The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1922-03-31

Chicago; Robert w. Irwin, of 81
Louis; Charles Kruse, of New York
William Quirke, of New York, an
Nicholas Klein, of Cincinnati.
How picked these men in his owl
peculiar way and put them in charg
Of his money. They are all regula
hobos, with the exception of Klein
who is a well-known attorney in Gin
cinnati. For 10 years Klein ha
looked after the legal business o
How.
While Klein is familiar with hobC
life and habits, he is not "migra
tory worker" in the sense that Others
are hobos. He has picked up wide
range of information relating to this
subject, and keeps in touch with
many individuals who live in hobo
| land.
After we had talked for long
| time, | asked Klein the question up
permost in my mind, and also upper
most in the mind of all who come in
contact with How:
Can you explain why Eads How
lives as he does. when he might bC
enjoying his wealth like other rich
men 2" | asked.
"Only in a general way" replied
Klein. "How feels that his mission
is to the underdog, and he has DELHI
erately sought out the most unprom-
ising members of society he could
find-the wanderers who have no
homes. His stations or halls are the
nearest to a home any of them have.
Hobos and tramps are coming and
going all the time. General Deliv-
cry is their only address. How's
plan to build them rallying points in
large cities is about as good as could
be devised, especially as he gives
them absolute freedom"
rs it true that he has actually
turned his wealth over to this hold
ing committee, does he not keep any
money for himself?"
1T is true" replied Klein. "He
does not keep even a personal check
ing account. If he wants any money
money he must ask this committee,
and if it should refuse to give him
any he would have to sue to recover
his estate. The situation is such that
his check would not be honored Why,
he has borrowed a quarter from me
many a time. He always gives me
a due bill, and when he returns the
quarter he insists on getting the due
bill back, which indicates good bust
ness sense.
Il coaved him out to my house one
night, but when he reached my place
he insisted on sleeping in a servants
room. So we fixed it up that way
The next morning when l went to
call him for breakfast he had disap-
peared. My idea is that he left be-
fore breakfast to avoid any embar-
rassment over being waited on by a
servant"
How's independence of thought and
action caused him no end of trouble
when he wanted to get a passport to
! Stockholm. Klein was with him to
arrange the details. Everything went
along smoothly until How was asked
: to raise his right hand and swear to
support the Constitution of the
United States.
! "No," he said. 81 cannot. l can't
support the Constitution. don't be-
/ lieve in killing people in war"
Finally, a special oath was fixed
up by which How was allowed to
"affirm" his fealty to the American
government.
One night How dropped off in
Kansas City, and found gathering
of his kind in progress. 1t was COM
posed of men with a grievance, and
How thought he saw a chance tC
make speech. Armed with type,
written copy of the preamble to the
Declaration of Independence, How
was ready for his opportunity wher
the police raided the place and cart.
ed the crowd off to police court or
the charge of holding an anarchistiC
meeting.
The officer who grabbed How
= snatched the typewriter sheet out Of
|, his hand, read it, and then beloved
did you write that? Why, that's
anarchy"
"Oh, no." replied How, in his usua
; mild manner, Tom jefferson wrote
. it."
, That's enough. Where is this fel
e. low Jefferson? We must arres
him."
, Of course, the policeman did no
find jefferson, but he took How
NISlh "eto Oll llle IOD Tie HCAI va.
and obtained his clients discharge.
r Tell me-" exclaimed. addressin,
i Klein, what in your judgment, start
ed How to going as he has beef
! going for so long?"
! Nobody really knows, but l sup
= pose my guess is as good as any,
: was the reply: "a lot of it is due t.
+ an inherited propensity to help 9th
= ers. His passion is to help the fel
= low who is down and out. and tn
: lower down he is the better How
likes the job"
$ HAS he done anything to max,
! his work permanent"
: eyes. asfar as money is concerned,
= was the response. ellis will pro
. vides that his estate shall be admin
E istered by the holding committee jus
= as it has been since the committee
= was created. One provision is thai
4 the committee cannot spend moro
2 than 10 per cent of the principal il
t any one year, but may use all of the
= income. How is q little past so, but
S he is very rugged"