HOBOS

HOBOS. Hobos were nomadic Americans who began appearing in the 1800s and continued into the 21st century. In 1910 an article in the Telegraph-Herald referred to them as "members of the United Order of the Sons of Rest" and "Weary Willies." (1) In 1915 the paper referred to them as members of the "Amalgamated Order of Non-Workers." (2) Rejecting these labels," hobos took work wherever they could and never spent too long in one place. The Hobo Convention website defines a hobo as this: “hobo wanders and works, a tramp wanders and dreams and a bum neither wanders nor works.” (3)

Hobos took advantage of the railroad system stretching across state and country, and used them as a way to look for work. As they rested or changed trains, hobos gathered together in areas local residents referred to as "jungles." It was then the job of the police department to run them off.

In May, 1915 eighty-five hobos plus an estimated dozen found in railroad cars were marched out of town by the chief of police, a detective and two officers. Moving along the tracks of the ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD for nine miles, the hobos were told to keep moving and not come back. After watching the procession for thirty minutes, the police returned to the city. The officers reported that Dubuque seemed to receive a great many hobos with more replacing those arrested or run-out-of-town. Little robbery due to hobos were reported. The newspaper editorialized in the article that "a rock pile would likely solve the problem." (4)

1956 Hobo postcard of King Benson, Hobo Uno, and Scoop Shovel Scotty at Hobo Day. Courtesy of the Hobo Museum, Britt, Iowa.

In the mid-1800s, sixty-three hobos formed a tourist union to avoid prosecution for vagrancy. Called Tourist Union #63, they decided that every year a convention would be held for the members to renew friendships, collect dues, sign new members, and honor a king and queen hobo. Kings and Queens were elected to elevate the hobo in the eyes of the public. Each year the gathering hobos honor those they think are the most deserving of their union and those people become king and queen until the next convention. It was at one of these conventions, held in St. Louis in 1889 that the Code of the Rail was drawn up. The first rule in the code, “Decide your own life, don’t let another person run or rule you.” Train hopping became common in the 1930s during the GREAT DEPRESSION when many migrant workers traveled the country in hopes of finding work. (5)

In the 1900s, the citizens of Britt, Iowa convinced the Tourist Union #63 to host its National Hobo Convention in their town. Over 100 years later, the town of Britt is still known as the home for the convention, as well as a huge collection of Hobo artifacts. Every hobo still tries to make it to the annual Hobo convention, which takes place in Britt, Iowa. (6)

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Source:

1. "Hobos Begin Annual Move," Telegraph-Herald, March 10, 1910, p. 10

2. "Police Break Up Hobo Convention," Telegraph-Herald, May 23, 1915, p. 14

3. "Hobo Culture," Online: https://uni.edu/carrchl/wp/allaboard/hobo-culture/

4. "Police Break Up..."

5. Ibid.

6. Ibid.