Omaha daily bee., 1900-02-11

any overbearing employer. In certain parts
of the country, on account of crowded condi-
tions, it must be stated furthermore that it
is difficult for a certain number of young
men to get suitable employment.
There is a sociological significance, how
ever, about the present strikingly large
number of young men who are beating"
their way over the country on the railroads.
There is gradually being developed in the
United States a class of wanderers who may
be likened to the degenerated "Handwerks-
burschen" of Germany. They are not neces-
sarily apprentices in the sense that the
"Handwerksburschen" usually are, although
the great majority of them have trades and
make some effort, in winter, at least, to
work at them. but they are almost the exact
counterpart of the "Burschen'' in their
migratory habits. Years ago the travelling
apprentice was a picturesque feature in Ger
man life and it was thought quite proper
and useful that he should pack up his tools
every now and then, get out his wheel
barrow and take a jaunt into the world. He
had to take to the highways in those days
and there was no such inducement as there
is now to take long, unbroken trips. A few
miles a day was the average stint and at the
end of a fortnight, or possibly a month, he
was ready and glad to go to work again.
This is not the case today. The con-
temporary 'Handwerksbursch' works Just
as little as he can, and travels in fourth
class cars as far as the rails will carry
him. In a few years, unless there is some
home influence to bring him back. he gen
orally wanders so far afield that he be-
c mes a victim of die Ferne,' a thing Of
romance and poetry to his sturdier an
cestors of Luther's time, which for him has
beccm a snare and a delusion. German
vagabondage is largely recruited from Ger
man apprentices. 1t is the same love of
Die Ferne,' the desire to get out into
the world and have adventures independent
CT parental care and guidance, which ac-
counts largely for the presence Of so many
young men in the ranks of the unemployed
in this country. AS | have said, they are
not tramps or "hoboes,' but neither are
they victims of trusts, monopolists or
capital.
Things that Develop the Class.
Great public undertakings like the Worlds
fair at Chicago, the recent war with Spain,
a new railroad and the attractions of places
like the Klondiko have a tendency TO in
crease the number Of these youthful out
cf-wcrks. TIE Worlds fair stranded many
thousands and there are already signs that
the war with Spain has brought out a fresh
l'P vi ~ amy - 80 ~
ing on the railroads because they have be-
come inoculated with wanderlust and be-
cause they think that It IS only by con-
tinually shifting tuat they are likely to get
work. The same thing took place, only on
a larger scale, after the civil war, and our
present tramp class is the result. Some OF
the young men who took part in the Spanish
war, and when mustered out Joined the
wanderers on the railroads, will eventually
develop into full iledged tramps; it, is in
evitable. At present they are merely out-of-
works, and at times honestly seek work.
Let me tell the story Of one of my COM
paulons for a few days on a railroad in
Pennsylvania. He was only 90. He was a
plumber by trade and had left a job only
a fortnight before | met him. The weather
haG got too warm to work, he said, lit was
in June), and he had enough of a stake"
to keep him going for several weeks on the
road. He was on his way to the northwest,
THE west is the only part o. this country
worth much, i guess he said. an I'm
goin' out there to look around. Here in the
east ev'Tything is in the hands o the rich.
There's no chance for a young fellow here
in Pennsylvania any more | asked him
whether he was not able TO make a good
living when he remained at work. "Oh, |
can live all right he replied, but this
country's got to give me somethin' more'n
a Twin before IN work hard month in and
month out. | amt goin' to slave for any
body. | got as good a rights the next man
to enjoy myself. m when | want to go Off
on a trip I'm goin'." l suggested that this
wac hardly the philosophy Of men who
made and saved a great deal Of money,
We'll | amt goin' TO work hard all my life
n have nothin' but money at the end OF it,,
| want to live as | go along, m | like hittin'
the road ev'ry now and then"
How long do YOU generally keep a job?"
III l get a good one in the fall l generally
keep II till spring, but the year round |
guess l change places ey'ry two or three
months"
How much OF a loaf do you have be-
tween jobs?
1t depends, Last year | was nearly
four months on the hog once-couldn't
get anything. As a general thing,
though, l don't have TO wait over six weeks
il | look hard"
Are you going to look hard out west?'
We'll. I'm goin' to size up the country, m
II | like II, why | guess I'll take a job for
Q while. ] got enough money TO keep me