STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES. 1037 The large number of the youths brought the second and third time before a magistrate verifies this statement. I am not a pessimist. I do not think the former times better than these; but there is danger that we may become too optimistic. We are building another State prison to confine criminals. It is many years ago that Charlie Ross was stolen, but we have the same kind of fellows with us that carried him away. Almost a generation has been buried since they took all there was here of Stewart from the ground, but the graves of the rich are still guarded lest they be robbed of. their tenants for gold. The "hold-up" plies his trade with as great success as ever. The peace officer who does his duty fearlessly, the detective who is searching for the plotters and perpetrators of crime, are in as much danger of losing their lives as they ever were, of which we have recent proof. More than all this, issues have sprung up in these latter days that were not thought of by the fathers of the young republic. We are confronted by conditions and have problems to solve that never entered the minds of the wisest statesman of the early days. But we will not settle the issues and solve these problems aright until we have a more enlightened and quickened public conscience that will more widely recognize the brotherhood of man, that it is "righteousness that exalteth a nation," and we will lessen the number of criminals and better the present social condition and advance to a higher standard of morals and civic virtue just so far as the boys as a whole are better than their fathers and the girls better than their mothers, and the State cannot do any one thing that will make the generation to come better than the present one, than to give the neglected children of the commonwealth their rights. THE PRESIDENT: The discussion of Mr. Nottingham's paper will be opened by Mr. William C. Lawrence, superintendent of Westchester county. MR. LODGE: Mr. President. It is with great regret that we heard of a very large fire in Westchester county, which has taken the delegation from that county from us this afternoon, and Mr. Lawrence told me he couldn't be here. In the emergency, Mr. Baker, of Suffolk county, has generously consented to open this discussion. MR. BAKER: Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen (Applause).—When Mr. Lodge announced that I was to open the discussion of this paper of Mr. Nottingham's if he had coupled with it the statement "Down in my heart I've a feeling for you," I could have appreciated the sentiment. I was invited to go fishing this afternoon. I'm sorry I didn't go. I looked over the program and saw that Mr. Nottingham was on the program this afternoon for a paper and I have declined my invitation to go on the water for a sail to hear him; I knew we would get an excellent paper from Mr. Nottingham. I knew the subject he was down to talk about was familiar to him: that he would give us a practical paper, which he has done, and there is very little left for anybody to discuss; he has discussed the question so thoroughly and so carefully. The question of "Beggars and Tramps" and all that question he has discussed he has, as you might say, left nothing to discuss. The tramp question out where we hail from we know very little about any more; it seems to be settled. We do not have the tramps as we used to years ago, or beggars either. At our institution, the people that are poor and needy know that all they have to do is to apply to the poor authorities and they are taken care of in a proper way at the expense of the public. The children are not allowed to be sent out to beg with baskets, and all that sort of thing, as they did years ago, as I can remember. And, as stated, the tramp question is pretty well solved and settled throughout the State, and, I don't know but the country. We have had very little trouble from tramps. The whole subject and the whole question have been so ther oughly gone over by Mr Nottingham, there is but very little for me to say, and when it was suggested by Mr. Lodge that I attempt to open this discussion, Mr. Sisson, sitting next to me, said he would help me and I am going to let him, and give him an oppor tunity right now. I thank you. MR. SISSON: When I spoke to Mr. Baker, that was in the early part of the paper, before Mr. Nottingham finished. After he had finished I leaned over to Mr. Baker and told him I thought it was the best paper I had heard at this convention, and I didn't see anything to discuss in it. I don't know as there is anything to be said about this paper. I think Mr. Nottingham is probably a perfect master of his subject. Apparently he is; and I can say I am no master of that subject, at least, if I am of any; and I would be glad to hear another paper, prepared with equal skill. I am not prepared to discuss it in any way. THE PRESIDENT: Anything further, gentlemen? If not, we will have a paper by Mr. C. E. Weisz, transfer agent of New York City. I think this paper touches on the same lines. I think, Mr. Weisz can bring out something we have not heard before. MR. WEISZ: Mr. President. Since Mr. Nottingham has read his paper and what Mr. Baker and Mr. Sisson have said in confirmation of it, I hardly feel that I should read my paper; they have covered almost all the points on the subject, upon which I have prepared it, applicable of course, to the tramp. I will not follow the title "Farm Colony" very closely. My subject is on the question of the "Extermination of the Tramp," and I will follow it up as a matter leading to the establishing of a State Labor Colony. THE TRAMP. In the preparation of this paper, it was not my intention to resort to the use of volumes of statistics, but to confine myself to speak rather of the evils of the many classes of tramps who infest the cities and towns, the drawback they are to honest and progressive labor, and to suggest a remedy that may prevent the growth of, if not entirely eradicate, these evils. By a casual thought, you may not see much harm in “a tramp,” either to labor or to communities, but the realization of an army, as it truly is, growing larger day by day, brings you face to face with a proposition appalling in its magnitude. Much has been said and written on this subject by thinkers and writers, but little has been done to relieve the situation. Little need be said, and much can be done along lines of Legislative enactments by concert of action for the establishment of a Labor Colony, under either State or local supervision, conducted in a manner which will not affect the progress of honest labor. This subject, like that of immigration, is entitled to much consideration more than can be embodied in a paper of this character. We should rightly go to the beginning and trace the origins of the several types of tramp, weigh the consideration for and against, and learn how much they need and deserve assistance. Take the tramp who drifts from place to place, happy-go-lucky, care-free, taking where he can get anything, with no thought of earning his daily bread, like those from whom he takes assistance. Perhaps he has had a college education. His folks were wellplaced, and gave him an education, not so much for his future use, as for a pastime to a youth not compelled to labor early in life. Herein his worthy parents were probably at fault, for when adversity arises, it finds him unprepared, and unable to cope with the situation. He makes an attempt, perhaps, but being unused to the constant strain linked with daily labor, he soon tires of his efforts, and longs for the easy, sheltered life of former days. In this mood, he soon becomes valueless to those he serves, and he is forced to give up. Then he begins to drift. At first, self-pride may keep him from actual dependence upon others by securing odd jobs here and there, enough to furnish him food and shelter- but meeting with one success and small remuneration to every four rebuffs in applying for work, he cannot maintain the personal appearance to command respect. He begins to look what he feels, a tramp. Then he grows hardened by his lot, and indifferent. He argues that he manages to exist even if he doesn't work. He can always find someone willing to give him a meal, and in fact, he shows himself a hundred and one reasons in favor of his tramping. He enjoys the lazy life. All pride and self-respect are shadows of the past; all his finer feelings are dulled he begs for what he needs, and becomes a drag on the communities he favors with his presence. He is content with his lot, and is suspicious of all overtures for the betterment of his condition. A tramp he wants to be, enjoying the support which the law, in the absence of anything better, compels the people of the State and cities to provide, but which fact is not fully realized by the lay people until the burden is felt by taxation. Also, just here let me enter a protest against the present system of education. Instead of Latin, Greek, sciences, and so forth, being given the first place, I urge that a practical manual trade be taught and then the frills can follow. If this be compulsory, our rising generation will be found fully equipped for the battle of life, and there will be no tramps. through lack of manual education, and opportunities, as is the case to-day. In this particular the great poem by the late John J. Ingalls may well be studied and employed: OPPORTUNITY. Master of human destinies am I! Fame, Love and Fortune on my footsteps wait. Deserts and seas remote, and, passing by |