Workmen's advocate., December 12, 1886, Image 1

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

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Second llcat, aXo. U
gtcw Jtaucn, (Connecticut, Sundag. flcccmbcv 12, 1886.
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ARE TIIEYAF RAID!
SPRINGFIELD SOCIALISTS AC
CEPT A CHALLENGE.
Ready for Debate The Connecticut
Valley Economic Association
Not 4 ii i to ho Anxious.
Dou't Want to Meet
Dr. Aveling1.
The enterprising city of Spring
field, Mass., which became famous
under the fostering care of the late
Sam. Bowles, of Springfield Republi
can memory, boasts of a organization
of men of letters and men of thought
in various pursuits, known as the
Connecticut Valley Economic Asso
ciation. Among the members of
the association are Prof. K. W.
Remis, the secretary ; Prof. Clark,
editor of the monthly, Work and
Wages; F. II. Oiddings, editor of
the Springfield Republican; and
Geo. A. Denison, the manufac
turer. There is also in Springfield a Sec
tion 'of the Socialistic Labor Party,
composed for the most part of wage
workers. Springfieid probably does
not boast of this, yet is a good thing
for the workers of Springfield.
This goes without saying.
The Economic Association chal
lenged the Socialists to a debate,
and the challenge was promptly ac
cepted. So the "Economics" were
quite lively in giving the matter pub
licity, naming the probable de
baters, so that things went on
smoothly enough without any effort
on the part of the Socialists. But
when it became rumored that the
Socialistic side would be defended
i by I)r. Aveling and. Mr. Shevitch,
of New York, it seems that a great
panic took possession of the gentle
men who were announced as de
baters for the Economic Association.
They evidently declined to meet
the Socialistic champions. Then
there was some talk of getting Prof.
William C. Sumner, of Vale College,
to meet the Socialists. To this the
Socialists made no objection they
rather liked the idea. But there
was some objection to Sumner on
the part of the Economic gentle
men, some of them leaning more to
to the side of Socialism than to
Sumner's individualism.
So the proposition was made to
the Socialists to put some of their
local speakers against those of the
Economic Association, and have the
debate private members of the two
societies only to be admitted to the
discussion. Such a proposition was
hardly to be considered by the So
cialists who, conscious of the sound
ness of their principles, were anx
ious to have the public get the ben
efit of the debate, and could see no
sufficient reason why they should
debate in private. The hesitation
on the part of Prof.' Clark, who was
named as one of the debaters on the
Twrfc of the Economic Association,
ana tne fact that there was a seem
ing willingness to have a debate
previous to the announcement that
l)r. Aveling and Mr. Shevitch would
be the probable defenders of "State
Control," leads the Socialists to be
lieve that the gentlemen of the
Economic Association are afraid that
in a public debate the arguments of
the Socialists will prevail and influ
ence the intelligent people of Spring
field in favor the new political sci
ence. The Connecticut Valley Economic
Association is a branch of the Am
erican Economic association, of
which Prof. Pochard T. Ely, of
Johns Hopkins University, is secre
tary. Prof. Ely is the author of
various works on Socialism from a
conservative stand point, his last
work being, "The Iiabor Movement
in America," criticisms of which
(by Or. Edward Aveling) have ap
peared and will be continved in the
WORKMEN'S ADVOCATK.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
Economic Association seems to in
sist upon a private debate, such has
been the publicity given the original
project by the members of the As
sociation, that a public debate be
tween such debaters as each party to
the discussion may desire to furnish,
will finally be made. To absolutely
refuse would be worse than defeat
for the Connecticut Valley Economic
Association.
THE AVELINGS' TOUR.
Louisville, (liciiniati and Dayton
Visited American Sections
Organizing.
Although the meeting addressed
by the Avelings on the 9th at
Louisville, Ky., was not very large
in numbers, it was a great success
all the same, and both speakers and
organizers were more than satisfied.
One result of this meeting, it is
hoped and expected, will be the re
formation of the at present disband
ed Section of the S. L. P. here.
The press of Louisville quite distin
guished itself by its stupid and inso
lent attacks on Socialism and its
teachers. Among other pleasant
little amenities of the same sort the
Louisville Evening .Yens called the
A vt lings "tramps" and waxed indig
nant at the idea of the "dollars"
they make out of the poor working
people. Both speakers "went for"
the Xeii's in a way that delighted
the audience. The .Yews next day
retaliated with the brilliant remark
that the Avelings were "poor speak
ers." A poor argument with which
to meet the doctrines expounded at
the meeting !
