In a vague way the veteran hobos, classified by the various
nationalities, are fairly representative of the make-up of the
whole American nation, in accordance with the number of hobos each
nationality turns out. After taking into consideration the fact that
certain parts of the United States are dominated by people of one
nationality, and the bulk of tramps in that part of the country would
necessarily come from that nationality, the following classification
was given as doing justice to all:
The Irish and British elements lead in the number of hobos. They are
closely followed, however, by the German element. The nations of
Eastern Europe, Poles, Bohemians, Hungarians and others, are next in
line. Then follow, in smaller numbers, Scandinavians, French, Italians
and Jews. The French come mostly from Canada, the Scandinavians from
the northwest and the Italians from the largest cities in the country,
like New York and Chicago, and also from the southern states. Here and
there one finds a stray Servian or Bulgarian who drifted into trampdom
and has never been able or has never cared to drift out of it again.
Greeks are seldom found among tramps because they have not yet a
"second generation" of Greeks to any extent in the United States.
Chinese and Japanese likewise are not found in the hobo class. Of
the negro race, many would not be averse to becoming professional
tramps were it not for the risk which a negro tramp generally runs. A
"stray negro," according to the hobos interviewed, is regarded with
apprehension and is apt to be shot on mere suspicion.