Workmen's advocate., January 31, 1886, Image 1

About Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891

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iXtw ttaucn, Connecticut, Sunday, ji.tnuavy 3lr
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ADVOCATE,
AN A(IHI) i'amm:
CANT GRASP AN UNFAMILIAR
SITUATION.
A Competent Authority on ltiatl
Itt-at s II mil Don' 1 Menu Honor
able A I n ays -A l.h k Spit
lit' Tool ol' a I'olili
cal Cabal.
There is a proverb t i i -1 1 asserts
tllilt Villi I'itn't ll'ili'll illl did dog new
tricks. As is generally t In' rase itli
proverbs, there is decidedly more
truth than poetry in their make up.
This is owing, unquestionably, to
the i'aet that they are the. jn i t lift of
horse sense rather than of erudi
tion. rJi he sure this places erudi
tion in an unenviahle position as
regards truth, hut then we must rc
lnemlier what it larks in veracity is
made up in polish; ah a eoiieivte in
stance of this, we call attention to
the recent niugvv iitnpian political
ir.'us.
Hut the particular occasion which
called to in i mi t lie incapacity of aged
canines to grasp unfamiliar situa
tions, whs tin alleged interview he
twecn the Hon. Charles Ihirand and
the correspondent of one of our
highly esteemed evening contem
poraries. In the course of this in
terview, the hoiioralile gentleman al
luded to the Knights of Labor in a
manner which was conclusive proof
that the ex-speaker is oppressed by
the fatality of the situation. For
instance, lie ventured tin opinion
that the Knights of Lahor were a
lot of "dead beats." Considering
the political career of the gentle
man, he is undoubtedly (pialilied to
speak with some authority on the
aspect of the "dead beats," provided,
of course, that heconsiills his "inner
cniieiousness."
It does not follow by any means,
however, that a person who knows a
thing or two about himself knows
all about so vast an organization as
the Knights of Labor. Ordinary
people are prone to judge others by
themselves, but We expect belter
things of our Ansonia statesman.
We fear, however, that our ex
pectations will come to nothing; this
painful foreboding presses itself upon
us w hen we read that our kind friend
of the Derby Silver Co. barely ad
mits the possibility of an honest
Knight, lie says: "There are some
honest men in all organizations,"
Here, again- it is evident he draws
upon his experience. Mr. Durum!
has been and is a member of several
organ i at ions of capitalists ; and
hence he is ipialitied to venture an
opinion, the correctness of which no
one will question, provided lie coit
liues himself within the limits of his
experience.
What we would specially call at
tention to in connection with the
adage quoted is the lion. Charles
Durand's utterance: "I don't be
lieve in men dictating how 1 should
conduct my business."
In order to forestall any question
as to the propriety of terming a per
son Honorable, w hen his public eon
duct does not seem to specially war
rant such a distinction, we would
say that this appellation does not
signify that the quality specified is
inherent in the particular individual
thus titled; on the contrary, it fre
quently implies that a person having
native lick-spittle propensities, has
been the subservient and dishonor
able tool of a political cabal. That
Mr. Durand is such a person must
remain within the realm of conjecture
for the present. However that may
lie. it remains self-evident that the
good man is not susceptible of re
ceiving new truths. He and his
noble confreres live decidedly in the
jiast, when it was the rule, whether
just or not, for him and his ilk to
dictate to the men.
I'nfortunately the ossified condi
tion of his brain will prevent him
from learning that the tables hac
been turned a trifle, and the men
now have a word to sav in the mat
ter. As to the I lerby Silver ( 'o. no!
Ilinehing for Mr. i I ayes or all the
Knights of Labor in the world, is a
matter of supreme indifference tot he
public in general: and it was a
superfluous piece of "gull"' oil the
part of our friend to mention it. No
one cares whether the company in
question flinches or not ; oiicthingis
sure there will be a decided sliriiih -(iijr
ill that locality before "Mr.
Hayes and all the Knights of Labor
in the world" get through with this
little business, Paste that in oiir
hat. Honorable Charlie.
AT THE CAPITOL.
