Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 81, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 April 1913 — Illinois Town Has Solved The. “Weary Willie’ Problem. [ARTICLE]

Illinois Town Has Solved The. “Weary Willie ’ Problem.

The towm of? Bement, 111., has hit upon a method of taking care of the tramps who go about from hoube to house begging something to eat. Tickets have been issued free of charge to every householder, and when a “Weary Willie” calls he is given one Of these tickets. This ticket is gOod for a square meal when' presented to the street commissioner, who in turn sees to it that the tramp does enough work on the street to earn the meal. While it is not expected that a great amount of work will be accomplished, yet it is the tramping fraternity will soon have Bement marked with the “dog;sign” and will stay away. There is not one out of a hundred of the fellows who pour out a pitiful tale at the back door who will work if he has a chance, and it is an encouragement to laziness to feed them. The plan adopted at Bement will not hurt the fellow who is hungry and who is willing to work for iris meal, but it will be a hard blow to the imposter.