The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1896-07-24

while HOneSs s.Ofhlls
Through no fault Of theirs they had |
lost employment in the towns where /
they had worked for years. Several Of |
those intervieWed-and their state
ments were after cOrroborated-had
made part payments on homes and
others owned lots and household goods.
When the factories which had given
them work closed their doors, these
men took what money they could spare
and Travelled to other points to earn a
livelihood. They found the same IN
fortunate conditions prevailing wher-
ever they went, Their funds gave out;
they conld no longer pay railroad fare;
they had to rely upon the charitable
for food and lodging; their once neat
clothing had become shabby and thread
bare. Onward and onward they went
like the Wandering Jew; from the lOdg-
ing in a hay loft to a cot in the Gala
boose, and the stone pile. Honest and
honorable, every hand was raised
against them until they, in turn, raised
their hands against everybody.
The transition from responsibility to
trampdom was a rapid process. It re-
quired years to sccOmplishit. But, once
accomplished it took hold of body and
soul, and neither refOrmatory or prison
could eradicate it. The once respected
mechanic, owing principally to their
intelligence, became the leaders of
bands of predatory wanderers and the
founders of q class of society which is
destined to thrive for many years to
come.
The depression of 1873 was succeeded
by few fat years, but the industrial
condition never recovered to that point
which denotes universal prosperity.
Each era of overproductiOn gave birth
to new evils; and the ranks of tramp
dom, augmented by foreign recruits,
have been gaining rather than losing
in strength.
Hence, to a certain extent, every
tramp encampment on the prairie of
the middle west is a constant reminder
of the mistakes of our system of politi-
cal economy as interpreted by profess
sional politicians. While the tramp, as
an individual or class, is a nuisance,
his existence should teach a great
lesson. The foremost thinkers of
America are unanimous in prOnouncing
him a creature of the nuisance Of power
and wealth; and this estimate is no
doubt correct when applied to all but
natural vagabonds.
The evil resulting from the increase
in the number of homeless and de-
graded waits is felt mostly in cities
like Chicago and New York, where they
are used for political purposes. Many
municipal elections in the western
metropolis have been carried by the
cheap lodging house vote which is cast
exclusively by individuals degraded by
years of lawloss living. They are
bought up for a song by ward politi-
clans, and thus frequently help to per-
Petrate rotteness in the administra-
ton of the city's affairs, without, of
course, contributing anything towards
its revenues.
Nevertheless, before pronouncing
Judgment on the human wreck that
applies at your door for assistance
and at times takes by force what is net
given quicklY-it is well to ponder the
conditions which have reduced him to
this sad condition. The blear-eyed,
dirty faced mendicant may at one time
have been the husband of a good wom-
an; may have been the father of a
family as promising as your own. Be-
fore casting a stone it would be wise to
consider what We might be had we
been in his place.