The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-26
THE PROFESSIONAL IDLER.


Galveston News.
Complaints come from the plantations
in Mississippi OF a scarcity of hands TO
work the cotton crops, which are about TO
be taken by the weeds and grass, says the
Memphis Commercial-Appeal. 1.-THE cheap
excursions running into Memphis and other
towns have stripped the plantations of their
laborers, those who came away refusing
to return home and go to work. As a result
crops are sorely suffering, and Memphis
is swarming with idlers who have no visi-'
BILE means of support. During the warm
weather they can sleep out and exc an eX-
istence in some way, feeding on what they
can get. Some of these idlers have desert
ed destitute families in the bottom, who
are suffering for the necessaries of life.
Others have crops upon which they have
drawn what they could in the way OF sup
plies, and which are going TO ruin. On the
outskirts of town, around corner groceries,
along the river front. in and about the bad
lands in crap games and dives these va
grants ~congregate and while away time
that should be spent In the cotton patch.
They are not a vicious element so far, be-
cause they are yet strangers to the ways
of cities, but they will soon develop vi
ciousness by mingling with sneakthieves,
purse snatchers, burglars and highway
men," The Memphis paper adds:
This army of idlers should be driven out
of town. Those who have no work should
he given hours in which to leave, and they
will soon find means of getting home. IL
they are allowed to remain, they will dis
organize the labor market Tor those VINO
belong here. and in the winter time, when
the cold drives them indoors, they will be
3 burden on the charity of the city. The
rolice know most of these late arrivals and
should be instructed to round them up.
Nor should they stop at the colored vag-
rant. There are many white Migrants who
can be rounded UP and Shipped away at
the same time without doing the slightest
injury TO the moral or material welfare OF
the city
One chief curse of Southern cities and
towns is the vagrant-the idle fellow who
subsists upon others. who goes from indo-
lcnce to vice, from vice TO crime. What
shall be done with him. or how IL shall be
done. is a pressing problem. 1t will be
settled IN the end BY providing for him a
place on the road. or in a mill or factory.
Some idle persons would work faithfully
and efficiently If they had at hand the
kind of employment offered by manufact-
uring concerns or In other lines for which
they have n liking. With the opportuni-
ties found in a first rate cotton factory
some towns could doubtless rid themselves
of almost all their idlers. With wise laws.
carefully applied, there is no reason why
the army of the unemployed should not be
mustered into service on the public roads.
To leave Migrants 10 lie around and grow
worthless and vicious is not kind treat
ment even to them. Such a policy is es-
recially trying upon the Industrious who
SIRE required. willingly or unwillingly. 10
maintain the drones. When it comes to
important matters In State or local poll
tics. there is no question before the people
cf more pressing interest than this matter
Of disposing OF Migrants.