Workmen's advocate., January 15, 1887, Image 1

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

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WORKMEN'S
ADVOCATE.
AGAINSTMLITATIY
NEW YORK WORKINGMEN
MAKE A PROTEST.
Capitalistic Conspiracy to Completely
Subjugate Labor Kilitor She
vitcb, Edward Kin)?, and
Others Speak Edu
cation. Nkw Yokk, Jan. 1:.'. Cooper In
stitute was crowded to overflowing
last night with a few thousand rep
resentatives of Organized Labor to
emphasize the workingmen's protest
against the militia-bill.
John McMackin, who was chair
man of the Labor Party during the
late mayoralty contest in which La
bor's candidate received (IK.OOO votes,
presided. He said in opening the
mectinsr :
"It is peculiarly iitting that the
opposition to the militia bill should
come from New York city, and from
au organization which made the
greatest protest of modern times
against misgovernment the Central
Labor Union. The tendency of our
wivernment seems to be toward cen
tralization of power military and
iudicial. We have no object in in-
creasinc the militia, because we do
not expect to exercise our power
through brute torce. 1 lie animus
that controls the parties who are
pushing the measure throngn ton
press is nlain. Jt is against Organ
ized Labor. When we are forced to
the strike to get our rights, it is pro
posed to stamp out the effort with
the military power.
A letter from James K. Quinn,
Master Workman of D. A. 49, K. o
L., was read, in which he said:
"The career of the soldier is the
career of the robber and the parasite.
The industrial forces represent the
construction of all that is necessary
to the welfare and happiness of man
kind. The career of the worker is
the career of the producer and self
sustainer. Between these two forces
there must necessarily be a bitter
and eternal antagonism."
Col. K. J. llinton was then intro
duced, lie called attention to the
historical points bearing upon the
military question, and showed how
invariably the military power was
brought to bear against the efforts
of labor to secure fair treatment.
He pointed out that military organi
zations now largely exclude work
men because they cannot afford to
pay the dues and assessments of mil
itary companies which are conducted
as social clubs, lie concluded his
remarks by calling attention to La
bor's daily paper, the Leader, and
slid: "To-day's edition of 7",OO0
means that the Leader has come to
stay."
The chairman then introduced S.
E. Sheviteh, editor of the fender,
who was applauded as he stepped
forward. Among other things he
said:
"Where lies the danger that justi
fies the attention given by the mili
tary lecturers to the question of the
best and most effective way of shoot
ing people in the streets - the plans
ofngenerals for killing the most men
in the shortest time? It is in the
growth of Organized Labor. They
at first pooh-poohed it. They have
since tried by black-listing and oth
er means to break down this grow
ing strength. And now they recom
mend the use of arms.
"Society is diseased and this mili
tia bill is a peculiar symptom.
What is the remedy? You have it
in every great city all over the coun
try. Organize organize your voters
into your own party; the party of
Labor. If the enemy care to at
tempt to abridge this right, then we
will give different advice; we will
use the words of the Texan and urge
vou to meet force with force every
where."
Resolutions condemning the out
rageous Military Bill passed by the
Senate and denouncing the action
of that body as "impudentand treas
onable conspiracy against the liberty
of the people and against the reign
of genuine law and order," and
heartily commending the Blair Ed
ucation Bill, were adopted.
Then came Kdwurd King's turn.
He spoke for education, and told
how Blair's Bill had been treated by
the capitalistic papers in the usual
way. lie continued:
"The bill has been discussed bv
all the newspapers in the usual way.
I he Sun (.general and prolonged
hissing! and other papers have at
tacked it on theground that it would
be an invasion or State rights. It
happens, however, that while it pro
poses the moneV shall be given by
the national power it provides for
the distribution of the funds by the
State authorities."
The'speaker reminded his hearers
that there was no party politics in
the meeting. While opposing a
"democratic" scheme they did not
propose to throw any taffy to Sena
tor Blair.
