEW ERA LABOR BUREAU

EDITOR HERALD 1T will be OF inters
est to your many readers to learn that
progress is being made toward q satia.
factory eolution OF the starvation prob
lem in our midat. II is encouraging
that 80 many of our citizens and hu.
mantarian societies are interesting
themselves in this problem. And while
various plans are being suggested. each
calculated to accomplish good in it's own
way, am glad to say there is at least
one organization in she city which is
about ready to stop theorizng and 90 to
work. This is the New Era Labor Ex-
change. Ii has been maturing its plan
for some months. which ia substantially
the same as that already working sue
cessfully in other places, notably in
Kansas and Missouri.
The plan is as simple as it is just. 1t
aeks no. "charity" for the unemployed
only opportunity to be sslf-supporting.
1t is arranging, first OF all, for the secur-
ing and cultivation of municipal lands
near enough the city to market vegeta.
bles, having them ready for market at
the earliest day possible. This will
bring immediate returns and make the
workers seli.supporting. The plan is
purely cooperative, the men all work
irg for q time for bare subsistence,
without regard to wages, until returns
become sufficient to justify account
keeping. Alter this the design is to
open in the city, as conditions may
favor, such other cooperative industries
The workers, in addition to supporting
themselves, will have the ambition to
show what can be done in Southern
California to raise the standard of vege-
table growing, both IN variety and
quality.
With the earnest purpose of furnish
ing self-supporting employment for all
ocr unemployed willing to work, we
already have in our organization over
200 unemployed men ready to enter in
good faith and with intelligent under
standing upon the enterprise as here
described, so of whom are not entirely
without means of self.help. Many also
belong to the organization who have
employment and are making at least q
living. A small fund is being raised by
the mem bers through a rebate plan OF
purchase from such merchants in the
city as are willing to aid the good work.
All persons wishing to help give the ens
terprise o start will have the opportuns
ity to do SO by corresponding with or
seeing the proper officers. Donations
are not asked, the enterprise aiming
only at justice and opportunity. not
charity.
1t 10 only asked that unused lands be
rendered for one season as nearly rent.
free as possible, and that loans in tools,
stock and seed be made to the company,
to be paid for as the workers become
able. We are glad to say both the
chamber OF commerce and city council
are favorable to the enterprise.
The officers of the company are as
follows: w. @. Bowman, president; II.
A. Odell. secretary; James Ashman,
treasurer pro tenn. Board of directors
E. G. Schnsbsl. chairman ; James Ash.
man, M. P. Snyder, j. d. Bailey and
1. E. Wright. Respectfully,
w. G. BOWMAN.
The herald., 1894-12-20
TRAVELLERS CONVENTION

EDITOR HERALD within the past
few days number of hieroglyphics
have appeared upon the dead walls
around town and On many OF the rail.
road box cars. Tho hieroglyphics have
been made with chalk and are the
crudey drawn piotnre of bridge
marked with the figure 8 over hair
line representation OF 6 river. followed
by four parallel straight lines, under
meath which are the letters A. r. B. p
and the figures l3, IL, "a.
A citizen Was looking at the chalk
marks on a box car just as freight
train drew into the Southern Pacific
depot when his attention was drawn to
two individuals who were emerging in
great haste from the top of TN empty
refrigerator car. They were two such
specimens OF humanity as tho artists for
the comic papers delight in picturing as
Weary Waggles or Wandering Willie,
and the ease and celebrity with which
they got from the car, to the ground
showed that they were a brace of vet
eran box Car tourists. Apparently
thankful that there was no minion of
the law to receive them, they began to
make ha5ty exit faom that neighbor-
hood, when, noticing the hieroglyphics
on car, they stopped suddenly and be-
gan talking exoitedy. although in an
undertone.
The citizens curiosity being whetted,
he sccosted one of the wanderers" and
asked him what tho drawing and figures
meant.
What do they mesn?" he repeated,
scrutinizing his questioner closely, while
shifting dirty-looking bundle which he
carried from his right arm to his left.
Say, boss," he asked in an of-hand
manner. but in a wheadling tone, 'have
yer got two.bits ye can apare? we're
thirsty and hungry"
he got the required quarter. which he
handed to his companion along with o
battered tin pail, which he uncovered
from roll OF old newspapers, aud which
constituted the bundle which he had
been carrying, with Instructions to 90 to
"Mugsies," on Alameda street. where
he would get geod measure.
Eyer want to know what this writin'
means? Well, it mesna that the presi-
dent of our society, Always Rides by
Rail, has called noetiu' for tonight TO
be held aouth OF the Ninth utreot bridge.
md between the two tracks OF the Santa
The herald., 1894-12-20

USE GERMAN FAMILY SOAP.
The herald., 1894-12-20
A DEFECTIVE LAW.

