The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1895-06-19
THE TRAMP PROBLEM.
What shalI we Do wIlh the Trampl

Is he really concomltant OF our
nineteenth century enlightenment
If so, then we should hide our heads
in shame, but one thing is certain
namely, he is constantly growing
more numerous, more bold, more
lawless and more menacing to life
and property.
1.-THE report of a local paper can
be relied upon, the tramp dodgers at
the police station in Pittsfeld, Mass
increased from 1855 in 1893 TO
1853 in 1894. Nearly 10000 men
in the entire country sleep every
night in police stations or lodge in
some convenient spot where they
are fairly safe from elements or
from interference from lawful au-
thorities. They are homeless, pen
niIess, aud although many OF them
may have begun their tramp life as
honest men they soon lose all sense
of honor, self respect or ambition
and often become reckless desper-
ADDE'S. Indeed it is getting to be
dangerous to travel in unfrequented
localities, even in the well settled
east, without suitable weapons or
means of defense in numbers.
It appears from recent statistics
that of 800 tramps who were in
terviewed some 81 per cent. had
trade, IL per cent were unskilled
laborers and only 16 would admit
they had no regular calling. But
one in 20 was under 80 years of age
and one in three was over 40 years
of age. AS regards health, only
about per cent claimed to be suf-
fering. Two per cent only ascribed
their condition to drink. In New
Jersey attempts have recently been
made to organize vigilance commit
tees for the purpose of wiping the
tramp out of existence or driving
him by physical force out of the
State. In 10 States today legal
mention is made of the tramp speci-
fieally, and two more refer to him
in their defination of vagrancy.
The remedies suggested for this
deplorable, not to say startling, mat
ter are numerous. Some advocate
stricter laws and harsber treatment
and others favor separating the de-
cent tramp from the worthless one.
In nearly every case the authorities
advise housekeeprs not giving to /
them in charity.
But before the tramp problem can
be settled rightly it is necessary to
determine whether any one is com
PEELED to become q tramp. If this
be decided in the negative, then du-
ty is plain. Let them all be sent to
prison, and at hard labor there. ''If
any would not work neither shall
he eat.
But are not many-very many
tramps from compulsion? Is there
not great surplus of honest labor?
Are not many of our dirty, frowsy,
ragged, hopeless and even criminal
tramps men who would be indus
trious and self supporting provided
they had not been forced into tramp
ing? Has not the "unmercifuI dis
aster" of our modern machine labor
saving industry followed them "fast
and followed faster" until their am
bition and moral fiber have been de-
stroyed2 Has it not produced en-
forced idleness, the bane of general
welfare rather than leisure, the
blessing of it?
Then there is no more melan-
choly spectacle than the man who
wants 10 work and will not work
let them starve. With the hand of
labor made tenfold more productive
by human ingenuity the great prob
lem, after all, is to find work for
those who need it.
Mason county people are trying