Robert Crowe, of the Journeymen
Tailors' Union, added his voice to
the protest. Referring to I)r
Mctilynn, the mention of whose
name was received with significant
cheers, Mr. Crowe said:
"If the inquisitorial arms or the
church close on him, the wide arms
of the people will open to him.
The last speaker was John J.
Ben! in, who evidently echoed the
sentiments of the great audience
when he said in the course of his
brief remarks:
"When we meet our enemies let
us not stop to consider whether thev
are dignita ies of the Church or the
State, but strike thein down. Jt is
enough for us to know that they are
arrayed against us.
SOCIAL POLITICAL NOTES.
Tlie latest, "richness" concerning tlu
Pinkerton thill's is a report that thest
enterprising gentlemen have convenient
ly to hand private prisons in which they
hold prisoners secure from interference
by huboan corywx. Now, the l'inkertons
have sucvestcd the idea, whv not irive
- r-m ----- 7 rf n
them a taste of it? But seriously, there
should be the most rigid investigation of
thus matter, and the vocation oi kidnap
iing prevented.
"The French government will ask a
credit of 87,511(1,110(1 francs to enable it to
commence the i nan u fact are of rilles and
increase defenses." savs a lute disiiatcli.
Meanwhile the French woikingmen are
lill v.ilnllvimr with eonserviiti ve meas
ures. The fate of the atl'air of '71 should
have taught them that they must be pre
nared with a. eomnrehensive and detailed
uroirrnin in order to take advantage of
possibilities, in which they may rely up
on the co-operation oi meir uerman
comrades.
The "Right Honourable" Rowland
Winn, did the eviction act to perfection
on some of his estates in County Kerry,
l.-iti-lv. A cable disiiatcli savs: "The
time chosen for the ejectment was in the
midst of a pitiless tem)iest oi wind, snow
Mtnl rnin. The unfortunate tenants were
driven out into the neltinir storm without
a Ixiard t-i shelter them, and then, to
prevent the possibility of their returning, i
the bailins proceeded to set nre to uieir
cottages, which were soon in a blaze and
reduced to ruins."
Old Bismarck has made a characteris
tic speech again. He is bound to have a
large standing army and promises orui
nouly that the next war with France
will tie followed by a long term of jieace
as far as the French are concerned.
What be means Is plain enough. But in
case of sanguinary eventualities between
Herman and French rulers and their
military machines, we trust that the So
cialists of both countries will lie pre
pared to take advantage of the situation
for the benefit of the people. Then, in
deed, should the Socialists be successful,
there will be lie peace for Bismarck and
royalty and aristocracy.
uni in ni tpvd U
a 111 v i un. i r uitiu.
WHY THE SOCIALISTIC LABOR
PARTY EXISTS.
What Capitalism Produces -What So
cialists Propose Perfect Co
Operation -Absolute Con
trol by the People.
Democracy.
I'l.A'lTOltM Or' TIIK SOCIALISTIC I.Al'.Oll
I'AUTY OK NOItTII AM KWK.'A.
Labor being the sidf-evident crea
tor of all wealth and civilization, it
is but equitable that those who per-
'orm ail labor and thus create all
wealth should enjoy the product of
their toil.
But this is rendered impossible by
lie modern system of production,
which, since the discovery of stcam-
ower and since the general intro
duction of machines, is in all branch
es of industry carried on with such
gigantic means and appliances as but
a few arc able to possess.
The present industrial system is
co-operative in one reject only, which
is: That not, as in former times,
the individual works alone and for
his own account, but dozens, lum
inals and thousands of men work
together in shops, in mines, on huge
farms and lands, co-operating ac
cordinir to the most efficient division
of labor, while the fruits of this co-1
operative labor are not reaped by the
workers themselves, but are m a
n-eat measure anitronriated bv the
owners of the means of production.
This svstem. bv gradually extin
guishing the middle class of people,'
necessarily separates society into
two classes: The class of the wage-
workers and that of the great bosses.
It brings forth as its natural out
growths:
The planlessncss and reckless rate
of production.
The waste of human and natural
forces.
The commercial and industrial
crises.
