New-York tribune., 1910-11-29
TRANpS COMING TO TOWN
Christmas Begging Along ''the
Bio Stem" Attracts Them.
TOTAL MAY REACH 5000
James Forbes Tells Of Mendi-
cants Who Reform, and the
Many Who Don't.

Many Who Don t.
Delazstions of A No I tramps are now
sneedinc toward New York City. The high
EST flyers in the profession believe in doing
their Christmas begging in the town with
tho Rie Ster7-the name by which Broad
way is afectionately known in trampd0m
Now York Cfty's professional hegEinf-
staff Is now placed at five thousand. But
the ex,erts that are on the way here viii
increase +7a force ny six thousand al least
according IN James Forbes. director of the
National Association for he Prevention of
Mendicancv and Charitable ImpostUre. at
No 2s Fast 22d street. AIr- Forbes is noted
for his unwilIngness TO eXaSEerate. Also,
ne has the distinction Of knowing more
bout the ancestral trees of more pedigreed
professional mendicants throughout the
country than any other man alive.
The time is ripe for a great rejoicing IT
the Rowery's numerous headquarters, he
said Yesterday, because the buns are now
plungfng through the pOuItice route to-
ward PROV Sims and Tom O'Rourke's s
and Doc" Warren's back parOrs, situated
along that quiet way.
Mr. Forbes explained that the reference
to the poultice belt was unexpurgated
tramp classic for the bread and milk that
many really great hoboes. with proud. uu-
broken records at maintaining a perfectly
aloof attitude toward work Of any kind.
are accepting from the farmers wives be
cause of the tramps' devotion to New
York at this season of the year
PhiI1ie Pop, one Of the highest members
of the craft, who began to tramp at the
close of the Civil War. is expected to ap-
pear in Broadway in his ininitabe imper-
sonation of an ablebodied man telling the
suckers how it happened.
Knows How Trarps Talk.
For Mr. Forbes. who knows how tramps
talk over their champagne at close of day,
would have you understand that the
blooded hobo does not respect the warm
hearted individual who, listening while
TO the beggar's story Of how he used to be
fireman on the Chicago, Burlington &
Quincy. and now has thirteen children for
his sole reward. drops in the outstretched
palm 10 cents or more.
Also, the warn-hearted pedestrian would
be nettIed. thinks Mr.. Forbes. if he could
see how generous the poor old fireman,
through principle and habit. is with the
easy marks money when the anecdotes
and cigars go around
Erie Grip" a fine tramp Of the old
school Will be missed this year because
he has settled down as justice of the peace
in town in Indiana.
IF this sluggish old town would only
wake up said Mr. Forbes. with a sigh
IF only one person out of every twenty
FIVE in New York City would send the
association the small sum Of five cents
think what could be done toward eradicat-
ing this social evil The streets could be
cleared of beggars for whole year il
that were done I have in my files in
formation concerning nine thousand pro
fessional rnendicants and charitable i'm
posters But that is only one side of the
job, The task of finding work and ait
for the worthy crippled and disabled, the
really unfortunate human wrecks, is the
great thing.
Il need a rich patron. Some one wht
will give not SO much of his money-the or
ganizatiOn can 90 great work on $4,000
year-but his moral support Some on.
who will say, This special work must b,
vigorously pushed by Forbes. if he is tn,
best qualified man, or by somebody else i
he falls short.
Some Reformed Eioboes.
Have YOU noticed the newsboy at th'
northeast corner of 43d street and Broad
way. who has no legs? He was a beggal
five years ago. Ran away from his home
here in town and was beating his way or
d freight when the wreck happened. He's
one of my reformed tramps. It's a poor
day when he makes less than SO net. Hi,
name is George Gray. Ask him.
tGrr--.- -se-T
street complained of d beggar. He came
to see me. He is what the tramps call a
foot and d half'-one leg cut off at the
knee We started him with chewing gum
He buys the gum at 80 cents a box. sells II
for 81. and told me yesterday that he was
averaging s. and So a day profit I have
hundreds of such cases. All We need Is a
little more uOney-very little more too.
Il know thousands Of professional buns
ard they viii be here for the holidays
After that they will go to Texas anc
Oklahoma. many of them. because the
climate suits them better.
New York City has a trying climate II
the winter and early spring And ther
the tips-tramps refer to money they bea
! as tips-are larger in Texas Four bit,
! $50 centsp is the rule down there. Will
little more financial aid I can make this
town one of the most unpopular on eartf
to the professional mendlcant, And I car
| do great amount of work for humanity
by directing the less hardened heggal
INTO self-supporting channels"
On the advisory committee of the as
sociation are Isaac y. SeIigman. the Righ-
Rev David II. Greer, Thomas NJ Mulry
James Speyer and Louis Stern.
BRINCKERHOFF WILL STANDS