The morning journal-courier., 1907-12-19
HELPS TAXPAYERS
Organized Charities a Valuable Aid Against Flocking of
 Tramps Here.
ISSUES CHRISTMAS APPEAL
Shows That Professional Hoboes Avoid City Where There is
 Work to Do.

The Detroit Free Press, in urging the need of organized effort to solve the tramp problem, published some very significant paragraphs in a recent is- sue, It said: California, after having endured earthquake, fire, graft and the black death, is wrestling with an an- nual winter invasion of hoboes. The other day half a hundred tramps took forcible possession of freight train, and the incident has thoroughly stirred the commonwealth. The San Francis co Chronicle suggests that state wood yards be established at strategic points, and that all tramps apprehended be put to work For San Francisco it. self this interesting plan is outlined:
 The city is big enough to have a hobo home of it's own. And if we had me with large wood yard and a sup ply of btcksaws attached, in which to herd our degenerates of all classes, and let them work or starve as they might ake a notion, there would be less work Tor our police and more safety for our itizens
 No coercion here. No forcing a man do dstast"ful work Put a tramp in the stockade, and he can continue o loaf until he starves if he so elects. Suppose Detroit had something of the ! prt 4rr1,y1 sf ft, rder to be sent to a warm, well vit- Jaled workhoGse for the winter were put up against q pile of hard slnewed, ce covered cord wood and bucksaw, 1r were asked to separate few bould- ITS into their original molecules. Sup
 ose the habtual drunkards and wife
 caters and buns saw a fate like this
 waiting them after every appearance n court. Well, it would jar em some.
 In the same issue there appeared a
 ery suggestive dispatch from Mar
 nall, Mich: "Tramps tramps, tramps
 he bos are marching" is the refrain gng at the county. jail, every cell of mich is occupied by wanderers. When he board of supervisors, recently re- lsed to enter into contract with the
 etrolt house of correction they made 1arshall a winter resort for tramps
 Toboes flock here from all parts of the
 ate as soon as they hear the glad
 rings. Its free board and no work
 1T us," they say, and the longer their
 antence, the better they are satisfied
 he county jail board bills will be
 gher than the supervisors expectei yhen they turned down the Detroit
 nstitution.
 Such statements make very plain thu
 alue to the community of the methods
 eing used ir eastern cities. Every day n the year, in New Haven, the organ 5ed Charities association is standing uietly between our citizens and tn, lrmy of vagrants which would other vse be calling for money and hand uts" from door to door, or becoming public charge by committing somt ,etty crime which would secure then jail sentence.
 Tramps shun the town which con 'ronts them with the "bucksaw" anf 'hard-slnewed cordwood." While the number visiting us this winter is large than last winter, it Is very much small IT than it would be if 200 Orange stree were not so well known to the fra cernity.
 "One good turn deserves another. The response to the association Thanksgiving appeal was so genera , md generous that we are emboldeneC to remind kind-hearted people of thu near approach of Christmas. Coal bin need repenishing, Little children, yes and "grownups," too, are beginning tt
 hink of Christmas cheer and to won der from what source it is to come X Merry Chrlstmas" helps wonderful ly in bearing the privations of the res If the year No one should be pinohet at this glad season; no one should bt forgotten. The Organized Charitie; does not distribute toys or decorate Christmas trees, but it gives the hell that brings lasting comfort to the en. fire family--warmth food, the oppor. unity to piece out the income by self. respecting work.
 We appeal to all who believe in oul methods and love their fellow-men help little! Contributions of money coal orders or provisions will be grate- fully received, promptly acknowledged and intelligently used at 200 Orange street.
 WATSON l.. PHILLIPS, President | gr1 n I'M I7,E. 1