The constant uncertainty of the
material existence of the wage-workers.
The misery of the laboring nms
ses.
The accumulation of wealth in the
hands of a few.
These conditions which under the
present industrial system cannot but
become more and more aggravated,
are inconsistent with the interests of
mankind, and with the principles of
justice and true democracy, as they
destroy those rights which the Dec
laration of independence oi tut
United States hold to be inalicnabk
in all men; the right to life, liberty
and the pursuit ot happiness.
These conditions shorten and im
peril life by want and misery. They
destroy liberty because the economi
cal subjection of the wage-workers
to the owners of the means of pro
duction leads immediately to their
political dependence upon the same
sources, and finally frustrate the
pursuit of happiness, which is never
possible' when life and personal lib
erty are constantly endangered.
In order therefore to abolish these
humiliating conditions, we strive to
introduce the perfect system of co
operative production that is, we
demand that the workers obtain the
undivided product of their toil.
This being only feasible by secur
ing to the workers control of the
means of production,
We demand:
That the land, the instruments of
production (machines, factories,
etc.) and all the products of labor
become the common property of the
whole people; and,
That all production be organized
co-operatively, and be carried on
under the direction of the common
wealth; as also the co-operative dis
tribution of the products in accord
ance with the service rendered, and
with the just needs of the individu
als. And to realize our demands, we
strive by all proper means to gain
control of the political power.
The Socialistic Labor Party claims
the title, "libor Party," because it
recognizes the existence id' au op
pressed class (if wage-workers as its
fundamental truth, and the emanci
pation of this oppressed laboring
class as its foremost object.
- J - ,
with some friend who h:is never seen it
After Villi ll;i VI rem 1 I lit ;ll ii t e enllkllh
ami ask his opinion. It is a remarkable
platlorm. and the only one that compre
hends the situation fully.
"49" TO THE FRONT.
A Miile-Anake Correspondent's View
of How Tilings Are Done.
Nkw Yokk. Jan. in. At the re
cent assembling of the Convention
of the United Labor Party, city and
county New York, a suggestive inci
dent occurred. It will lie remem
bered that Mr. dohn Mo.Maekin has
held the chairmanship of the party.
temporarily of course, since i'.s in
ception, and in the discharge of his
duties he has proved himself a saga
cious and competent nia.ii.
Of late, however, there has been
considerable "kicking" against his
"alleged" dictatorial methods, and
it is needless to state that t he source
of this "kicking" has been District
Assembly 4!), K. of L. The fact
is that Mr. McMackin is a loyal rep
resentative of trades-unionism,
and not an instrument of "4!,"
hence the charges. This District
intends to do all the dictating to be
done in the labor movement.
Notice the wily proceedings of
"4!)" in the Convention. While not
one of the well-known and seriously
objectionable leaders were present,
the District was nevertheless well
represented and a determined elTort
was made to capture the chair.
Their attempt was made in the
form of nominating for the chair
manship Mr. Frank Ferrell (col
ored) of the 11th Assembly District.
Air. Ferrell is the gentleman whose
appearance in a Uielimond theater
during the late convention of the K.
of L. in that city, created such a
serious disturbance, and who was,
in consequence selected by Mr. Povv
derly to open the convention.
How thoroughly the matter
was understood in advance may be
judged from the fact that in the
contest succeeding the nomination,
Mr. McMackin only carried the day
by a majority vote of three, . e. , by
a vote of Hi!) to I (id. If the Social
ists had not voted solidly with Mc
Mackin and the Central Labor
Union, D. A. "PJ" would have
owned the convention, with a result
which 1 am not prepared to pre
dict. I notice, moreover, that the
nomination of Mr. Fen-ell did not
come from the Assembly Dislriet to
which lie belongs (the 11th;, but
from a mysterious personage in the,
;d. Altogether, the fact tluvt he
ran so closely to Mr. McMackin is,
to say the least, a singular incident,
ami one not calculated to sustain
the assertion that his nomination
was unpremeditated. Mr. McMack
in was declared elected, and Ferrell
was afterward elected vice-chairman.
