The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-12
AS TO HOBO MARTYRS.
Hard-WOrIxing People Asked TO Sup
port Professional Tramps.

Kansas City Journal
1t is no doubt true that during the piping
Democratic times from which this country
is just now emerging the ranks OF tie UNI
employed were augmented by large num-
bers of efficient workmen, but this does
not justify the conclusion that the army
of tramps drifting from one part Of the
Nation to another belong to the industrious
class. and would take work if they could
get it. Those lachrymoSe humanitarianS
belonging TO the Populist party who are
constantly weeping over the woes or the
forced to turn tramp" might learn this fact
after an enduring fashion II they would but
turn their eyes toward Kansas ana her
towns and wheat fields.
There come to the exchange tables of the
Journal every week six or seven hundred
Kansas weekly newspapers. We find in
them all a story which varies only in minor
details. 1t is to the effect that harvest
hands have been in great demand and that
most Indifferent sort of labor. And right
alongside of this story is almost certain TO
be an account of how some farmer at
tempted to employ the tramps who infest
every Kansas town at this season of the
year, without being able to secure single
one who would work under any sort Of in
ducement. No better testimony could be
secured in support of the belief that the
greater part of the tramps are worthless
loafers who prefer to prey upon the almost
their lazy bones in pursuit OF an honest
living.
There is no other race or nation Of people
on earth that treats beggars with such
prohigate aims giving as may be found in
this country. 1t may be more than sus-
pected that the generosity of the American
people has been the prime cause Of raising
up an army of professional alms-seekers,
who move from town to town and insolent-
ly demand food and clothing as if 1t were
an inherent right. And If the free-handed
giving Of the people is not sufficient to con-
vince them OF the possession of such right
any lacking Of education IN that direction
is certain to be supplied by demag ogueS
of the stripe of the Populist leaders who
are continually prating about every man S
right to a living whether he works or not.
Take for example, the famous tramp cir
cular' by Governor Lewelling, which wept
and moaned and anguished over the con-
dition of the hoboes and adjured the Off
cialS of every Kansas town not to put them
at work upon the rock piles or lodge them
in JAIL for they were the unfortunate vic
Tins of a financial policy and not in any
manner accountable for their own condition
of idleness. We imagine that if the Populist
farmers of Kansas who have lately been
jeered and derded when they sought TO
employ some Of dwellings pets in the
harvest field would unearth that circular
from its repose among the sacred scripts
and screeds of POpulism 1t might commence
to dawn over them that they had been
made the tools of a shyster or the play
things of fool.
What is true in Kansas in greater or
less degree is true elsewhere; the moving
aimless masses of the unemployed are for
the greater part professional Vagabonds and
thieves, instead of the unfortunate victims
Of depressed times. In saying this we do
not desire to depreciate the worth of the
muItitudes of honest men who have been
wholly or partially out of employment with
in the recent past But for the greater part
these unfortunates struggled on in silence
and misery, staying close to their families
and hearthstones, and hoping and trusting
for the better times to come They did not
take to the brakebeams of cars and go
touring over the country, refusing work
at good wages and frightening timid women
with their backdoor demands for aims.
That the tramp problem has become a
huge one in America is a thing nobody
can deny. That 1t Will eventually be
ing and industrious people will not be
called upon to sustain an army of profess
SiOnal beggarS is a contamination devoutly
to be hoped for is very much in doubt, at
least so long as political demagogues con-
tinue to martyriZe the loafer class.