The influx of vagrants into the etate
has reauhed stage at which it calls for
the attention of the legislature. The
easy tolerance with which the tramp
has been received. this food that has
readily been supplied and the mild cli-
mate that is characteristic OF Colifsrnia
have become so we'll known that the
state is visited by vagrants in large mum.
bers. They are now organizing in bands
to overaws the smaller communities
and. in many cases. demand. instesd of
solicit, the aid Of unwilling citizens.
The invasion OF vagrants threatens to
reach the proportion Of = calamity un-
The herald., 1894-12-20
WARRANTS SENT TO JAIL

A visit to the police courts, day fter
day. will convince the most eke ptical
that the tramp problem is one of the
most difficult to solve that ever con-
fronted the city. To see the large nun
Der OF tramps, vagrsuts aud beggsrs
crowded together in the dock, like. cat :
tie in corral, is enough to awake the
sympathy OF the most hard,hearted
person. Yesterday was light day for
the genus hobo. yet there were no less
than a dozen OF the unfortunates tried
and convicted. The following were sent
to Jail for two dayB Charles Smith,
James Roach, John Lsmmin. Jerry
Reed. John Bryan, John Bolter.
The herald., 1894-12-20
THE TRAMP.
From Mrs. Mines For Today. |

from Mrs Mines For Today.l
Consider this terrible phenOmenoa the
tramp.an appearance more menacing 10 tn g
repnb.ic than that OF hostile armies and flee
bent on destructlOn.-HENRY GEORGE.
Home. sweet hom i from thy Eden drivens
He wand ars forth on the dusty way
Lost ~ a spirit unfofgiveo,
Hopeless and aimlest, his footsteps stray.
Shines the ield with the harvest yellow,
Shining back at the sky's blue cope;
Fruits on the orchard boughs hang mellow
Low the cattle from slope to slope.
Share hath he none in Natures lavish
Care for her children in each degree;
Meanest things may her riches ravish-
Heir OF all, yet an outcast, me-
Out from the re nks where the city's glamour
Dazzles the sense like wizards show;
Out from tn, ranks wnere the city's squalor
filings the sou TO the depths below.
He had asked but the chance to labor,
Yielding his strength for another's gain;
But for him aud his toillng neighbr
Room was none in the pitiless strain.
Is it spirit OF man or devil
Cursing existence to pitiiess strifl?
Making the good OF one the evil
That suatches the bread from hi, fellows life?
We have scaled the towers of he aven,
Wruug from the EARN her secrets deep,
Yet is our deadly Sin unshr iven-
Men are 1Qle, ana women W.ep.
Have we wrought TO our desperate ruing?
Fashloning bindly with hand and brain
Creature s rong FOR our dark undong-
Fates i'm placable Frdnkensteiu?
What doth it profit, machnery's wonder?-
Matching tbs marvel OF eastern tale
If 1t leava to our brother yOndcr
For his sole porti On hunger pale.
Bring the fetter! We may find him
tn . ba.y untsit OF syrru
And in the chain ing RUTHLESS, bind him;
'Ye are idleV the masters say
"Brawn and muscle and swift thought flying,
Ye are but tools to work onr Will:
Spent and broken, and useless lying,
Cast them aside-there are others still
"5ee to our gates how labor thronying
Hastens to bend the suppliant knee!
We, The lords unto whose belonging
All the toilers must tribute be.
Count the cities our w.ath has Daild d;
What were Labor without our gild5d
Scepter that opens 10 mart and field?
lis 1t our fault If men, want-driven,
Clamor and beat at the iron gates?
Surplus lives whom tuscruteb e heaVe4
Leaves prey unto pitiess fatcs.
"Are we indeed our broth RS keeper?
Hound him forth on The dusty way
Wealth alone is the harvest reaper
Man and nature its rule obey."
Ave! But a word of old was sp'ken-
still 1t rings in he dull worlds thought;
"Fool! For power aud pride untroken.
God hath thee unto Judgment opght."
Ceaseless slow, OIL the highway stant,
Pod those weAry and aimless feet;
But oh, Mammou, the doom inststeut
Marks the hour when ye shall meet
Rear the temnle and rear the palace,
10 wi nj
Yet shall your proud lips pr-ss the ch alice,
Full to the brim, of wrath diviae
The herald., 1894-12-20

