Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 81, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 April 1920 — HOBOS AND TRAMPS NOT SEEN ANY MORE [ARTICLE]

HOBOS AND TRAMPS NOT SEEN ANY MORE

What has becoome of Wandering Willie," “Dusty Rhodei” and aH the other far famed characters of the comic papers, who formerly typified the vagrant world? In former years the country people had to provide them with hand-outs every day. In cities they were a familiar figure as they sought the park benches reserved for women and children. Freight cars were infested with them, and their camp fires were seen all along the railroad lines. In these busy times the American land service, which furnishes seasonal workers for harvesting crops, says this element is almost extinct. It was the common feeling in former years that these fellows would not. work except under extreme provocation. Innumerable specimens of them, given a saw and axe and led out to the wood-pile, have taken the first opportunity to disappear. Has the leopard changed his spots, and the Ethiopian his akin? Has dusty Rhodes proved false to his conscientious scruples against labor, and has his festive wanderlust lost its spirit of adventure? . It looks very much as if the hobo element had 'sacrificed their principles and gone to work. Of course, the majority of them always did work off and on, when there was no oHier way to live. The farmers employed many thousands of them at harvest. •Labor conditions have been very tempting the past year, and many former vagrants havfe yielded to the seductions of' a regular job. On high factory pay and short hours, the temptation was great. The employment agencies say that prohibition has something to do with their change of heart. It takes imagination to make railroad box cars attractive for traveling, and a barn loft a pleasant hotel. It may take the flowing bowl to stimulate that point of view.