Last W ednesday afternoon, in one
of the garret rooms of the Capitol,
sat the fust Committee mi Labor of
the Stale Legislature. Three bills,
favoring-a ten-hour work day and
prohibiting child labor, were read
and discussed. Among the speakers
was an old man of venerable aspect,
who. in trembling tones, advised
great care in passingsiich bills. He
did not object to a law prohibiting
the labor of children under ten years,
lie said that though small children
went in the factories in the eastern
part of the State, they were only
learners, preparing themselves to
work there when they got old
enough. The proprietor of the New
Haven I'ltitiu then took the Hour and
supported the ten-hour bill, and
spoke against the employment of
children under ten years of age. A
former member of the House from
.New London charged the venerable
man from the eastern part of the
State with being the hired tool uf a
manufacturers' clique, and said thai
I his same old man had stolen time
from him on a former occasion when
disciissinga similar bill. He promised
to bring to the next hearing figures
to show that in Kngland factories
that required .Mi hours labor a week
paid higher wages than were earned
by operators in eastern Connecticut,
where 7'.' hours a week are required.
A member of the New Haven
Trades Council said that there was
but one f the three bills presented
that was of any value, nainelv, Mr.
King's; and if the committee wished
to show their sympathy for the
workers they should recommend that
one. "Not that there is any prospect
of its becoming law, however. You
may recommend, but the bill won't
pass. The Senate will settle it. Hut
when labor is ready, the manufac
turers can't stop it and the Legisla
ture must pass the bill t hat is wanted.
Vou can day with your little bills,
but you can't pass this now."
The hill introduced by 1,'epreseii
tative Frederic King, of Naugatiick.
was the only one that harmonized
with the platform of the Knights of
Labor. A bill by Senator ( iolden.
of Meriden, was not much better
than till' present Useless eight-hour
law. Certainly, with a Legislature
composed of old-party men, with but
one straight-out labor man --the
llcpresentative from Naugatiick to
hold up the K. of L. platform un
equivocally, there is no prospect of
favorable legislation, ihough many
of the working people present mani
fested considerable interest in the
proceedings, and seemed to lie pre
pared to be thankful for even small
favors.
NOT BOYCOTTED.
A report that was published lately
to the effect that D. A. Jo, K. of
L., had placed a boycott upon
cigars made by members of the
Cigarmakers' Progressive I'liion.
was false, as we always supjiosed it
was. and as we are now able to state
upon authority of the District Secretary.
V1
I II li i l'j )U 11. U I
THE JOINT COMMITTEE IS
FULLY ENDORSED.
0 lira ii i .Hi l.ahni at Work New Haven
Coining to Hie Front, anil lie
ilciiiiiiiir Her I!rinta1 ion.
Fuels I'or I lie I'nli
lie IJovcolt.
Notwithstanding the efforts of the
enemies of the Work ingniell of this
cit v to create ;i division of opinion
as to the .Veil's liiivcotl, the contest
is proceeding to the sat is'act ion of
t lie Knights uf I ,abor vv Im, w bile
constantly increasing in numbers are
also conducting a "ho" boycott
against the notorious rat newspaper,
the AVr. As will he seen by the
follow ing circular, the Knights have
fullv endorsed the Joint Commit
tee's work, and the peaceful battle of
public i J m 1 1 1 1 1 against avarici
industrial tyranny goes merrily
When the battle is over, the
ami
on.
same
know,
he de
1 AVrv
is the
committee will let the
othcially; therefore let
ceived by the statcllicll
proprietors' hirelings.
public
no one
Isof tin
Here
official circular issued
on ednesday:
w ince !" .S'oiAv-
"Let tin
H it jade
sjienee.
FACTS FOR TIIK f'l'HLIi '.
T11K "MuRMVi M-.VV.s" ASH III K HKVIVKC
noYi OTT !--'1 IU I IIS KOI! WoKKMKN !
In their edition of Tuesday, January
til, the Moritiiuj Ai r.s published a pitiful
appeal to the public for sympathy and
moral support in their allliction conse
ipieht upon tlie cruel w ar that is being
waged against tin in by the Knights of
Labor and other organized workmen of
this city and State.
In answer to their statement that -Ti
cents per I, null ems is as much as any
morning paper in the State pays, we
wish to sav that, w ithout u-uinjr out of
the city, we lunl
the 'ititm pay IU i
the composition
morning editions,
afford to pay the
lat the AV;i.sit and
nts per 1.(100 ems for
upon their Sunday
I r t he Acics could not
I'nion scale when it
was al Hie neiglil ol its prosperity -demanding;
and receiving the highest prices
for their in I i Tt isi no space bow can
they pay any rale, now that their circu
lation is reduced to microscopic propor
tions, and they are obliged to take such
prices for advertising as people arc
pleased to gi V e t hem ''.
They submit that they are w illing to
pay the I'nion scale .and have their rat
compositors taken into the I'nion, there
by 1 1 ink ill); theirs a Cn ion oil ire. II they
could not pay the I nioii scale u ben I hey
were prosperous, it would be too cruel to
ask them to do so now that they are in
adversity, and the Typographical Lnioii
does not want their compositors and
probably would Hot accept them: thev
cannot afford to have their I'nion in
vailed by rats.
