The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-03-26
FEUD OF BITZER
 WITHGOVERNMENT
 ENDS WITH DEATH.
Kentucky Man Mad Been Ar rested Once For Every 152 Days of His n
 Years of Life
By AsnnnintelP1es

Louisville March 25.-A strange feud with the government that had lasted many years was ended here recently by the death of Peter Bitzer. the chief factor in this unique drama of life Bitzer was arrested on an average of every 152 day of his life of II years. He openly violated the law to avenge fancied wrong by nights in the open gives man-I mean the test Of his inclination to submit to the ineVitable-I rebelled against the evidences that l was a bum. I looked like 1t; felt like it.; subconsciously faced the fact that l was, but l had not reached the final state of mind when man who is penniless realizes that he is one. kept thinking of the man l was. not the man l looked like. l stih knew that If I had clean linen. a bath. a shave and a sleep that I would be like ether men. So the third day began.
 Joins the Procession
 The cold water had refreshed me, slapped my senses into action. found when l walked that l was weak, l couldn't hold my head up. 1t sagged forward; my shoulders droop- ed, my feet dragged. Fatigue and hunger had already reduced me to the slouehing figure of the penniless but was determined to get work. A shabby procession of broken men was shambling along the street, and 1 joined them; they were going to ap- ply for jobs on a large construction undertaking. After we had stood in line in front of a little window be hind which a mysterious human wiz ard was to decide our fate, my turn came, then l found he was taking down the names of these he cared to.
 Whats your name,'' he asked. l gave him my name, with the first shiver of realization that it wasn't much of name after all.
 Your address?"
 l was about to turn away when q man behind me said:
 Tell him which bench"
 You'll find me on the park bench next the fountain just opposite the entrance. I'll be there waiting all day" l said and turned away.
 That's my address too" said an other man In the lines with a broad grin, as l passed.
 Well, I saved home" waiting for the job. Of course 1t never came. All day 1 just sat on that bench, half dead with misery and torture of every kind. I didn't dare go into the street until 1t was dark. Then like the poor things I had seen the night before, l kept close to the buildings, sliding along with my head bent low like an animal.
 Must have lost my spine somehow Often l wanted to steal bit of fruit from one of those fruit stands on the sidewalk, l was sohungry.
 People were going to the theatres, laughing. happy, 1 envied them, that was natural: then l hated them for like mine. Of course they weren't in- different; they didn't know about me, or the thousand of other unfortunate men. I had become an offensive hu- man ashamed of being seen, afraid of anyone who looked at me. a physical wreck for lack of clean clothes sleep and bath.
 A man can get along with very lit- tic food. but take away cleanliness from him. permanent shelter, and the torturing experience or no sleep and he is down and out. Provide these things for him and there won't be such a thing as bum.
 It is the duty of the state to open an account with the unemployed (eX- service man, or otherwfse) credit him with suit of clothes, limited shell ter, and charge the amount against his name. Ninety per cent of them will make good. l would. because I've paid for things in the past.