The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-07
From the New York World.

rioiH tHe NeW Ofk NOflu.
 MA ENTLEMEN who never work N when they have anything else
 to do and who have a speaking acquaintance with every park bench from the Battery to Harlem dropped into the Occidental hotel on the lower Bowery yes- terday- to pay their respects to Doc" Reitman, president of the Chicago branch of the Brotherhood Welfare association. This is an organization whose members would make manual labor a capital crime
 Doc Reitman has camel"
 That was the magic tip which depopu- lated the favorite haunts of the itiner- ant citizens and started them up the Great Black Way. Ever since the doctor, for he is a real physician, ban quoted over 100 of the blind baggage bat talion in the western metropolis several months ago, the clinker kickers in this part of the country have been anxious to meet him. Reitman held an informal re- ception outside the hotel. Only one inci- dent occurred to mar the pleasure of the occasion. That was when one of Big Tim Sulllvan's lieutenants yelled Low Bridge.' and host and visitors went to the sidewalk.
 I've been in circulation about 20 years" said Doc" yesterday to a reporter who found him getting his weekly letter in shape for the Cowcatcher, official organ of the tourists. I've planted my spokes in every city, town and village on the hemisphere where 1t was possible to &C., a te1 at time. l never stayed long enough in any one place to break into the city di- rector. North America is my regular postoffice address.
 What is the object of your visit?' he was asked.
 Partly pleasure and the rest business. You know, I'm the riding delegate of our organization. Many deplorable evils have crept itno the tramp business dur ing the last few years until at the present time 1t is actually hard to keep an honest tramp from going to work. This, of course, would disqualify them from the death benefits of the order" Was there poor tramp crop this season?' he was asked.
 "On the contrary he replied. "an fn- | crease was reported from all sections of the country, especially the east Our organization has received applications from scores of insurance presidents. rail- road officials and Napoleons of finance, but we didn't accept them. You see we are very particular. At the last meet l ing motion to establish a branch in | Wall street was defeated by an over whelming vote. We don't stand for taint- ed tourists
 Has the scarcity of money affected your organization
 "To some extent, yes. Some of our best coin collectors complain that former sub- 1 scribers are greatly in arrears. We hes l tate to drop them from the rolls. as they have been good givers up until re- | cently.''
 "Is the New York branch of the or ganization prosperous?'
 i Financially, yes: but there are other l things to be considered For instance. there are your bread lines. Several hun dred men are compelled to stand in line and wait for their loaf every night. Why couldn't that bread be delivered at their | residences? This would inconvenience but one man-the philanthropist. And last night at the Bowery Mission there were 1 speculators charging double for places 1 in the bun weave. This commercialism has got to be stamped out. And there is no reason why the menu should be con- l fined to bread. In my annual report I | shall move to amend by inserting the words pie and cake.
 | "Is it true that you will banquet the | New York members?''
 That was my Intention. Agents from l the Knickerbocker. Plaza and Belmont 1 have been pestering me since I struck 1 town. All are anxious to have the feed l pulled off at their places l Reitman gave up the practice of med l icine when he contracted ''perpatetic paralysis 20 years ago. Since that time h, has been on the loop. He is an irf- telligent-looking man about 4o. years old, with black eyes, black curly hair and an optimistic disposition. He is ridicu-