The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-08
the counterparts in method and ambition of the
women of the street
"VAGS."

"VAGS"
Richmond police have again demonstrated in
q somewhat sensational manner the extent of the
vagrant nuisance in the city. Sunday raids re-
suited in the rounding up and arrest of over
a hundred negro men and women of worthless
character, living without visible means of sup
port Such an element is a constant menace to
the peace and safety of society. 1t constitutes
fertile field for crime worse than that, it is a
kindergarten for criminal and vicious tendencies.
As to the propriety of the raid itself, it is not
open to question. The real question is whether
the occasional raid is sufficient treatment for
the abuse.
We do not think that the trouble is met by
the method which the police seem to have adopt
ed. The two raids on Sunday followed another
raid of a similar character, made some weeks
he captives taken on that occasion were
numerous, and practically all of them were given
jail sentences They are still in limbo. That
Sundays raids should have produced an even
larger number of prisoners than the other oc
casion is a fact showing that still other raids
were they to be made at once, would find Jail
material in plenty still waiting. The raid
method good as far as it goes, is ope', to the OBJ
lection that it is not and cannot be thorough.
And the vagrant question is one that needs almost
above every other police obligation constant at
tention
As we pointed out on the occasion Of the former
raid, the situation of crime and decentralization
growing out of the vagrant-infested alleys is not
one that can be met by spasmodic effort. 1t
must be controlled by steady and persistent
policy Released Migrants ought to be given
only the minimum reasonable time in which to
secure honest work, before their re-arrest. This
is not a hardship on any able-bodied man or wo-
man, since the opportunities for labor are abund
ant. A refusal to labor indicates indeed, nothing
more than reliance upon crime for support.
That sort of reliance is itself crime, and it
should be punished again and yet again. The
police know the individuals making up this ele-
ment: it only needs that they show them that the
warfare is to be specific and unrelenting to teach
them that they no longer take the gamblers
chance of escaping occasional raids, and must
either 60 to work, or discover that leisure is not
possible in Richmond without the means to sup
port it.
In this connection, we would be glad to see
some action taken about what might be called,
for purpose of description, the higher type of
We refer to the small but noticeable
colony of white gamblers and wise guys, that
comes into sight in the early afternoons, hanging
about hotel lobbes and prominent street corners,
watching for prey for the nights business. In
some respects the representatives of this element
are more dangerous than negroes infesting the low
alleys of the city They play for higher stakes,
in greater security. On occasion they are cap
able of even holder and more desperate crime.
Yet they none the less Migrants for the meas
ure of the loot that they pull down, they are none
the less criminal, none the less without visible
means of support, because in their dress, person,
and habits they exhibit larger mastery in crime
and graft Members of this gentry are known
to the police, as well as they know the members of
the alley gangs. Where the negro ''vags' are
timid and suspicious their white bood-fellows
Of the blood-sucking profession are conspicuous
and confident. The police will do great public
service If they shall include the latter in cam
paign to rid Richmond of undesirable citizens
Of this kidney-whatever their habitat, and
however they live, or how we'll.