We are totally indillereiil to the rale
for compos-it ion ill the ArH'.s olliee, while
the establishment is occupied by rats; in
fart the lower the rate the lietter we are
pleased. The fraternal affection of the
Xnrs company for their rats challenges
our unbounded admiration, when we
consider the serv ices they have rendered
the company in their ell'orts (,, degrade
labor, while we entertain the utmost
contempt for the scabs who have al
lowed themselves to lie Used as tools for
such contemptible purposes. We realize
there is some excuse for employ el-.- to ret
wanes doll II to the lowest possible point,
but for workmen vv ho assist Ihein to en
force their reduction there is nolle.
New I laveu Typographical I'nion has
left the sell lenient of this matter ill the
hands of the Knights of Labor, w hose
roinmittee is now at wink managing the
boycott. The action of the Joint ( 'nm
mittee has been unanimously indorsed,
and the committee given full power to
act.
F ifteen months ago the labor organiza
tions of this city were comparatively
weak and the Murium .i iis nas com
paratively strong, and bad little or no
consideration for us or oiirorganiJiiions.
and at ei ery opportunity would misrepre
sent ev ery thing in w bicli labor look part.
Hut the day of reckoning has come. To
day the cirrumM.ilires ale lei er-ed. and
we are willing to carry on this warfare
iudelinitely, trusting that in the end the
tittest w ill sun i e.
We mean no conflict with legitimate
enterprise, but Wi--betide the firm that
slurs us. insults us and spits iiion us
without giving us a fair ( liaiev ,f a bear
ing.
It is an uiider-t'Mid fact that when the
printers of the ohwivtr mow the Joci
im) Aeirxl sold out their interest ill the
paT to the proprietors of the Si n s it
'aa to remain a I'nion otth for all time.
rr 1 1 p v n tr iMvm'i
The Mtieittmj . icn again tries tu e,mu
public sympathy, t'ndcr an article
headed " Their Amazing llemand," thev
say the coiiunillcc asked that thev should
discharge tlieir scabs and take in men
appointed I iy the Ty pographical I'nion.
The Xrtes asked for terms to settle. The
committee formulated the terms as pre
viously published. Ty pographical I'nion
W as simply to see that the nllicc would
not be left iii the lurch. As to the de
mand for pecuniary indemnity , there is
no compulsion. They sought to settle;
they have the opportunity to do so.
Meantime the expense of the boycott in
creases and must eventually lie paid for.
The agents of the eies are ciivulai ing
reports to the ell'eet that everything has
been sell led amicably with the Knights
of Labor. This is false. The committer
will give the public due notice at the
proper time of the raising of the boycott.
All vie now request our friends to do is
to make a final charge ami victory will
perch upon our hauliers. Let the word
I bp, Knights, and al them !"
Joint ( 'ovi vii i i i i .
BRIDGEPORT.
I.iilior's Meeeu -A "I'uritaii" Social
isl Away nitli Coin pel it ion.
The Labor Lyceum has heroine the fa
vorite Sunday resort of our working
people. Ibclieveaii earthquake would
not prevent their attendance. In spite
of the "respectable" press which warned
ihein against these terrible socialistic ag
itators, in spite of the o milennial ion of
Kanct imoliious-lookillg dyspeptics (who
would arrest, if they could, the birds in
the air loi singing on Sunday i, in spite
of rain and snow, the working people
have, Sunday after Sunday , from far and
near, flocked In their Mecca, the Labor
Lyceum, to listen to the h'ev. Socialist,
Mr. Warner; the Agnostic Socialist,
Kdvvard King; the Atheist Socialist, Mr.
Burhans ; and last but not least, to the
"I'nritau" Socialist, Herbert Katon. I
say "1'uritan" because brother F.alon
w ,is cruel enough to inform the attend
ing reporters w ho were probably con
templating a new yam about "another
foreign'' Socialist to frighten tlieir gullible
public, that although liisancestois lauded
in the May flower and participated in the
enact inent of the blue laws, he, Herbert
Laton, hail evolved intoa Socialist agita
tor. Neither time nor space w ill permit a
reiteration in detail ol the speaker's mas
terly oration.
He agreed w it h Herbert Spencer t hat
I he misery of the poor was in a great
measure due to themselves, not as the
champions of the "Let alone theory"
vv oil Id ha v e us beliei e, to t he depravity of
the poor, but totheir credulily and unlit'
ference. The w age-w ol'kel s have but to
reach out their hands and the world is
theirs. Discontent is the lilst step to
progress. Thanks to Socialist if agil at rs,
the w orkers of the world are opening
their eyes; they proclaim I heir rights in
unmistakable tunes; they vv ill soon act.