Both hold their offices temporarily,
and the real struggle will occur in
the future.
AN APPEAL FROM FRANCE.
Our comrades in i'aris have sent
an appeal for assistance to tin1 Na
tional Executive Board for general
transmission. The Labor Party in
France is in the midst of a serious
crisis, and looks to America for im
mediate help in order to be able to
keep their aide weekly paper, Le S
cudise, from suspension. The Ex
ecutive Board therefore recommends
that we all endeavor to secure
subscribers for Le Social isle,
among our French speaking
friends. Contributions sent to the
office of the Executive Board will be
promptly transmitted.
AFFAIRS IN HOLYOKE.
The Clerks Want to (io Home Curly.
Merely Coiii' ldcnee, but F.liVrtivc.
IIoi.yom:, Mass., Jan. The
labor movement is being rapidly de
veloped in this place, and the local
trades unions are generally in good
shape, though they have not yet at
tained to that degree of unity which
is necessary to independent political
action.
A strong endeavor is being made
here by the clerks to have their em
ployers (dose the stores at i p. m
four evenings in the week.
The greatest amount of opposition
to the early, closing movement comes
from ime house: and one of the
clerks in that house who advocated
the movement was summarily dis
charged, notwithstanding his ac
knowledged ability as an excellent
salesman and his triistworthyness as
a man.
This was of course a mere coinci
dence, and the coincidence will he
complete when working people stop
I rading at such stores.
The power of the working people
in this direction was forcibly illus
trated in this place a year or two
ago. A machine was invented and
adopted by some of the corporations;
us a consequence the business of
some hundreds of women was de
stroyed and they were thrown out of
employment: no one ever thought of
compensating them or even to in
quire what would become of thein.
They were simply discharged and
might starve for all any one seemed
to care.
One of the inventors of the ma
chine opened a store, and no doubjt
expected these women whom his in
vention had deprived of work,
would, with their friends, come to
his store and buy his goods, but by
some strange coincidence or inexpli
cable dispensation of providence they
didn't do it. Some of them in
formed your correspondent that they
would rather go barefooted than to
buy a pair of shoes from him.
A few months of such business
was sufficient to induce him to ask
for a compromise with his creditors,
but I doubt if the man ever knew
what it was that struck him.
Such is the power of the people
exerted in a wise, a qnict, and an
orderly manner. a. iiamaoi:.
FIFTH WARD LABOR PARTY.
A meeting of the Fifth Ward La
bor Party will be held at the new
hall in Lamar Block, Sunday after
noon at :i o'clock, when all members
should be present.
CAPITALISTS REJOICING.
The New York Herald published
a statement concerning the alleged
extravagance of Dr. Avelingon his
lecturing tour, and the Associated
Press spread the story far and wide.
But few labor papers were foolish
enough to notice the article from
such a source, and the ridiculous
cxaL'Lrerations indulged in seemed
sufficient to stamp the whole story
as a canard, hince the hosfon ei
svader calls for a reply to its ques
tions both printed ami implied, we
resncetfu v inform the I'erxuniln
that corsage boquets and cigarettes
were not included in Dr. Aveling's
bill of expenses; that Mr. Haltliei
Li not chairman of the Kxecutive
Committee: that Mr. Bordollois not
secretary; that Mr. Walthcr did not
throw 1 "i at the lecturer and say
the words ascribed to him. it is
true, however, that the Wokkmks'k
A pvocatk printed articles by Dr
AveliiiL' and his wife. And it may
l)e true that the lecturer's bills were
considered exorbitant, but if thev
were, the men who foot them would
be concerned in the iratter, and not
the general public. And it may be
taken for ir ran ted that the Kxecutive
Committee has and will continue to
deal justly by all who have dealings
with it But the llcrula & story
yave pleasure to the capitalists, and
that's a matter of business with the
lkrald.
DIPLOMATIC DANA.
THE NEW YORK"SUN'S"OPIN
I0N OF SOCIALISTS.
