Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-15
"HOBODOM' CHIEFS
HOLDING FARLEY
"Biu Shots" in Session Here
Seeking to Solve UnempIoy-
ment Problem.

Recruited from the 'jungles," half a
hundred cbig shots" of hobodom were
in session here today to help solve the
unemployment situation.
They came from all directions-from
Chi" "Philly" and the Big Town"
New York)-to solve once and for all
this business of enforced idleness.
Meeting at noon at 500 @ street north
west, the gathering of national leaders,
augmented by local apostles of leisure
in good standing, will give serious con-
sideration to formulation of resolutions
for presentation to Congress.
Spurning the cushions "-hoboese for
paid fare on a train-these vagabonds,
for whom the far corners of the world
hold no secrets, Travelled according to
their code-riding the blinds"
Speakers Enrolled.
1.-THE Washington Farley on Unem-
ployment," so designated by the Inter-
national Brotherhood Welfare ASsocia-
ton, will be addressed this afternoon by
DR.. James Eads How, supreme poten-
tate of hoboes; Rexobo Dan O'Brien,
another king of wanderers, editor, poet
and philosopher; Felix Payer, the
Gypsy Wisdom" as the clan knows
him; Red Shannon and Urban Ledoux,
all members of the Hobo College, Chi
cago, founded by How.
Travelling hard and fast, O'Brien
made 1t here from New York yesterday
IN about eight hours by cannon ball."
as the boys" call passenger train
and-after he was chased by dicks"
at Wilmington. by RATHER" or freight
train. He made the trip at total cost
of certS-and he still has the cents.
"A good-looking blonde in restaurant
wouldn't take any pay for a sandwich
and two cups Of coffee" he said.
Asked what the meeting expected to
do, King Dan said: "Solve the unem-
ployment problem. Unemployment II
50 acute that the Senate Is willing to
listen and the hoboes can show them
the way out"
O'Brien Lists Three Proposals."
O'Brien, who polled TAI votes as
mayoralty candidate In New York last
Fall-not anywhere near enough for
election, incidentally - declared that
three proposals will be offered for Sen
ate consideration:
/. Enactment Of legislation to solve
national unemployment.
2. Old-age pensions for men so years
Of age and over, with temporary social
insurance for men under go until they
can ind employment.
8. Federal employment agencies
throughout the country.
Such q program, he Is confident, will
receive serious consideration when IL Is
presented to the Senate at one of the
three day sessions he expects will be de-
voted to knights of the road.
The proposal made by Senator Wag-
ner Of New York-he thought it was
to push public building throughout the
country met with the favor Of hoboes,
except that they do not believe 1t goes
far enough. Public buildings on q
scale commensurate to cope with the
present emergency cannot 60 on for
ever" he declared, leaving unemploy-,
ment eventually to be solved"
Sect Together" Movement Urged.
Government, industry and hoboes
must get together" he opined. Asked
what the vagabond gentry would do at
such conference, he answered: Tn
form the meeting of the causes Of un.
employment and offer a remedy"
Pressed for underlying causes Of un-
employment, King Dan blamed the i'm.
provement in modern machinery re.
placing manual labor. Although" he
added, "it's not at all improbable that
thing to do with it."
A quizzical smile brought this ex.
plantation: "a man fed on Bowery COT.
fee for three months is in such condi-
ton that he can't work, while after
smoking a few packages of cigarettes
he's so dizzy he won't work.
OBr1en, a wanderer for so years.
dispelled an almost universal belief.
Hoboes do work, he declared. But, he
qualified, they regard work only as q
means and not as an end.
Suggests New Name for Hoboes.
The claudistrophian man-that,s what
he'd like to have hoboes called-is one
who works when he has to, travels when
he feels like (which is most Of the
t1me-enjoys all that nature and life
nave to give and, despite arguments
to the contrary, Is of service to
Questioned regarding the hobos at
titude toward Communism, he declared
that the vagabond fraternity is ''indif-
ferent to radicals"
"Hoboes, he said, fare so philosophical
they understand that Communists are
Q class OF people easily affected emo
tionally. If they could reason as the
hobo does they could approach their
problems In O Saner, more peaceahle
and more satisfactory manner to all"