The Socialistic Labor l'arty does not urge
them to join. II well knows thai the
spreading light of the Labor I'ress, as
sisted by the capitalist ie starv at ion w hip,
w ill soon make every worker a Socialist.
In order to enable the worker to study
his condition and to seek for relief by or
ganized, united action, we must enforce
the eight hour normal work day. I In
we believe in violence? No! Hut we
w ill light rapilalistir ty laiiuy to the bit
0 r end. The dynamite scares, as period
ically reported by the Associated I'ress,
are silly fabrications, invented by schem
ing knaves fo mislead I he w in kers and to
frighten old ladies. They are getting so
stale that even the capitalists don't be
lieve t hem any more. The mi tin 1 1 Or
ganied Labor in America obtains polili
cal control of this country, a bloodies vic
tory is theirs. Step by step (hey vi ill
work ot their imiust rial reforms until the
accursed competitive system is w iped oil
1 bi fair land, and ei ery "man's a man
for a' that."
The speaker w as freipienlly interrup
ted by by bursts of applause. (ieneral
Noble, with a consistency peculiar to ( bat
gentleman, praised the honesty of the
American winking jicople in glowing
terms, and a few moments later ridiculed
Socialism liecause it forgets the "natural
propensity for wickedness which exists
to-day and ever will exist," II the (ien
eral w ill continue his apparent interest in
the Social questions he will yet grow
w i er. K. ot L.
CARPENTERS.
The Carpenters am! Joiners of
this city are cordially invited to meet
tlieir friends of the l?rothe hood of
American Carpenters and Joiners at
Trades Council Mall on Tuesday
evening, February at s o'clock, for
a plaiic matter-of-fact conference.
A "three-year-old" discovered the
tieiohbor's hens in her yard scratch
ing. In a most indignant tone she
reported to her mother that Mrs.
Smith's hens were "w iping their feet
on our grass."
HOLYOKE.
A Workinginen's .Mass Meclinir on a
Itahiy Night.
The meeting ;lt ,.ity hall Wednes
day night under the auspices of the
llolyokc Trades and Labor Assembly
was attended by about 100 persons.
P. J. Moore presided and made a
brief speech and then introduced a
im-inher of the Trades ( 'ouncil of
New Haven, who said that the crea
tor of all wealth and of flic Slate is
labor, and to the state we owe our
being. The State is the people,
calf h rivaled by the workiugnieii
is. by juggling law. transferred to the
pockets of the men v ho own the ma
chinery and the land. Il is because
of t his system 1 hat t he compel it ion
between man and man exists. To
counteract the ev ils of the capitalist
ic system entails more labor upon the
already overworked people. A long
pull and a strong pull under organi
zation will free iis without a doubt.
We have been divided against our
selves for years; we have been demo
crats and republicans, hut the bosses
are always capitalists. W e must or
ganize ami free nurse I v es from boss
ism; not as an unorganized mob, hut
llirotigh the Knights of Labor, trade
organizations and the socialistic la
bor party. e in New Haven have
been organized for some ears. and
arc now advancing rapidly. I learn
to my regret that there are many of
you in llolyokc w lio work twelve ai d
thirteen hours a day.' Itut men who
work twelve or thirteen hours a day
learn slowly about labor organiza
tions, and the bosses know it. W'e
want more time in which toorganize.
I am glad to hear that the citizens
of Holyoke, work ingineii, have elec
ted a represciitat ive to t lie Legisla
ture. We have not progressed so
far in our town because (lie working
people arc not so numerous in pro
port ion to the populat ion as in I lol
yoke. There is a movement on foot
in 1 his country to reduce the work
ing hours to eight per day, and
you must, be ready when t he lime
comes to demand your rights. 1 f
you are fold I hat it will reduce your
wages, don't yon believe it. I'Ape
rience has taught us I ha I I he shorter
the hours of labor I he higher the
pay. and the longer the hours, the
lower the wages. I'or every good
that the woi'kinginan receives from
flic capitalist, he returns ils equiva
lent more than four fold, or else
coin pels I he surrender by force,
Vou must not believe all that vou
read in the capitalistic newspapers;
the reporters are honest, but an hon
est reporter now and then loses his
place for telling f he f rut h.
