The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-08-30
HOW HE rs CREATED.
EVOLUTION OF THE WORkiNGMAN
INTO THE TRAMP.
A Series of Pictures That Would Depict
the Processes-The Worthless Becomes
the Hopeless or Desperate Man-spirit Of
Freedom Crushed.


the Hopeless or Desperate Man-spirit Of
Freedom Crushed.
Especial Correspondence
1t has long been on my mind to write
something about the evolution Of the
tramp, but whenever have attempted
it have given it up from feeling that
could not do justice to the subject.
Were painter would paint series
of pictures, first showing the man look
ing at signs ON factories, "No Help
Wanted" would picture him growing
seedy, discouraged, disheartened, till at
last he comes to my door, with shuttle
and whine and perhaps madeup
cough, asking for something to cat. AS
SEQ it in my mind it is picture to
make every Christian ask, ''Is this 'one
Of the least of these of whom the Son of
Man says, 'Inasmuch as We did it not to
him We did it not to me?'" 1t is pic
tures to make every student Of history
and every statesman ask, "Can nation
endure which allows this sort of work
to go on?" 1t is picture that speaks q
threat to every man and woman, Dare
not be sick, dare not speak your thoughts
like a free man, or somebody else will
have your Job and you will join the
ranks Of the unemployed, and then God
help you'll"
No; I will not "start the tramp at q
liquor saloon" though know it is sadly
true that some of them do start there.
Destroy the robbers which the working
man is powerless to resist individually
and see whether with the opportunity
Of acquiring home and competence
large number of men will seek the arti-
fetal and destructive pleasures of alco-
hol Each man who has not acquired
the habit can, if he will, keep out of
the saloon, and he is at liberty to per-
suade others to do so, but we are all
in the power of the landlords and
lend lords and factory lords, and If
we are not extremely cautious they
may tell us any day to quit work.
This is true not only of mechanics
and miners 1t is true Of nearly all
men. 1t is true of the politician, the
preacher and journalist. Not one but is
threatened in the picture would paint
of the evolution of the tramp.
The Church Militant published in
Brooklyn, in its issue Of January, 1892,
is responsible for the statement that
journalist said, in response to the toast
to an Independent Press"
There is no such thing i'll America as an in
dependent press. unless it is out in the coun-
try towns. If / should allow honest
opinions to be printed in one issue of my pa
"a m WOl1ld
gone. The business OF q leading journalist Is
to distort tho truth, to lie outright, to per-
vert, to vilify, to fawn at the feet of Nam
mon and to sell his country and his race for
daily bread, or for what is about the same-his
salary. We, "the members of the
press, are the tools and vassas of rich men be.
hind the scenes They pull the string and we
dance. Our time, our talents, our possibilities,
are all the property of other men.
Think Of this Whether it was said as
reported or not, do we not all know it
to DO true? To keep from becoming
tramp the journalist must tell lies, and
| to avoid the same fate other men must
believe them or appear to do Sc. And
even that often fails.
Still realizing my inability to do JUS
tice to the subject, could not refuse to
make an attempt at it after reading the
following letter from the New York
World:
SHELTER IN THE CITY.
To the Editor of The World:
Owing to personal financial stringency, it be-
came necessary for me last Monday night to
choose between going without food all day or
bed OF night. After mature elaboration I
chose to go without the latter and took this
.-y nisu opportunity co stuoy the ''nignt ques
ton" found many genuine cases of need.
pitiful in their details Of vain struggling to
get work enough for food and shelter, and al.
though my heart ached and was able even
out of my need to have the happiness to assist
others moro needy this Is not the point wish
to give prominence.
Many of these men-I exclude the genuine
"bum"-have always paid their taxes in bet
ter times, which taxes, take it, went toward
purchasing and keeping up the public parks.
Now it is fact and it does seem shameful
that these same men should not DO allowed &c
even sit-I refer now to what I have seen-in
these Same parks which their hard earned
money has helped to purchase.
Heartsick and footsore after a ceaseless
tramp, often with an empty stomach, at the
end of days pilgrimage from store to store
and rniscalled charitable employment bureaus,
their already hard lot is intensified by the alb
solute and often brutal prohibition to even SIT
down to rest under the open vault of heaven.
ONE OF THEM TEMPORARILY (2).
1t is sad letter in many ways. Per.
haps the saddest thing about it is the in
terrogation point after the signature,
which, being interpreted, means, "Am
to evolve into a tramp" Oh my
brother
In the same issue of The World which
contains this letter-a letter that ought
to make the nation crimson with shame
and then white with fear-we are told
editorially that "workingmen never got
as good wages as now and that their
wages would never buy as many Of the
necessities, comforts and Injuries Of
life" Admitting this to be true, which
it is not of that grand necessity, home
in an accessible locality. how does it
help the man who cannot get an oppor-
tunity to work? The self respecting man
wants to earn what he has. An idle man
is dangerous man, whether he is rich
or poor, dangerous to himself and to
society. He is with us today, and he is
becoming numerous and confirmed.
What are we going to do about it? Will