Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-08
PERIL OF |DLENESS
Alarming Increase of Tramps
in the United States.
APPLICANTS FOR RELIEF
Mendicant Glass Refuses to Accept
Employment.
FARMERS IN NEED OF LABOR
Contractors Offer Good Wages, But
Unable to Attract the Pro-
fessional Hoboes.
FARMERS IN NEED OF LABOR
RY WILLIAM T.. CIRTIS.

Special Correspondence" Of The Star and tn,
Chicago Record Herald.
ALBANY, June %, 1911.
The increase in the number of tramps
and Migrants and the scarcity of farm
labor are becoming more and more per-
picking to the problem solvers. During
the last year the number of able-bcdied
men seeking relief at the municipal lodg-
ing houses in New York and other cities
increased 100 per cent. They now aver
age more than 1900 a day in New
York alone. The number of applicants
in the spring and summer months Of
1911 were as large as ard often larger
than the number in January, February
and March of previous years.
General employment conditions in the
metropolis and in other large cities in
New York state are quite as good as
they ever have been, except in 1907.
which was an exceptional year, and the
demand for labor outside Of the cities
was never SO great as it is today.
Wherever one goes. in whatever branch
of industry he may inquire. the same
story is told, tina. both men and women
are needed in large numbers for every
variety of employment. especially for do
$1,000 able-bodied men apply daily for re-
lief in New York city alone. and CORE
spending number in the other cities
many of them young and intelligent
men.
Contractors. employing large numbers
Of men, have frequently applied TO the
relief agencies for laborers, but the pa
irons of those institutions are almost
exclusively professional hoboes, who are
looking for food and not for work.
ie q tnr
with the New York state board OF agrl-
culture. 1t is under the direction OF e.
W. Larmon, who has made careful
study of this subject and has had five
years of experience trying to transfer
the idle Migrants of the cities to farms in
the interior of the state. He tells me
that last year 4.9i4 people were selected
oy that bureau and sent TO work upon
farms. This is an increase of 1851 over
the number secured in 1909 and of |, go
over the number secured in 1908. In
Guided in those sent out last year were
To- families. consisting OF 366 persons.
who have found good homes, as inferred
b. the fact that they remain there con-
tentedly.
Work of the Bureau.
"Since the organiza ton Of the labor bu-
reau in June. 1900" said Mr. Larmon.
1--WE have found places for 23.i22 farm
The wages paid experienced farm hands
are now from 81 to SIS per month more than
in previous years. and this increase has
enabled the bureau to secure a larger
number and a better class of laborerS
than formerly The large increase in the
number of farmers requesting the assist
ance of the bureau in securing help. and
their Willingness to pay Increased wages,
would seem to be sure indication Of
prosperity. The reed for help has been
acute for several years and much produce
has been allowed to rot upon the ground
owing to the great scarcity OF hands
There is work for every one who is will
ing to work. with comfortable homes and
good wages. but the derelict class who ap-
ply at the relief agencies do not as a
rule make GOOD farm labor. Few farm
ers are willing to employ them because
they do not earn their wages. and II re-
Quires so much time and is such tax
upon the patience to keep them.
Many tramps are willing to 20 10 farms
for a few weeks for the pleasure OF it,
to secure good lodgings and good meals
but few of them Will work enough 70
earn theiI wages, and it is only an mex
perienced a benevolent farmer who Is
willing to take a man from relief
agency in the city
Only small proportion of men raised
in cities have any idea of farm work
especially of dairying. but in order tG
secure a chance to get into the country
where they will have good board and 8
good bed for at least few days, or unit
their lack of knowledge is discovered
they are willing to tell a good story re
garding their accomplishments in the line
of agriculture.
During the early summer months OF
1910 some Ulster county fruit raisers Wis
tied our New York Office seeking young
men to pick berries and fruit, and Oul
representative applied to the colleges and
universities I'm New York. where We found
large numbers of students willing tt
spend their vacations in that way. In al
1S5 young men were distributed among
tho farmers in that county, and, while
their earnings were not as large as they
hoped. most of them expressed satisfac'
ton with the experiment and declared
their intention of engaging I'm the work
took with them tents, bedding and cook.
ing utensils and camped upon the prem
ises where they were employed. Aftel