On Thursday, December 'id, the
Cincinnati meeting was held at Music
Hall, with a larger audience than we
had any right to expect on such a
night. It was the first really cold
d ,y of the year, and men ami women
who had intended to come to the
meeting were kept at home by the
keen north-western wind that
seemed to have been laid on by the
capitalists on purpose. It is worth
recording that the theatres and con
certs suffered far more from the
sudden cold than did our meeting,
many of these being quite deserted,
while any less luminous place than
Music Hall could have been well
filled by those who came to hear the
the Avelings. On the platform
with them sat, besides the chairman,
twenty-live vice-presidents (of whom
many were women), and many rep
resenting Labor organizations and
being "Americans." The audience,
a remarkably intelligent and critical
one, was roused to the utmost en
thusiasm, and dozens of men and
women came forward at the close of
the meeting to say that they had
never before had so clear a concep
tion of the true meaning of Social
ism as after listening to the speeches
of Dr. and Mrs. Aveling. We ex
pect to get a strong American Sec
tion at Cincinnati, and the comrades
who worked so hard and so well to
insure the success of Thursday's
meeting, feel that their labor has
not been in vain. "This is the first
time Americans have had a chance
of understanding the question" is
what is being said on all sides. As
the Avelings are staying a few days
at Cincinnati (they make that town
their headquarters for a week, only
away Saturday and Sunday to Day
ton and Springfield) they are going
to give an evening of recitations
from English and American writers,
for the benefit of the S. L. P.
Many friends are going to help by
contributing music, choirs, quar
tetts and soloists, and a great suc
cess is expected. At this "evening"
(Wednesday, December o), an Ameri
can section, for which many names
have already been given in, will be
formally started. The Cincinnati
papers have behaved very finely, and
the Avelings have been overrun
with "interviews," while whole col
umns have been devoted to the re
porting of their public and private
utterances. It is not very pleasant
for them, of course, but it is very
useful for the Party.
The last meeting, and the last of
the week, was held at Dayton, 0.,
on Saturday, December 4. The
Sedalia Half was filled to overflow
ing, and as the editor of the Day
ton Democrat observed, "it was a
a far larger meeting than he should
have supposed possible at Dayton.
The Dayton Section had formally
applied to the City Council for the
use of the City" Hall. These re
ferred it to the Building Committee
to "inquire into the intentions of
the meeting," an action which Dr.
Aveling characterized in his speech
as "the most impertinent thing he
had heard of even in America," and
this committee reported without
any recommendation, but sent
meantime for the platform of the
Party, and on the ground of its advo
cating communism in its views on
the family relations, refused to give
us the hall. The Council consists
of sixteen members, "bosses," law
yers and such like, of whom only
one voted in favor of granting us the
hall. The best part of it all is that
the Dayton Section of the S. L. P.
was founded at a meeting held in
the same City Hall, by Dr. Ctto
Wolster! Of course Dr. and Mrs.
Aveling dealt in their speeches with
the City Council and explained what
communism is, and what sort of
"family relations" Socialists believe
to be really pure and inoral An
interesting comment on the freedom
of workers in America was fur
nished by the action of the large
firm of railway car makers; Messrs.
Barney & Smith, who on that same
day had dismissed twenty-four men
because they were supposed to have
sympathized and abetted a deputa
tion of four employees who had
asked for a slight advance in wages!
Dr. Aveling referred to this shame
ful affair, and denounced the con
duct of Messrs. Barney & Smith,
to the delight, and amid the ap
plause, of the crowded meeting.
In -I aytonp alsopmanyA merieaii's
came forward after the meeting and
declared their willingness to join the
S. L. P.
At every meeting the Avelings
have urged all who sympathize with
the cause of labor not to spend a
cent on papers that only calumniate
and vilify the workers, and to sup
port their own organs, especially the
WOKKM US 's A 1) VOCATK.
A LITTLE AGITATION.
Last Sunday evening, regardless
of the storm and cold, there was a
goodly company of German Social
ists and their friends, both German
and American, gathered in Ilarngari
Hall to hear Mr. (ft to Iteimer, ex
member of the German Parliament,
discourse upon the advance of So
cialism in America. Ilia remarks
were attentively listened to and
highly appreciated, and his declara
tion that the work of Socialists must
and will continue until wage-slavery
is abolished, was heartily concurred
in and applauded. Excellent sing
ing by the Harugari Licdortafel, and
an artistic rendering of the Second
Concerto of Spohr (first and second
movements) by Prof. Balck, with
Prof. Eager accompanist, added to
the pleasure of the occasion.
WELCOME, COMRADES!
MiNSKAPOi.is, Dec. L At last
Sunday's meeting we organized an
American Section of the Socialistic
Labor Party in our city. We are
doing well indeed, and have reason
to expect one hundred members in
good standing before the winter is
over. The Wokk men's Advocate
comes handy to us, and we shall
make good use of the opportunities
it offers to our movement. We have
been able to turn the tide of public
opinion in our favor here in Min
nesota. E. NY MA NOV Kit.
