The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-22
FAMOUS HOBO, HERE FOR DAY, SAYS II IS HIS BETH VISIT Jeff Davis" Has Been All Over World and Is Free
 With Money STARTED HOTEL DE
 GINK" IN NEW YORK Says People Should Make a Careful Distinction Between the
 Tramp" and the
 Hobo"

kinsman of the famous Arkansas sem ator, known as "one gallused'' Jeff Da- vis-but Jeff Davis, millionaire hobo, president of the hoboes of America founder of the famous Hotel de Gink' international repute, was in the city yesterday
 He was not registered at any hotel He had no intentions of hitting the feathers" as he expressed it, even if the weather was slightly indictment and he had no raincoat to protect his wealth CT beaten person from the wintery blasts of glorious May in sunny southland.
 Jeff Davis was a unique type of man as he stood in the lobby of the Tut wiler hotel, surrounded by trappings de- noting the super-luxuriousness of a mod ern hostelry. He blinked at the casual passerby who glanced curiously in his direction as, is if to say, T wonder who that fellow is; how did he happen Tn here Those guys don't get me, said Jeff Davis as he smiled broadly and took new position of standing on one foot while he used the end of buggy whip as cane to take the place of the other pedal extremity. And if thSJ dlub ic COuIlnueQ, WOulQ get the glad hand just the same. The whole world is kin and I am d brother to every individual who lets me be-
 IS WELL DRESSED
 Small of stature, dressed in light col ored clothes and with a loose string tie of dead black tied at a nonchalant angle, he gazed at the people as they passed him in procession. His blue eyes took a lipbt of n saw well dressed individual, an old friend of his, step his way and shake hands with him cordially. He was not i'll dressed, neither did he have the appearance of a Beau Brummel, and While his clothes were not ultra fash ionable they nevertheless appeared neat. A gleaming horseshoe of diamonds sparkled from his shirt front He was asked why he wore it.
 Well. to tell you the truth, haven't any business wearing it. he said q like to have gotten into trouble in Cuba short time ago. It was all about this blasted pin. A couple of stick up men footpads) jumped on me from behind and gave me a crack on my head" He took off his blue cap and showed an ugly scar on the top of his head. q put up little tus- sle and made a getaway before those 6uyS tdPp6d lnS TOT my roll ana Din. am on nay way to New York now to have specialist take a look at it.. My head is aching like blue blazes.' D
 Why don't you have it dressed he was asked. No bandage was around the wound, which looked badly
 "Oh, there's no use. I guess I can wait he replied. Then he told of his plan that has since become worldwide for the housing of the hobo -T decided thaCn rynn pif y1Io to place have more in em than the average person thinks" he said. There are a whole lot of them that have req sons for going on the road, and if the truth were told, many of them would not go there if it were not necessary.
 WEALTHY MEN INTERESTED
 q got some men in Wall street in- terested, and they helped me in my scheme for the welfare of the hobo. We bought an old building and named it Hotel De Gink. Any man who is down and out can go there and get a place to sleep, something to eat and a stake They don't have to pay a red cent. Some times they leave to make good and when they do check or money order is forthcoming. Many of them send in some money for the cause, and leave no ad- dress or name. The institution is almost and with the numerous flowing in, the hotel Is in a position to do a great deal of good. The handling of these funds is done by men of integrity, under bond.
 Contrary to the general opinion, the Hotel De Gink in New York is not the only institution of it's kind in the United States. There is place of this sort in Seattle, Alaska, San Francisco and Gin cinnati. I am happy to say I founded these institutions.
 Governors, senators. millionaires and are interested in my work is progressing nicely.''
 What caused you to take to the road and become hobo?" was the next ques- tion asked by the reporter.
 T knew that was coming. You news paper boys have a knack of getting to the main point" he answered q left my home, Somewhere in New York when I was a lad. I left on account or my attempting to take my life by cutting my throat"
 He threw his head back and showed a long irregular gash that had been sewed up, extending from ear to ear. That step brother came very near doing good job. It was caused on account of jealousy. Many things, too horrible to contemplate, are caused by the green-eyed monster. It is demon hard to control and when once aroused knows no bounds. I left when I got almost well. Since that day I have travelled around the world three times.
 This is my twenty-eighth trip to Bir- I am here from Cuba, having arrived today at noon. I am victim of wanderlust and nothing appeals to me like roaming the world. I do not always ride the blind baggage rods on top or bumpers. I have done it. I have ridden them from one end of this conti- nent to the other But of late I generally buy my ticket and ride the Cushions.
 NOW HEADS HoBoEs
 connected with William Eads Howe, the of the ''Hoboes of America He succeeded Howe at the last conven- tion of hoboes held in St. Louis. He stressed the point. that he was not an l. w. w.
 He is well educated and speaks good English, except at times when he lapses into the phrases of the hobo. He is mar rfed and has children in New York. He is wealthy and his greatest hobby is holp his fellow man.
 Davis stated that he was anxious to have people in general to discriminate between the meaning of the word hobo and tramp. There is a vast difference in these two words he said. "A man who is a hobo is the kind that wants work and will take it if he can get it. A tramp is the kind of fellow who will not work. never has worked and has no intention to work.
 In his travels he often puts on the regalia of a hobo and investigates con- ditions He is a brilljsat speaker, the possessor of an abunda. of magnetism and personality, and as hS o aptly put it: is "A fellow with quite bit of the milk of human kindness in his makeup. .