Decrease of Vagrants Seen, Fewer Seeking "Flop"

Janesville, Wisconsin, 1915--

DECREASE IN "VAGS" WHO SEEK LODGING

Only Those Who Refuse to Work Apply to Spend Night In City Hall "Bull Pen."

This morning when Officer W. E. Gower opened the doors to the city hall cell room there were five men who walked out after being lodgers in what is commonly styled the "bull pen." One year ago there were just twenty transients released after the night's lodging. The difference shows the decrease in number of transients, hobos and vagrants coming into the city.

So far during the month there have been but eight registered at the city hall station for the so called "flop," as the transients call the lodging. Last year in December there was 287 registered at the free lodging place. In November this year the police books show that ninety stayed at the station, while a year ago during the same month there was a total of 236 listed. Now it appears that the "floppers," as the police call them, who do stay at the jail are professional transients. They belong to the "W. W. W. W. W. association, which means "We Won't Work Will We?"

"The only reason I can account for the enormous decrease is that the men have been able to find work and only those who wouldn't work for love or money are coming into the station. These men who come here report that there is considerable employment to be had around the state and jobs are out looking for the men instead of men looking for jobs," said Chief Champion.

Consequently the police department is not using past kind measures in caring for the transients. Since they won't work, they are not provided with breakfast of coffee and bread. In the past two years this menu, which proved very welcome to the transients, was given in the morning to prevent them begging in the residence district. In the morning the men in the station are given a curt warning to leave the city and if found later in the day are generally brought before the court for vagrancy.

While the increased demand for laborers may be largely responsible for the decrease in the number of vagrants sleeping at the station, the ninety day sentences and strict watchfulness of the department may be partly responsible for the reform.

--Janesville Daily Gazette, Janesville, Wisconsin, December 23, 1915, page 4.