I'Ycilcrick King of Naugatiick, a
member of t he Connect icut I legisla
ture, was then introduced, lie said
I hat. ovv ing to t he short iiof ice w hich
he hail received, he was w holly unpre
pared to speak. I le would try to
answer a quest ion which he saw on
the bills announcing the meeting:
"W hat is capital, and has labor
rights?" Capital is the product of
toil. Labor has rights, most deci
dedly. We read in the papers of (he
situation in Ireland, but, thank foul,
a movement is on foot to assist that
down-trodden country; thorough or
ganization is bringing this about.
hen any country gets thoroughly
awake ami demands its rights, they
will be forthcoming. The time has
come to organize, but as sure as vou
try it, the capitalists will try to crush
it out. lint they cannot hurt you in
t he least. Let t Iii-iii shut down their
mills if they choose, and if forced to'
remain idle some one else will build
factories and give you work. The
time has come to demand our rights.
Just so long as vou are kept in igno
rance. jls so Ioug voll w ill be robbed
of what belongs to you. W here has
the product of your labor gone? It
has gone to elll ich these capitalists.
You will never have your rights un
der the present unfair wage system.
Therefore I beseech you, organize,
organize.
''llimil it if ft, r the Wnrkuuin inrun
I'riixjn -rily fur the Jfiirhanf."
i:cijsii JUSTICE
"THE HUSKSJHAT THE SWINE
DO EAT."
One Month's Hurt! Labor for Stealing
Swill The I'roiliul Son Starved
al last The Latest Ail
ililion to " Holy
Propei l
"At the Aldeishol police court, on
Thursday, Henry Suiilh, laborer, was
charged with stealing refuse food, value
:id., the property of William Nevvlanil.
( ieorge Squires, provost corporal of the
medical stall' corps, stated that he suw
the prisoner taking food off the men's
dishes as they were faking it to swill
tubs for the contractor. In cross exam
ination the iv it ness said that no soldier
had liny right to give any portion of his
food away, whether he paid for it or not,
as all broken food was sold to the eon
tractor. Smith, for his defense, stated
that he was hungry, ami that ii soldier
asked him to take a little food otf his
dish. The accused was sentenced to a
month's hard labor.- An'i Teli'ijrajih,
I l l'l lllllT Vi.
The Prodigal Son is starved out,
then; "the husks that the swine do
eat" are to have their full share in
the apotheosis of property; thev are
become holy things, which no un
privileged person must touch,
(ihost of William Cobhett ! here is
another "vast improvement" for you
on the Scandinavian law that de
creed 1.000 years ago that he who
stole from necessity or hunger was to
go scot free. The whole case seems
like a cruel practical joke, and it
may he hoped that the home secre
tary will at least carry the jest on by
ninloiiiiiij Henry Smith for the crime
of eat ing w hen he was hungry.
P.uf when Henry Smith comes out
with his prospects brightened by his
having been in jail, if he has any
leisure to think amidst the pangs of
hunger, he might ponder on the
meaning of the words free, freedom,
enfranchisement, as they arc used in
political language of to-day. He may
have the leisure, if il. be true that at
one period in the process of deat h by
starvation it is possible to think, or
at least to dream.
Apart from t lie quest ion of what
punishment was given to a Woman
slave at. the worst period, or a plan
tation "nigger" for "stealing" three
pence worth of hogswash, I feel a
curiosity on the following questions:
1 1 1 1 vv 1 1 1 u i T i hogswash Henry Smith
ate? How it agreed with his diges
tion? What is in scientific accuracy
the amount of nourishment (to a
man, not a hog) in I hive pence worth
of hogswash? What weight of
hogswash one can buy for three
pence ?
It seems, though, this matter of
hogswash for men is becoming a
burning question; for I have noticed
in I he papers charitable suggestions
thai collections of that article shall
be made and sold to our "'poor
brethren;" sold, if you please, not
given, lest pauperization should re
sult. Two more questions yet: How
much worse or better- is Aldershot
hogswash than the ordinary food of
Henry Smith ami of the many thou
sands that he represents? And
lastly, how long is it to he borne?
Ijiiinlmi ( '(iiihiiniiircfitli.
0. K. ONCE MORE.
The "Walking delegate" author
izes the statement that. Mr. P.lack
man. the Crand street druggist,
misunderstood the meaning of his
mission, and requests the friends of
Organized Labor to act as friendly
towards him and his business as if
nothing unpleasant had occurred.
Man in a carriage (to farmer in
the field): 'That corn doesn't look
as though you'd get more'n half s
crop." Farmer in the field (to man.
in a carriage): "Ion't exject to
I'm working it on shares." "I mean
you won't get much to the acre."
"Tloii't expect to only got half an
acre."- I la rim's Hauir.