HOLYOKE AGENT.
Adam liamage, I'.iG Oak street,
Ilolyoke, Mass., has been appointed
as agent for this paper, and will
receive subscriptions from our
friends there.
SOLID THOUSAND.
THE RESULT OE A MONTH'S
FAITHFUL WORK.
New Haven in Line With New York.
The Labor Party .ninir Forward-Honest
Polities vs.
Hoodie Polities -Sac-riliee
Necessary.
LABOR'S HOPE.
1'IUPHHAS1 rHl filll.UNAI. IN "l MON I'HISTKH."
Defeated? Not by theeternnl ! Though
fraud ami corruption were strong;
When discipline, power and riches were
called to the aid of the wrong;;
Unllinehing the phalanx of Labor met
every assault of the foe,
And stood with their columns unbroken
all the day in the cold and the snow.
Defeated? Not so ! Let them ponder
the lesson the battle liaa taught.
That Labor will ever reincmlwr her cap
tains and legions unltought;
And solemn ami deep was the warning
that rang in old New Haven town.
That the Party of Labor hail sounded
the Party that never will down.
For it told of an era, new-dawning, when
poverty, ghastly and grim,
.Shall no more for the toiler a chalice of
misery till to the brim;
Defeated 't We stand as the victors, and
ours is the joyous reclaim:
Hurrah for the Party of Labor, and blest
be its object and name.
The battle of the ballots is over,
and the result is that that portion
of the capitalistic party called
"democratic" will for( the most
part have the great pleasure of say
ing that they voted for the fellows
who were elected. To be sure this
will not fill their stomachs nor pro
cure them anything but the con
tempt of honest men, unless, in
deed, we may except the pity with
which Socialists regard the dupes
of the ruling class. The working
men who voted the capitalistic tick
ets, it is but fair to believe, were
honest men, and thought that they
were doing right. As time goes on,
and they apply some of their time
to study of their interests, the hope
lessness of a betterment in their con
dition under existing circumstances
will become apparent, and they will
come out from the corrupt old wings
of the capitalistic party and swell
the ranks of the young and vigorous
Labor Party the party of honest
politics, which in due time will
usher in a new order of things and
secure to the workingman the re
sults of his toil.
The following table shows the
vote of last Tuesday's city election,
taking the vote for mayor as a
basis:
THE VOTK KoK MAYoK.
Wards. Labor. Capitalist.
First ill IWII
Second in 7."
Third '.'Hi 71)0
Fourth lit7-. U34
Fifth S7 .OKI
Sixth m (i.VI
Seventh SIB U34
Kightli !J4
Ninth IMS Hl.j
Tenth 4M 7."0
Eleventh 3H nx.".
Twelfth 4(1 454
Total vote 1 :.- sr.11
The vote for Ward representatives
to the City Council was about the
the same, and the vote for Town
officers was about 'JOO less. For
reasons not of particular value to
the Labor Party, some of our candi
dates received more votes than our
candidate for mayor, but it is rea
sonable to calculate upon the may
oralty vote as a basis for compari
son. This gives the Iiabor Party a
gain of nearly 1,000 over the vote
cast for Governor at the election last
month. Not a bad showing for a
month's agitation, and a satisfac
tory and healthy vote that augurs
well for the future, provided the
workingmen do their duty in the
way of permanent political organiza
tion. The largest hbor vote cast for
members of the City Council was
that of the N inth Ward for Ucorge
(ioering, for alderman, which was
eleven votes more than were cast
for our nominee for mayor. Com
paratively few of the Labor tickets
were "scratched," the Labor men
casting their votes more for princi
ples than for men. This being the
ease, and the endorsement of correct
principles and the Labor Platform
being of more moment than the rec
ord of votes for individual candi
dates, we shall spare our readers the
waste of figures, and ourselves the
useless labor of printing them.
One thing was made plain to the
noble men who sacrificed their time
and day's wages on election day, and
that was that the conditions and
customs of our elections are very
unfavorable to the workingmen, and
decidedly in favor of the wealthy
and their political heelers. Not to
say anything of the cost of ballots
and necessary printing and the loss
of a day's work and wages for active
workers, the fact that many of our
voters must walk great distances to
get to the noils is a matter that de
serves serious attention. And yet
there seems to be no remedy save
that of continued sacrifice on the
part of the workers till they can
elect a majority to represent them in
the law-making bodies. And when
workingmen come to realize the
solid benefits to be obtained, they
will readily make sacrifices in order
to gain control of the government.
They must advance or they are
doomed to greater trials and more
hopeless condidtions than those
which environ them to-day.
