Hobo News
Encyclopedia
Hobo News was an early 20th century newspaper for homeless migrant worker
s (hobo
s). It was published in St. Louis, Missouri
, and Cincinnati, Ohio
, by the International Brotherhood Welfare Association
(IBWA) and its founder James Eads How
. Hobo News was important for legitimatizing the hobo identity and has been credited as a predecessor to the modern street newspaper
movement.
areas. A subscription was 50 cents annually. In 1919 it was raised to ten cents per issue or one dollar per year. At its height, Hobo News reached a circulation of 20,000.
The newspaper's slogan was "Of the hoboes, by the hoboes and for the hoboes," and reader submissions formed a significant part of the paper. Content included poems, essays, travelogues, and articles about the life and lore of hoboes, as well as news about labor organizing and unemployment. Recurring writers included John X. Kelly, Nicholas Klein and William Schweitzer. More famous were Nina van Zandt Spies (widow of August Spies
), Voltairine de Cleyre
and Eugene Debs. It was mostly read by the hobos themselves, but sometimes sold to the public as a way for the homeless to make money without begging, much like a modern street paper.
Hobo News went by several names over the years. It was founded in 1913 as Hoboes Jungle Scout, and adopted the name Hobo News from 1915 to at least 1929. After World War I
and the U.S. government attacks on the radical Industrial Workers of the World
many IWW supporters (Wobblies) joined the IBWA, and Hobo News became more radical and socialist. This caused trouble with the government and the paper lost its second-class mailing privileges. There was an internal rift, and eventually Hobo World was started as a radical competitor. Accounts of the relations between the two vary, describing Hobo World as either a "competitor" to Hobo News, a different name for the same paper, or a replacement for it.
Much of Hobo News was never archived. The New York Public Library
has 19 issues ending in 1923. The St. Louis Public Library
has 63 issues, starting with volume I, number I (April 1915). It is unclear what became of the newspaper after How died in 1930.
; it is uncertain whether this was related to the original Hobo News. The highest circulation was 50,000, and was published by Ben "Coast Kid" (Hobo) Benson and under the direction of Pat "The Roaming Dreamer" Mulkern. It contained advice for hobos, opinion pieces, cartoons, etc., and was sold for ten cents on street corners. When it went under in 1948 it was replaced by Bowery News (named after the Bowery
area in Manhattan
), but that paper was short-lived.
Migrant worker
The term migrant worker has different official meanings and connotations in different parts of the world. The United Nations' definition is broad, including any people working outside of their home country...
s (hobo
Hobo
A hobo is a term which is often applied to a migratory worker or homeless vagabond, often penniless. The term originated in the Western—probably Northwestern—United States during the last decade of the 19th century. Unlike 'tramps', who work only when they are forced to, and 'bums', who do not...
s). It was published in St. Louis, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, and Cincinnati, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, by the International Brotherhood Welfare Association
International Brotherhood Welfare Association
The International Brotherhood Welfare Association was a mutual aid society for hobos founded in 1905-1906. It was the second largest after the Industrial Workers of the World . It was started by James Eads How who had inherited a fortune but chose to live a hobo life...
(IBWA) and its founder James Eads How
James Eads How
James Eads How was an American organizer of the hobo community in the early 20th century. He was heir of a wealthy St. Louis family, but chose to live as a hobo and to help the homeless migrant workers...
. Hobo News was important for legitimatizing the hobo identity and has been credited as a predecessor to the modern street newspaper
Street newspaper
Street newspapers are newspapers or magazines sold by homeless or poor individuals and produced mainly to support these populations. Most such newspapers primarily provide coverage about homelessness and poverty-related issues, and seek to strengthen social networks within homeless communities...
movement.
Original newspaper
Hobo News was published monthly with 16 pages and no advertisements, and was distributed by street sellers for five cents in bohemianBohemianism
Bohemianism is the practice of an unconventional lifestyle, often in the company of like-minded people, with few permanent ties, involving musical, artistic or literary pursuits...
areas. A subscription was 50 cents annually. In 1919 it was raised to ten cents per issue or one dollar per year. At its height, Hobo News reached a circulation of 20,000.
The newspaper's slogan was "Of the hoboes, by the hoboes and for the hoboes," and reader submissions formed a significant part of the paper. Content included poems, essays, travelogues, and articles about the life and lore of hoboes, as well as news about labor organizing and unemployment. Recurring writers included John X. Kelly, Nicholas Klein and William Schweitzer. More famous were Nina van Zandt Spies (widow of August Spies
August Spies
August Vincent Theodore Spies was an anarchist labor activist who was found guilty of conspiracy and hanged following a bomb attack on police at the Haymarket affair.-Background:...
), Voltairine de Cleyre
Voltairine de Cleyre
Voltairine de Cleyre was an American anarchist writer and feminist. She was a prolific writer and speaker, opposing the state, marriage, and the domination of religion in sexuality and women's lives. She began her activist career in the freethought movement...
and Eugene Debs. It was mostly read by the hobos themselves, but sometimes sold to the public as a way for the homeless to make money without begging, much like a modern street paper.
Hobo News went by several names over the years. It was founded in 1913 as Hoboes Jungle Scout, and adopted the name Hobo News from 1915 to at least 1929. After World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and the U.S. government attacks on the radical Industrial Workers of the World
Industrial Workers of the World
The Industrial Workers of the World is an international union. At its peak in 1923, the organization claimed some 100,000 members in good standing, and could marshal the support of perhaps 300,000 workers. Its membership declined dramatically after a 1924 split brought on by internal conflict...
many IWW supporters (Wobblies) joined the IBWA, and Hobo News became more radical and socialist. This caused trouble with the government and the paper lost its second-class mailing privileges. There was an internal rift, and eventually Hobo World was started as a radical competitor. Accounts of the relations between the two vary, describing Hobo World as either a "competitor" to Hobo News, a different name for the same paper, or a replacement for it.
Much of Hobo News was never archived. The New York Public Library
New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
has 19 issues ending in 1923. The St. Louis Public Library
St. Louis Public Library
The St. Louis Public Library is a municipal public library system in the city of St. Louis, Missouri. It operates sixteen locations, including the main Central Library location. Although similarly named, the St. Louis Public Library is unrelated to the St...
has 63 issues, starting with volume I, number I (April 1915). It is unclear what became of the newspaper after How died in 1930.
Second newspaper
There was also a second paper named Hobo News published from 1936 to 1948 in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
; it is uncertain whether this was related to the original Hobo News. The highest circulation was 50,000, and was published by Ben "Coast Kid" (Hobo) Benson and under the direction of Pat "The Roaming Dreamer" Mulkern. It contained advice for hobos, opinion pieces, cartoons, etc., and was sold for ten cents on street corners. When it went under in 1948 it was replaced by Bowery News (named after the Bowery
Bowery
Bowery may refer to:Streets:* The Bowery, a thoroughfare in Manhattan, New York City* Bowery Street is a street on Coney Island in Brooklyn, N.Y.In popular culture:* Bowery Amphitheatre, a building on the Bowery in New York City...
area in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
), but that paper was short-lived.