Wheeling Register

REMARKABLE CIRCULAR
Addressed to Boards of Police Commissioners of Kansas.

MEN OUT OF WORK NOT CRIMINALS
Nothing in the Constitution of the United States to Prevent a Man From Going From One Place to Another So Long as He Harms No One—Doesn't Think It a Heinous Offense to Sleep in a Box-Car.

KANSAS CITY, Mo., December 4.—A special to the Times from Topeka, Kansas, says: One of the most remarkable circulars ever issued by the executive of any State was sent out by Governor Lewelling to-day. The letter is addressed to all Boards of Police Commissioners in Kansas, and particularly renders nugatory all vagrant laws. After reciting the hardships of the poor in olden times, speaking specially of the reign of Elizabeth, and in France just previous to the revolution the Governor reviews the present condition of affairs among the poorer classes in the country. He scores the laws now on the statute books which calls the man out of work and penniless a "confidence man."
"I have noticed in police court reports that 'sleeping in a box car' is among the varieties of this heinous crime of being poor.
"The right to go from place to place in search of employment or even in obedience to a mere whim, is part of that personal liberty guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States, to every human being on American soil. Even voluntary idleness is not forbidden. I am aware of no power in the legislature or in the city councils to deny him the right to seek happiness in his own way, so long as he harms no other person.
"In some cities it is provided by ordinance that if police court fines are not paid or secured the culprit shall be compelled to work out the amount as a municipal slave, and 'rock piles' and 'bull pens' are provided for the enforcement of these ordinances.
"Such city ordinances are in flagrant violation of the constitutional prohibitions.
"And let the dawn of Christmas Day, the 'rock pile' and the 'bull pen' and the crime of being homeless and poor be obsolete in all the cities of Kansas governed by the metropolitan police act.
"It is confidently expected that their own regard for constitutional liberty and their humane impulses will induce police commissioners to carry out the spirit as well as letter of the foregoing suggestions.