The evening times., 1899-06-05
A CONVENTION OF
AMERICAN H0BOES
National Gathering of Tramps
Called for June Is.
A Strange Assembly to Be Held at
Danville, iii.
The Delegates VIII BE Protected II
the Local HenhOuses Are UnmO-
lested-The Platform.

Hoboland is astir over the coming Ma
tional Convention Of Tramps, which will
be held at Danville, ILL.,. cn June Is. Ev-
cry water tank and mile-post bears the
legend. "Ho! for Danville," and indica-
tions promise that at least 5000 prominent
hoboes will attend.
| The convention has been called by "Col-
onel' Charles Noe, who is a wealthy So
cial scientist of Syracuse, ILL.,, and who
| styles himself society tramp" 1t is
| evident that Colonel Noe knows some
thing Of the genus hobo. as he has Sc
| lected the location for the convention In a
town some distance from his own home
| Be this as ii may, Colonel" Noe has had
| issued about 25.000 circulars informing
those who read as they do not ride that
the convention will be held, and that all
| tramps in good standing are cordially well
coined to attend. Colonel Noe has also
| leased large plot of ground. which has
been fenced in, and here the important
conference will be held.
The circulars have been out for three
| weeks and have already been distributed
| from the Southern Pacific to the Maine
Central roads and from the Canadian Pa
cific to the lines of the Plant system in
Florida, and as the bitter recollections Of
the Tampa convention in 1895 have passed.
the hoboes are heading for Danyille
1t is reported that even now Mike the
Widow and Troy Styx'' are the guests
Of Colonel Noe. and with Boston Red"
will form the committee on arrangements
which are very elaborate. By special ar
rangement Of Colonel Noe, social scien-
fists and former editors of reform papers
will be admitted as spectators.
1t will be grand dawning OF delight for
the oppressed hobo-will this convention.
Thousands OF grievances and matters re-
curing urgent legislation have been
awaiting the call of such a gathering and
the woes of trampkind will be given utter
ance. Delegates will be admitted by States
and railroads. To each State is allotted
300 tramps and one delegate-at large will
represent each 500 miles of main Travelled
railroad. The date has been set for June
Is, but the convention will last for sew
eral days if the people of Danville are not
hostile" and are willing to provide
The legislation in prospect contains
much of moment. Among the questions 10
be considered are those which are now be-
ing agitated throughout the country be-
sides many of economic interest
Colonel Noe will endeavor to organ
lie the hobo and make him an important
political factor. Already the tramp vote
has been felt during national campaigns.
when prices were up to SO per ballot. and
Colonel Noe may find himself a candi-
date for President in 1900. heading the
ticket of the National Anti-Labor party.
The platform has not been adopted as yet,
but the following planks will be incorpor-
ated by unanimous request:
I'VE view with great approval the ex-
pansion movement, as 1t will furnish new
pastures and green railroads.
I'VE view with alarm the rapidly in
creasing number of cases OF hydrophobia
and we favor the total extinction OF the
species canine
I'VE disagree with our misguided broth
er, Mark Hanna, in his statement that
trusts are not an issue and would remind
him that God reigns and the Anti-Labor
party still lives
I'VE are noncommttal on the question
of the selection of candidate for the
Speakership of the next Congress, as the
welding OF a gavel requires labor, but We |
favor anyone except Reed. as we have |
learned that he smokes stogies and saves |
the stumps. We denounce him as a Maine |
man.
I'VE favor a censorship OF the press ard |
ienounce yellow journalism, as We do not
like to handle handouts wrapped in kid
naped stories.
I'VE favor the introduction by the Gov
of wireless telegraphy. motion
less transit, foamless beverages, pieless
houses and workhouseless mu-
I'VE endorse the action Of the Repub-
ican party in removing from the maws
,f civil service thousands of positions, as
said action will materially decrease our
number and will provide many Of us with
aborless situations.
I'VE are anti-Dreyfusites, and hope that
INV man who is unwilling to accept free
grub and free bed, with a free drink now
md then. at the expense of government
will be put to work.
I'VE are for free silver and free gold;
he initiative at full kegs and the refer
,ndum of empty ones, and government
of everything as long as We are
he government
II is expected that there will be
much wrangling over economic questions.
That of Government ownership of rail-
Dads has already been widely discussed at
ampfres. and many strange arguments
ro and con will be heard. One delegate
nay hold that as the Government will not
low free trips on mail cars the corpora
ion should retain control. There will be
thers who will argue in favor of letting
he employees own the roads, as the latter
ould then hold their jobs without chasing
Gentlemen of leisure from coZy box cars.
)ne strong argument will be that the Gov
would heat all box cars during
he winter and this will obtain many votes
or Government ownership.
The trusts will also receive much atten-
ion There will be delegates who will
old that the trusts should be supported
s they are humanitarian institutions, and
re striving to relieve as many people from
,orking as possible by making one man do |
he labor of five. while the other four may |
i've honorable lives without being disgrace |
d by vulgar work, even though the ranks |
( the hoboes be swelled.
The money question will be easily set |
led. Let every man who has $1,000. 900
wide it equally among his fellow-men. |
nd all will be we'll.
The delegates will be against organized
abor, unless the labor unions adopt |
ne-hour law instead of eight hours as at |
resent. This will not include railroad |
mployes, who are to be pensioned and no !
rakemen will be employed.
The convention will endorse the report
( the Alger Relief Commission, as no del
gate will attest to having eaten any en-
aimed beef during the war. The fact ,
rat beef refrigerator cars were rather un-
leasant bedrooms will be brought out, but
his can be attributed to the hot weather ,
nd the lack of bathing facilities.
The delegates will be unanimous against | |
ny alliance with Great Britain, and 1t will
e argued that there are enough patriotic
merican tramps to attend to American I
lstitutions without ringing in foreigners.
The Peace Conference at The Hague will {
e heartily commended, as peace and rest I
re essential to the proper living of the
ramps. and a peace conference between
ne railroads and the delegates will be
lggested. An argument will be made