There are still many contributions to
the discussion on tramps. An install
ment is published below and more will
follow.
The HERALD will be glad to publiah
communications on this important
matter that are not too long and that
contein timely IDEAS
The herald., 1894-12-20

uOnt.
OF course he did not 90 to Fresno, nor
had a sister living there, nor ever had
hemorrhage. He had learned to bleed
his throat without pain, and his cadav-
erous look was due to q fondness for
morphine. All OF the young tramps
seemed to be proud OF their youthful
companion, whom they looked up to as
q person worthy of emulation.
I met I. Timothy Train heater, my ao-
quaintance of the afternoon before, who
was acting as secretary OF the meeting,
and noticed that he had not ch anged his
linen since I saw him before, but then
he might have lost the laundry ticket.
He gave me an introduction. to always
Rides by Rail-" just as the lat
ter was about calling the meet
ing to order. This person, who
styles himself "king OF Travellers"
ia about As years of age, with a quizzcal
look and humorous expression on
bronzed and dust-stained features. He
was dressed much better than the other
tramps and his ruddy complexion
showed that II want ia abroad in the
land the 'king OF travellers" has not
made its Acquaintance. His principal
characteristic seemed to be an abnormal
egotism, for his whole address was an
exploitation OF himself and ludicrous
attempt at proving that the "Society OF
Ancient and Honorable Travellers" have
had scriptural origin. consequently
ehould be fostsred. He said that be
was native of New York and had
worked for q number of years as proof
reader for Polhemns. the printer. He
refused to give his real name or tell why
he became a tramp.
a railroad tie was Tho chairman's seat
and chunk OF wood served for gavel.
He cautioned his listeners against cheer
ing for fear OF the police and constablsa
The herald., 1894-12-20
for Infants and Children.

"Csstoria IS SO well adapted to children that
Irecommend it as superior to any prescription
known to me- IL A. ARCHER, NJ. D.,
Ill So. Oxford St., Brooklyn, n. Y.
The herald., 1894-12-20
Mr. John p. Watmnra. a nromi,

Mr.. John P. Wetmore. a prominent
real estate agent of San Angelo, Texae,
has used Chamberlain's Collie, Cholera
and Diarrhes Remedy in his family for
several years as occasion required, and
always with perfect success. He says !:
Il find it perfect cure for our baby
when troubled with collie or dysentery.
] now feel that my outfit is not complete
without bottle of this remedy at home
or on trip away from home." For sale
by OFF & Vaughn. corner Fourth and
Spring streets, and G. F. Hsinzeman,
222 North Main street, druggist.
The times., 1894-06-08
CHARLES q. M'cLoY MISSING.
He Was Bookkeeper For tho Second Ma
tional Bank Mt Isay CITY.

He Was BookIseeper For the Second Ma
tional Bank ut BAY City.
BAY CITY, June 4.--Charles b. Nc
Cloy, bookeeper for the old Second Ma
tional bank, is missing. and an expert,
who has been looking over his accounts,
finds a shortage of Sc, $50, which may
still be increased $1,000 or $4,000. Nc
Cloy asked permission to visit a brother
at Detroit last Monday, and was to re-
turn the following morning. Not until
Wednesday did the bank officials sus-
pect anything wrong. When he failed
to return that day, they commenced an
investigation with the above result, but
did not make the affair public until
Saturday.
McCloy has been with the bank for
10 years and the utmost confidence
was placed in him. He frequently oc-
cupied the teller's desk during the lat
ter's absence and had charge Of bills
and the certificates of deposit In the
latter account that shortage has been
found.
The banks loss is practically moth
ing, as it is secured by bond of 50, ,000
in the New York Bond Indemnity COM
pany, and also has possession of build.
ing and loan stock owned by McCloy,
which is worth $500.
The times., 1894-06-08
SITUATION in SAMOA CRITICAL.
Uncle Sam VIII Send War Vessel There
I'm "a Few Weeks.

III rev weeks.
WASHINGTON, June GA United
States war vessel will he dispatched to
Samoa within few weeks. Recent dis
patches from the islands Indicate that
the situation is very critical, with an
armed force of natives numerically
stronger than the kings army, drawn
up in battle array and threatening to
overturn the government. The situa-
tion gives rise to grave apprehension,
for, as the foreigners resident on the
islands have steadily given aid and
comfort TO the present government IN
which their interests are bound up. Its
overthrow might result in serious loss
OF life and property. AT present there
are two war vessels at Samoa, British
and German vessel, but at last nc
counts they had not interfered between
the parties.
AS soon as a suitable vessel is avail
able 1t VIII be sent to Apia. Probably
the choice will fall on the Marion, now
on her way to San Francisco from Hon
olulu. or on the Charleston, at Callao.
Peru. II matters there are quiet enough
to justify her departure. Since the
spirit of strife has become so strong at
Samoa the three powers protecting the
islands have been strongly impressed
with the necessity of disarming the
natives. So far sufficient force has
not been available to undertake this
task, which would probably be vigor-
ously resisted, but it is probable that
with the attendance of United States
man-of-war the king will be able to do
this and thus for time at least restore
peace to the distracted islands.