Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-01-26
JUDGE CRAIG SAYS
HE FAVORS PLAN
FOR WORKING THE
UNEMPLOYED
II Have Been in Every State
of Middle West Trying to
Find Job and l Know What
It Means" Says Court.
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS
COULD BE CHEAPLY MADE

Judge George r. Craig, who pre-
sides az che daily sessions Of the po-
lice court and who has the unpleasant
task each day OF telling the unem-
ployed men brought In from time Ga
time 10 leave the city under the va
grancy law, which makes a vagrant
OF any person who has no Visible
means OF support declares he fevors
Ia plan for municipal work for unsor-
tunates
II do not believe In being senti-
mental about these matters" said
Judge Craig. and we should not ne
moved by false sentiment but any
man who has ever tramped around
trying TO get Job, hungry half the
time, thrown on freight trains and
compelled to walk night after might
to keep from freezlAg, knows that
yagrancy is frequently a matter OF
circumstances more than anything
else.
Il have been over all the states OF
the middle west, looking for work
when ] was young and ] have found
out a Halle about that sort of thing
That makes me Inclined to be just
q trif1e more charitable In dealing
with unemployed men than otherwise
might be. | have seen the time
when / would have been willing TO
work and work hard for meals and
board and / am satisfied that about
80 per cent or rho unemployed men We
arraign here as vagrants would III in
20 that niche.
For the professional hobo, I have
no sympathy. he Is not looking for
work and, would avoid IL. lie should
be sentenced and forced TO work and
not allowed to live OF the community
by petty theft and begging. Il seems
10 me that a properly organized plan
could be devised whereby unemployed
men who will work, can be given a
chance 10 get on their feet by work
ing on the streets. county roads and
other public improvements. Foe the
hobo ! am Ia favor Of a wOrkhouso and
/ believe Il would pay Us TO run one
and possibly a rock pile with II.
Il want to tell YOU that few dol
lars IN your pocket. clean shave,
bath, haircut and clean clothes. quick
ly transforms the average unemploy-
ed wanderer from an unkept vagrant
to bright eyed, honest, American
workman, and most cities and towns
have come TO realize that fact and
take a hand In getting a system 10 put
such men on their feet For instance
a county farm, where such men could
be given a chance 10 utilize their Ia.
Dor IN honest tOilainstead OF In wan
dering here and there dOdging police
men and railroad officers aud hanging
around employment agencies, would
be- a good thing for all concerned.
Il personally believe that some
person with means and enough phil
anthlOpy and knowledge OF men to
get such a plan into operation would
be the proper way 10 start the work
no community gains anything by
saying TO a man who wants work,
move on, and even an honest man
Who meets the cold shoulder nj every
stage OF the game Is likely to Yield 10
temptations that are 10 be found when
there Is 40 work ard apparently no
hope.
A few years ago young man was
brought before The police COuH, lie
had not been drunk bat had been pick
ed up as a yagrant asked him how
be wanted 10 plead aud he replied
hat he had no Ulea 10 make asked
him what he expected me to do with
him and he replied:
Judge, ! don't care what you do
II Tried 70 question him but he had
nothing 70 say 80 / told the officer TO
lock him up for mrther Investigation
lie was not surly bnt just impressed
nae as q man who had reached point
where he didn't care whether he lived
nr died, J soon found out that he
was an expert stenographer, without
, relative or friend who came out here
sick, spent bis last cent and had no
lob, J got him a job. He Is clerk OF
, district cour back east today and
has family, he was a vngrant when
he came into court and ho was sure
y down and ont / often wonder
what would have happened had I car
llod ont the present system and told
lim To move ON His case Is trifle
unusual but even a man who works
Win his hand Is q human being
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