Workingmen of New Haven: Or
ganize permanent political associa
tions in every ward. Agitato and
educate in order to be ready for an
other step forward when the next
opportunity offers itself to right
your wrongs at the ballot box.
AN ADJOU R NE D ME ETI N G .
Carpenters' and Masons' I nious Rec
ognized by the Fleeter of
New Haven.
It may not be known to many, nor
is it intended "by the powers that
be" that it shall be known very ex
tensively, that there is a feature of
ours annual town election which
offers special facilities for voting for
measures instead of men. This is
the "adjourned town meeting" a
relic of old time democratic sim
plicity. Such a meeting was held
at :i o'clock last Thursday after
noon in this city. Mark well the
hour a time when the working
people are toiling and sweating in
the factories, or perhaps serving be
hind the counters in the large em
poriums. Some three or four hun
dred out of the twelve or thirteen
thousand voters of New Haven were
at the meeting of Thursday. Most
of these were of the class that call
themselves taxpayers. Tax collec
tors would be a more appropriate
term. They were there to see that
above all they should not be re
quired to pay more taxes than they
could possibly help they must
make some profit out of the people
who pay them rent. The amount
of town tax was fixed by the meet
ing. A motion to allow a certain
number of master builders estimate
on town work was made, and a cer
tain well known citizen, a poor man
and a rent payer, amended the mo
tion that the Carpenters' and the
Masons' Unions should be allowed
the same privilege. The worthy
antender was not a member of either
union, but he showed himself a
more thoughtful union man than
any of the unionists themselves. The
motion as amended was passed.
Now let the respective unions do
something to help themselves, and
prove themselves worthy of the con
fidence placed in them by the rent
payer and the rent collectors. Here
is a chance, too, for employing black
listed and locked out workmen.
District Assembly 132, K. of L., has
started a eo-ojerative jumjr and
overall factory at FJizubeth, N. J.
A FHW QUESTIONS
AND SENSIBLE ANSWERS FOR
POOR MEN.
After Heading These (Questions and
Answers, and "Acknowledging
lit Corn," Find out what
Socialism Can Ho For
Von Join l's.
I IV the "Republicans" help you ?
NO! They believe in "freedom
of contract" which means that you
are free to accept the Capitalist's
terms or free to starve. And they
have given two millions of Blavea a
vote. Why don't you make a meal
off that?
Will the "Democrat" help you?
NO! They believe in "boodle"
polities and mean to keep all they
can get out of you.
The good old rule sulhceth them
The simple plan
That, they may take who have the
power,
And they may keep who can.
1177 Mallhiisiauism help you?
NO ! The population in France
does not increase, but from their
towns and fields an echo of your cry
of despair goes up. If you have no
children, that won't help you much
if machinery or "improvements" in
industry throw you out of work.
H 77 Atheism help you ?
NO! Much good it will do you
to be assured by Bob Ingersoll and
Henry Ward Reecher that there is
no hell after this life, when you are
living in hell on earth.
Dues "Christianity" help yon?
NO ! Its Founder said He would
give you, rest. , . J lia. latter-day hypo
critical followers give you a
tract and a quarter of the
value of your work as wages.
They pray to be given their daily
bread and don't mean to earn it un
less you make them.
1177 Total Abstinence help you ?
NO ! The workers in India drink
nothing but water and forty millions
of them are always in a state of
starvation and they are forced to
work for a few dimes a day.
Does Thrift help you?
NO! The workers in Belgium
are thrifty and are worse paid in
consequence than even Englishmen
are. If you saved 1 a week out of
your wages, do you know how long
it will take you to become a million
aire!'' :.'0,00() years. So you had
better start at once.
Does Financial Reform help yon ?
NO! What difference does it
make to you whother what you earn
and don't get as wages goes to feed
pensioners and officials or landlords
and capitalists?
1177 Protection help you ?
NO! If your employer's profits
are "protected" by law, will he pay
you higher wages or reduce your
hours? Ask the men who work on
railways and street cars which are
protected from competition. In
Protectionist countries there is mis
ery and poverty amongst the useful
classes, and the Bame is the case in
Fret; Trade England.
1177 Emigration help you ?
NO ! Out West there are labor
riots and demonstrations of th un
employed. The rich would be glad
to be rid of you, but it is as comfortable
to die of hunger in New England as
in the frosts of Nebraska or the
Summer of California, or the
droughts of Texas.
FOR THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Our worthy fellow citizen, Peter
Lynch, would make a good member
of the Hoard of I irectors of the
New Public Library, lie has shown
himself to be a level-headed man.
Resides, he is now a representative
of a growing constituency, and it
may be well to introduce the new
order of things gently and gradually.
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