VAGABONDS’ CONGRESS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 18 November 1929, Page 4

VAGABONDS’ CONGRESS.

TO BE HELD IN VIENNA

Vienna, which is the seene every year of more and more literary, scientific, and commercial international congresses, will be honoured in 1930 with a congress of an unusual kind —that of the Tramps’ International (says the Vienna correspondent of the London “Daily Telegraph”). “Weary Willies” of all nations will rest—if the police do not prevent them—for three days at least in the ‘‘Waltz Capital.” The organ of Austrian and German trampdom prinst the following notice in its last issue: “Pass the word. Pass the paper! The next Vagabond’ Congress will be held at Whitsuntide, 1930, in Vienna. Don’t let anyone put you off the scene; in all circumstances we shall confer in Vienna during the Whitsuntide of 19301”

“The Free Sons of tho Prco Highway,” as the loosely organised tramps style themselves, held their first “International Congress last April at Stuttgart. The Vienna police have already put themselves into communication with the Stuttgart police to learn to what extent Stuttgart found the presence of the “knights of the road ’ ’ undesirable.

A member of the organisation—who thinks it wiser on several counts to remain anonymous —has been talking about the congress plans. “One of the Stuttgart organisers,” he said, “is earning here to open a bureau on the lines of those run by the big international congresses. It will not be exactly i open ’ —l need hardly say that we shall not announce the address- — but somewhere in the Brigittenau district there will bo someone in a common lodging-house from whom all the ‘Free Brothers' can get the necessary information. We know the authorities will not extend a'civic (or any other Sort) of welcome to us, but we are obstinate, and will secure our aims.” Whether the business paper will include such subjects as “The effect' of the war on the penuriousness of country households” or “The Problem of the Alsatian” is not. announced. It would seem to be reasonable that some delegate should put the question, “When is a tramp not a tramp?” and that the true knights of the road should return the answer, “When he becomes ‘organised’and commits himself to the slavery of a ‘congress’.” The “hoboes” —tramps of America —hold regular yearly congresses known as conventions. They begin in sober ■fashion, but as the days wear on they degenerate into drunken frenzies, culminating in killings.