Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-09-27
AUTO HOBOES NEW
NATIONAL PROBLEM
Come Through Towns Asking
Charity-Most of Them
Are Called Frauds.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark, September
26.-The Weary Willie" unique fig
ure in American life a decade or more
ago, is rapidly vanishing from the
landscape and is being replaced by a
product of the age of the automobile
the ''fiivver hobo"-or rather hoboes,
for the new type seldom travels alone,
according to officials of Little Rock
social agencies.
The ''fiivver hoboes'' are always
without money and in most instances
accompanied by large families. They
enter a city from unknown places and
with unknown destinations and apply
to community funds and social
agencies for aid, sickness being the
most common plea.
The usual requests are for money
gasoline and oil or for repairs to their
automobiles, officials say. They usually
claim that they left home because Of
labor conditions aud are going to some
distant place to seek employment, ask
ing aid in getting to their destina
tions.
Won't Sell Cars.
Proposals to aid them by selling the
automobile are always rejected by the
1tcuIlSlSr ltCOIuS OIL Little ftOch
agencies show. Out of a large num-
Der of stranded tourists who have
applied for aid here not one would
consider parting with the automobile.
Tickets to their homes or to the stated
destination are also not desired.
Most of the 'fiivver tourists that
apply for aid are frauds and we do
not propose to give them money or
gasoline, so as to pass them on to
some other city," says c. II. Wickard
of the Little Rock Social Service Ex-
change.
The Social Service Exchange will
aid distressed tourists and will fur
nish them food and buy medicines
when there is sickness, but will not
encourage fraud by purchasing gaso-
line or paying for repairs.
Serious Problem.
The 'fiivver hobo is a serious prob
lem that is nationwide in it's scope.
These nomads. who are modern
tramps. wander aimlessly about the
country applying for charity and with
no destination or purpose. They are
perpetrating fraud on social agencies
and community funds in many cities
Correspondence of this office shows
that these nomads are applying at
many cities in the Middle West and
NidI iiiOSl VI lIleIll are nedueQ west.
The greatest tragedy in connection
with the modern hobo is the neglected
and undernourished children who are
compelled to follow. They have no
opportunity for schooling and their
health is In most instances impaired
by unnecessary exposure and lack of
wholesome food. The compulsory
school law does not affect the 'flivver
hooo, because he is never stationary
and is not registered in any city.
No Cure Seen.
There seems to be no cure for the
evil. When they apply for aid we
must help the children or the mothers
who are i'll or in need of food. This
has been done on numerous occasions.
but In each instance we have refused
to buy gasoline and Oil or to give
money This would not remedy the
situation, but would simply pass the
responsibility to another city"
ASTORIA. Greg. September &c up.
The gasoline gypsy, itinerary worker
and auto tramp are finding the way
hard and small town suckers few and
far between in Oregon as a result Of
activities of social workers. Miss Ma.
rian Bowen of the local Red Cross re-
Gently reported this condition
A meeting of social workers was
held in Portland in June and a central
clearing house was established there,
where reports on this class of people
are gathered from social workers
throughout Oregon and are given
Statewide publicity.
Miss Bowen said many applicants
for help would fade away from the
auto camp when directed where to
find work.