The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-21
BOUND FOR IOWA.
Hoboes TO Meet in Convention I'm the
Town of Britt on Aug. 20.

JOWn OF brttt on aug ~.
From the New York World.
Hordes of tramps are passing through
the country bound for the rural communi-
ty of Britt, la. In that pace-sequeste
ed In the wilds of Hancock county-on
Aug. % Head Pipe Charles f. Noe of the
Tourist Union viii rap on an inverted
beer barrel with a huge bung starter and
call to order the second annual convention
OF the amalgamated "hoboes'' of Amer
lea.
Noe Is the presiding genius of the
Tourist Union, an association of bona hde
tramps. The leader OF the Tourists is
young man, perhaps % years of age.
When he Is at home he is at Sycamore. Ill.
Noe is eccentrict and a genius for ideas.
His was the idea of a national association
of tramps and his was the idea Of "A great
gathering of that association The result
was the Tourist Union and the first con-
vention held at Danville, ILL.,. last year.
Noe took to tramping from love, not ne
cesslty Years ago In Danville, the place
of his birth, when his parents thought hs
was at school, the youth who was to be
exalted to the future Pipe was engaged in
learning the rudiments of the gentle art
of "hoboing." The present officers Of the
Tourist Union are: Head Pipe. Charles f.
Noe. Sycamore. H.; president. Onion
CLAN Fera. Chicago.
In order to join the organization. after
satisfying the Head Pipe and his assist
ants, it is necessary TO FIJI out an applica-
tion blank. This is as follows:
Tourists Union, No. CD.
"Shoemakers, Designers, Actors, Rail-
readers, Moulders. Tailors. Cigarmakers.
Paiaters, Society Tramps.
II hereby make application to join the
union. Name.
How much territory have you covered
in the last five years?
How much by cushions and otherwise?
Did you ever panhandle dookie?
do you prefer a box car to a Pullman
sleeper?
Have you ever belonged to hobo
camp?
Have you a deep-rooted. an Unsuitable
desire to annlhilate all bum killers?
Which is the worst IN your opinion, o
brakeman who shunts you off on the pral-
RE. six miles from civilization and a wa
ter tank, or a Chinese Boxer?
Have you taken many baths?
"If So were they compulsory?
ibid you ever leave town by the es-
pecial request of a one-horse town mar
shall?
Are you In favor OF a free soup house
in every railroad center?
"Wlll you petition the congressman in
your district for steam heat in all box
cars?"
Head Pipe Noe says that the comfc-pa-
per tramp life is kept up In the questions,
and that they were made that way In or
der that people may see genuine tourists
take a joke as well as any one. The
Tourist Union, however, he affirms is no
laughing matter.
Britt, Ia, Is place OF about 1900 in
habitants, and is farming community.
There promises to be quite a sensation
when the Weary WiIlies begin to come
down on the fold like Lord Byron's AS
syrians have done ia the readers from
time mmemorial. Head Pipe Noe states
that Britt is aware OF the prominence
that II is being brought into, and in the
hope Of casting Three Oaks. Mich. COM
pletely in the shade, will receive the del
egates to the gathering with open hands.
wy" says the esteemed Head Pipe,
"Britts goin to treat us tourists like
kings. Dookies at every back door, empty
box cars an barns to sleep in! We're
goin to live easy!' ~
II Is. indeed, stated that the citizens of
Britt have obtained permission from the
Chicago. Milwaukee and st. Paul road to
have the use Of all empty box cars while
the convention is In session. As a precau-
ton the police force Will be doubled, but
viii have instructions 70 address all Tour
lists as Mister" This Is expected TO be
quite shock until the Tourists become
accustomed to it. Huge badges bearing
the picture of the comic paper willie
and ornamented with the coupling pin and
links. the insignia Of the union, Will be
given to each delegate on his arrival.
The police the Head Pipe says, have even
been 80 good as to consent to act as a
committee of reception. They will meet
all freight trains and be ready with help
ing hands when they see Tourist look
ing out from under a box car with an
anxious eye.
Head Pipe Noe, IN talking to a World
correspondent was darkly mysterious
when asked what the convention would
do. With dexterity he parted all ques-
lions the answers TO which would show
whether the "hoboes' intended 20 take
any action on political issues. The Pipe
intimated that the Britt platform might
go ringing down 10 history as the Magma
Charta of the American hobo. He ad-
mittod that the usual expression, I'VE
view with regret" I'VE deplore." and tbs
others might be used In connection with
the hardness OF box car floors and the
manners OF trniu men. II Is reliably stat
ed. however, that Moo has dreams Of a
united hobo party that viii be catered
" by the politicians