Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23


papers are approved by the director
During the day the inmates of the forced labor colony
will work in the open air in company with wardens who
will be employed side by side with their charges for the
purpose of directing the work well as sharing in it. in
uencng the and acquiring the confidence
that be secured only by companionship. The
will scarcely be dstngulShable from the inmates,
the clothing OF the latter consisting OF oveals such as
usually by farm aborers, and suit with only
an inconspcuous thread interviewer in it.
All Migrants who clearly bamelesS will go to the
free colony In where the magistrate has any
to doubt the entire innocence OF the tramp, it is
probable that the practice will be to commit him to the
free colony under surveillance This will put him under
somewhat similar conditions to the patients in SAM
forums. The entrance gate will be kept closed and the
anitor will not be allowed to open it for inmates to 60
out without written permit Members who under
surveillance will not be given work in unguarded quar-
ters but will be employed in closed factory closed
vegetable garden.
stran whatever except that imposed by the terms OF
their contract and the wearing of suit Of clothes be
longing to the institution. 1t is intended to put them to
work IN the open fields without the attendance OF guards
The few wardens there will be those necessary direct
the work. In any industries should be decided
they will be located between the free and the forced
labor colonies. Where relatively little surveillance
necessary the coonsts will be put work the factory
closed vegetable gardens with a warden or two to
keep them in sight but without giving them OF
guardianship.
1t is apparent that the introduction of farm colony
system will tend to simplify the task Of the magistrates
who conscientously DESTROYS of separating the hon
OF industrial depression and IS anxious to find employ
ment from the unemployable; that is the man who is
out of job because of bad habits defect of tenn
permanent
THE late Edmond Kelly pointed out that vaga-
bondage in the United States differed from vagabond
Europe IN this important particular, large
percentage OF our tramps are boys. "Ihey are not
driven to tramplng by unemployment or mental dis
order, but seduced into by the facility with which
they get free rides trains and food and lodging
from police and municipal lodging houses, wayfarers
lodges, Salvation Army Institutions relief societies. and
church missions In other words it is the very machin
cry created by charity relieve distress that becomes
an instrument for promoting It, The habit OF tram
Tipping is to say, stealing ride for few blocks
and dropping off, boys steal rides the back of
wagon for pure fun-s the beginning of it. Once
train the ride engthens until the boy the ide;
of seeing something OF the world He IS sometimes
red farther than he intends He travels all night Next
morning he is confronted with the problem of breakfast
II he gets it easily he IS encouraged go farther If he
cannot get it easily he is reduced the alternative OF
either begging or stealing Once he begs steals
cessfuy, he has developed the embryo of the tramp
the criminal. If his efforts fail he is committed to Jail,
and either loses his self respect if it is not lost it pre-
vents his returning home.
Not all of these boys remain tranps all their lives, of
1t has been estimated that about half OF them
become tired of the life and either return home take
up some regular occupation. 1t is obvious, therefore,
that fair proportion of the remainder be reformed,
II the proper influences are promptly and hunanely
exercised
ItllrOddS inc country SulleI HclNN
losses because of this spirit of youthful adventure,
and would welcome general introduction OF the farm
colony plan all States 1t is calculated By the Lake
Shore Michigan Southern that three-fourths OF the
tramps caught riding freight trains boys under
twenty riding around just to have peep at the country
Railroads frequently maintain private graveyaris along
their rights of way which bury vagabonds killed
a result Of falling from trains and other accidents.
Major Pangborn of the Baltimore & Ohio says that
23964 respassers killed and 25,236 injured from
1901 to 1905, the majority of them tramps, the rail
ways OF the United States.
Twenty-Five million dollars IS the amount of the
nual loss to the railroads a result of property de
sroyed by tramps through accidents due to explosions