The Hobo: The Sociology of the Homeless Man — John Shaqi
The Hobo: The Sociology of the Homeless ManAnderson, Nels
General
The Hobo: The Sociology of the Homeless Man
Anderson, Nels
Chicago (Ill.) -- Social conditions; Tramps
Most interesting among the beggars is the man, the well-dressed
and able-bodied individual, who begs on the strength of his
affiliations. These are the men who make a specialty of exploiting
their membership in fraternal organizations. Labor unions are
very much imposed upon by men who carry paid-up cards but who are
temporarily “down.” The organizations as such are not appealed
to as much as individual members. It is hard for a union man who
is working to turn away a brother who shows that he is in good
standing with the organization.
Of late the “ex-service-man” story has been a good means of getting
consideration, and the American Legion buttons have been worked to
the limit. Most of the men who wear parts of a uniform or other
insignia indicative of military service have really seen service
and many have seen action, but a great many of them have heard more
than they have seen.
There are men who make a specialty of “working” the charity
organizations. Some of them are so adept that they know beforehand
what they will be asked and have a stereotyped response for every
stereotyped question. These men know a surprising amount about the
inside workings of the charitable agencies and they generously hand
on their information to their successor. They usually know, for
example, what material aid may be had from each organization. A
typical case is that of Brown.
5. Brown had not been in Chicago an hour until he had
located the chief organizations to which he might go for
help. He knew that he could check his bag at the Y.M.C.A.
He learned where to go for a bath, where to get clean
clothes, how to get a shave and haircut and he actually
succeeded in getting some money from the United Charities.
He was able to “flop” in a bed even though he came to town
without money late in the afternoon; whereas many other men
in the same position would have been forced to “carry the
banner.” He knew about the charity organizations in all the
cities he had visited from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
After his case was traced it was learned that he told about
the same story wherever he went and that he was known in
organizations in all the cities to which he referred. He
is 27 years old and has been living for the most part in
institutions or at the expense of organizations since he
was 13.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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