The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-04-24
Not So Many Hobsss Now As
During Geld Weather


From Thursdays oafiy.
with the advent of warm weather
the free patronage of the cells al
the police station by weary wayfar
ers. so large during the chilly night
of March, has fallen OF almost te
nothing. To be sure there are "bos'
In and about Mankato, but they d,
not care to be locked up. even II
pass the night. unless the weather II
so cold that they cannot comfortabl.
spend their nights in box cars ant
in the Jungle" along the river
banks. Last night there was but one
lodger, and one has been about the
average ever since the coming o
the real spring days and nights.
The one who lodged there last
night found work this morning
Chief Rlughez directing him TO
neighboring farm, whose owner was
In need OF hired help. The polics
station has become something Of ar
employment bureau for any of the
wandering strangers who really cared
to work. Many have been giver
employment n the city at their vari
Gus crafts, as carpenters, masons
blacksmiths or laborers, or have
been sent out upon farms.
Not Every $50" Wants Work. ;
II Is not every "be,' however. thas
desires TO work Such an ideal con.
dition is far from existing. Yet oc
casionally there is good, industri
Gus man. and a skilled worker. who
: Is penniless and seeks the shelter o.
the police station and the help of tn,
officers to obtain employment. 4
large percentage of the wandereri
prefer hard conditions OF employ
rnent 10 easy ones, as the hard con
ditions give them the excuse the,
desire for living of the communit.
without laboring for their susten
anee.
\ A few evenings ago a pennies
stranger came to the police station
asking a nights lodging and claim
, ing to hail from Sioux City. WHERE
he said, he had a wife and two chit
, dren. He said he had not been abb,
TO find work there. without going OF
|, farm. He stated that he had beer
|, laboring on a farm In that part o
, the country, and was Obliged {,
start In at I'VE o'clock In the morn
, ing and keep II uD until nine In tn.
!, evening. He said the farmer toll,
, him that the real work of the seasol
, had not yet opened up. This scare.
him. II the real work had not We
begun, when he was putting in sucl
hours. what would he be expected Z
do when there really was work? s,
: he 'dueked.' Nor did he care to g
. out on another farm.
: "5o' Always With Us.
'. Even when labor is scarce. Their
, are Dos TO be found said Chic
Klugherz today. y remember few
years ago, al time when farm Ia
,, Dor was very scarce, farmer cam
to the station and asked the chic
whether he would send any men q
help out with the farm work. whicl
was away behind. I happened &
be there. and said 7 believed
could find somebody. So wen
rambling In the Jungle and
picked up Ave hos and broueb
them to the station. There IN.
farmer offered them all work. II,
offered $3.50 per day and board. an
Afterwards SO per day and board
The first man refused to go out OF
the farm at all. and locked him ur
The second also refused and | alsr
locked him up. The third consented
TO go. the fourth refused and ths
fifth consented. The farmer thus go
two men One of them. as ! afte-
wards learned. stayed with him 10.
two and half days. The othe.
happened 90 be a splendid mar
when he was outside OF the temple
tion of liquor. He stayed on The
farm for a long period and please
/, the farmer very much.
i when the weather is mild, w
/ can almost always find hos in ths
/ Jungle But we do not encourage
them to stay there. We drive then
out and IL any dishes are left there
we shoot them TO pieces. This
shows the tramps that they are not
wanted and also gives them tn, ides
that II Is not well for them to stas
+, where bullets fly. II Is necessary d
keep breaking up these nests o.
tramps. II ne let any OF them re,
main for any considerable length o.
time, they would soon get acquaintes
with the city. and would pick on,
places where they could commit rob
berries"