Ibiiia and l'owdeiiy are "Out" Tel
ling Truths With F.vil Intent.
Something to Defend -Men
of Strong Convictions.
Hound to Win.
The following remarkable editorial
we clip from the New York Sun,
edited by Charles A. Dana, a rank
capitalist and not a particular friend
of the labor organizations, still less
of the "socialist element" in those
organizations:
In a letter written some time ago,
though only lately published, Mr. I'ow-
ilerlv ilerhireM lh:it the -'enruii rtf tlui
Kuiirhts of Labor has come from the
itroiimt ness with whieh tii'Liiouleilireil
leaders of the socialistic element have
put themselves torward at meetings, and,
while speaking, plainly hinted at the
musket and the (tailing gun as the reine-
ly tor labors grievances,
lint whv. Mr. l'owderlv. nr Hm So
cialists so prominent in both the Knights
oi iiaoor ami me iraues unions.' wny
are they ho anxious to proclaim their
doctrines 'i
It is because the Socialists, of all the
members of these iissoc iiitions. nri the
men of the strongest convictions and
most ilehnite purposes, they Know ex
actly what they want to do, and have a
pretty precise plan by which to accom
plish their ends. I Jesides, they are uni
teil, and closely united, while the rest are
split up into opposing factions, all of
vvnicn na ve only a very loose anu general
notion of what thev want and of the
methods for attaining it.
l be socialists are nieiiol positive opin
ions and a well-dclined theory, and such
men are always bound to make them
selves heard and felt in debate. They
talk to the point, have a theory to teach,
and the zeal of enthusiasts earnest to
make converts to their faith." They have
something to defend and something to
advocate, ami those who listen to tnein
are not at all at all at a loss to hnd out
what, it is. Therefore thev can entraire
attention, while the rambling discourse
of men who do not exactly know their
own minds, and can do no more than ex
press discontent, without suggesting a
practical remedy, is nrettv sure to soon
exhaust the patience of their hearers.
Theretore, in the nature ol things, ac
cording to all experience, the Socialists
are bound to beat Mr. I'ovvderly and the
Knights of Labor or break up the whole
organization. They will either rule or
ruin, make the order a socialistic society,
or l'o outside to fii'ht it. and. like all men
of positive convictions and strong parti-
i ii..... .ii ... ....,. e r.. it. ..........
saiisnip, nicy win nut un it lurmuuncio.
As it is, they are gaming rather inan
liiHiinr strength In the hilior organizations.
of which, in truth, they are the most
earnest and indefatigable portion, and in
attacking them Mr. Powderly prepares
the way lor ms own uownrau.
It is useless for him to undertake to
keep the Knights of Labor together and
yet to make war against the "socialistic
element." On the one side ho luvthe
trades unions fighting him, and now he
invites an even bitterer attack from the
Socialists, who despise him asa milk-and-water
character, incapable of devising
ni'.'H'i ienl measures for relief from the
grievances of which he talks in a general
and commonplace way. mat is un
doubtedly the feeling of the "socialistic
element." and it will manifest itself more
and more unmistakably.
The signs ot dissolution lor uie rvtugiiis
of Labor 'are multiplying. Mr. Cowder-
ly s salary has been raised, out ms power
has declined; and even if he keeps his
j, lace as leader of the organization, it
will be at the expense of losing the most
vigorous of its forces.
What is Dana's object in scolding
Powderly and telling the people that
Socialists mean to "rulo or ruin?"
He certainly don't do it to befriend
the Socialists; and he don't do it to
benefit Organized Labor. He won't
succeed in his evil intentions, how
ever. ATTENTION, COMMITTEE
MEN. A meeting of the Town Commitee
will be held to-morrow (Sunday) af
ternoon at Xew Labor Hall, Lamar
block, at o'clock. Important
business.
Chas. Stodkl, Chairman.
WOODCARVERS.
A regular meeting of the Xew
1 Iaven Woodcarvers' Association will
be held at Trades Council Hall,
next Monday evening, at 8 o'clock.
Every member should be present