Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-07-08
AS TO HOMO MARTYRS.


II is no doubt true that during the piping
Democratic times from which this country
is just now emerging the ranks of the
unemployed were augmented by large
numbers 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 in
dUstrious class and would take work if
they could get it. Those lachrymose
humanitarian belonging to the Populist
party who are constantly weeping over the
woes of the millions of honest men who
have been forced to turn tramp" might
learn this fact after an enduring fashion
ii they would but turn their eyes toward
Kansas and her towns and wheat fields.
There come to the exchange tables of
The Journal every week six or seven hum
dred 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 very large wages are willingly
paid for the most Indifferent sort of labor.
AND right alongside of this story is al
llgEA I " bE all aNNOOlN VI AON OlAA
farmer attempted to employ the tramps
who infest every Kansas town at this sea-
son of the year, without being able to Sc
cure a single one who would work under
any sort of inducement. No better testi-
mony 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 limitIess generosity OF the
people than stir their lazy bones in pur-
suit of an honest living.
There is no other race or nation Of peo-
pie on earth that treats beggars with such
prcfigate almsgiving as may be found in
this country. 1t may be more than sus-
pected that the generosity of the Ameri-
can people has been the prime cause of
raising up an army of professional aims
seekers who move from town to town and
iEsclentIy demand food and clothing as If
It were an inherent right. And if the free
handed giving Of the people is not suf-
icIent TO convince them of the possession
of such a right any lacking OF education
in that direction is certain to be supplied
by ~demagogues OF the stripe Of the Popu-
llSI lGdutTS WHO aIt continually DIdlllS
about every mani right TO a living
whether he works or not. Take, for
example, the famous tramp circular
by Governor Lewelling. which wept
and moaned and anguished over the
condition Of the hoboes and adjured the
officials of every Kansas town not to put
them at work upon the rockpiles or lodge
49,, a., g,sr For .ta,. vr.ra Tho !, For4rt,aF.
victims of a financial policy and not in any
manner accountable for their own con-
dition OF idleness. We imagine that If the
Pcpulist farmers Of Kansas who have
lately been jeered and derided 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 it might
commence to dawn over them that they
had been made the tools of a shyster or
the playthings of a fool.
What is true in Kansas is in greater or
less degree true elsewhere; the moving.
simless 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 multitudes OF honest men who have
been wholly or partially out of employment
within the recent past. But for the great
er 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. re-
fusing work at good wages and frighten-
ing timid women with their backdoor de-
mands for aims.
That the tramp problem has become a
huge one in America is a thing nobody
can deny. That it will eventually be
solved in such a manner that hard work
ing and industrious people will not be
called upon TO sustain an army Of pro-
fessional baggars is a de-
voutly to be wished. But that any i'm
mediate relief may be hoped for is very