Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-02-10
AMERICAN HODOS ABROAD
Professionals Afloat and Ashore All
Over the World.
MEXICO HAS BIGGEST SHARE
CAarseteristies of seif-Exiied BUNS
ana the Variations of Their
Tsuch-some Soldiers of
Fortune.


While the American tramp and bum Is
IN evidence in every foreign city, no mat
Ter IN what part Of the world you may
travel, in Mexico he is not only evident,
but numerous, and so much 80 that 10 the
tourist he Is a pest. The American tramp.
hobo. INDECENT American. Weary Willie.
or hatever you care to call him. will be
found in every city and village Of Mexico.
with his pleading. begging story Of hard
tuck and distress he Is as strong with his
plea for assistance Is any bum you ever
mes on the Bowery.
The republic Of Mexico has for many
years been a haven for the American
~weary willies-" There are several rea-
sons for the presence OF this great num-
her Of begging Americans in every city
In Mexico. For many years nearly all the
skilled labor Of that republic has peen
performed by Americans. aud many OF
these men fell victims to the white drinks
Of the tropics and finally became common
street beggars, The American tramp
found Mexico q warm. pleasant country.
with thousands OF prosperous fellow citI-
ssns to beg from and always the SYM
pathetic tourist TO prey upon
Leniency In Mexico.
The government OF Mexico has until
rscsnt years been very lenient with
American trampsL The stringent vagrancy
laws Of Texas and other southern states
drove many Of the hobo element to the
Muican republic. Until recent years no
h.x~s~Ar. g. Hxunkanuxws ana dtear.
derry conduct was msted out 10 American
framps In Mexico City today Amesi-
cans are not punished for drunkenness.
hui receive medical attention and are
held only until sober. In Monterey. Tam
paep. San Luis Potosi Salinas cruz and
several other Of the larger cities the
American tramp 10 pominaily fined, and
ff be has not the wherewithal TO pay he
must help clean the streets. II he does
Join the chain gang II only opens an.
other way and means 10 graft The
lEendarms tpolicei under whom he works
WIN allow him to beg and bum" all
Americans who pass by. Such graft Is
lsveniy divided with the police in charge.
Seven years residence In the tropics
and daily contact with the professional
tramp element convinced the writer that
40 per cent Of the American tramps In
MEXICO are victims Of tsquiia or mescal.
which drinks have killed more Americans
an the tropics than discase.
Periis Of Native Drfni<s.
Genuine tequiia or mzscal. II drunk In
moderation. would compare with the
strong drinks Of this country. But II
.sssms impossible for . foreigner TO par
take moderately Of these drinks. Ths
average life Of the tsquiIa fiend is from
three 20 seven years. though ] have
knsxn men Of strong constitution 10 fight
thsss poisonous drinks much longer.
Tho American bum m Mexico can be
truly called a scientific worker Class
among them u a. definitely and strict,
ssf1nsd a. II Is between the -Four Hun
drsd OF New York and its underworld.
Ths writer spent the night until the
cisslnx hour OF 10 o'clock In the Area Dc
Me-. - San Juan do LAtran, Mexic.
city. This place has for many years baa.'
the rcndezvous and hangout foriAmericaN
trnmp<. Located. a. II II. few minutes
walk from al the leading hotels. 4e
American bum has found II a veritabls
haven Of refuge.
In this small. dark. foul. ill-smeltn-
place. with lie six marble-topped tables.
drink may be purchased for 1 4 . or
Ia cents. Mexican money. In this place
I met many brilliant and intelligent men.
many Of than Americans. who have
helped reconstruct and build up Mexico
Here I mot the harper" known as the
clsvsrsst American bum In Mexico.
found the @dueno's lovner) paid him all
Iths respect due o gentleman.
= have been bum IN Mexico for ten
lyeau." said "the harper" and while
manage TO set along. things are not what
lthey once were here. Many American
buns and tramps work the tourists. bu,
they are poor graft. The railroad and
tourist companies warn their patrons
nowadays against the American bum. and
thu limit Of touch from this class Is q
psssia &C oents,.
Kobe Graft.
The better class bum" continued my
Informant. after I had made distress
signal To the fat Spanish bartender,
when he first hits Mexico City works
his frtsnds. and later takes up all the
resident Americans who are engaged IN
hts nms line OF business. Then he
watches the Newspapers. which daily pub