Workmen's advocate., January 22, 1887, Image 1

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

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Sew Hawen, otttttJCticttt, Saturday $anuav 22. 1887
(i
FOR DRJMLYM.
INDIGNATION AMONG FAITH
FUL PARISHIONERS.
Demonstrations hi Favor l' Political
Independence Expressions of
Lstcciu and Love lor The
Pastor of The Poor.
Their Action.
Xkw Vouk, Jan. IS. A compli
cated state of affairs is that which
exists within the precincts of the
Parish of St. Stephen's, of New
York, from which the Kev. Father
McOlynn was recently removed by
Archbishop Corrigan, on account of
liis activity in the late independent
political movement of Organized
Labor. Two important meetings
were held last night; one a mass
meeting at Cooper Union, which was
addressed by man) prominent Irish
men of the Catholic faith, and an
other by the parishoners of St. Ste
phen's. The latter meeting was held
in the church, which was packed to
suffocation, three thousand people
being present, while hundreds were
turned away.
Early in the evening, the Rev.
Father Donnelly who has succeeded
Dr. McGlynn, appeared on the scene
and ordered the people to disperse.
This they refused to do, saying that
thev owned the church. As the
Father insisted, the ladies becoming
excited, compelled him to beat a
retreat, whereupon lie sent for the
police, fearing violence before the
close of the meeting. The following
resolutions were adopted by the par
ishoners, and a committee of thirty
five was appointed to wait upon the
Archbishop and present them:
Whereas, Our beloved pastor, the
Kev. Dr. Edward Mcurynn, having been
deprived of the exercise ot his priestly
functions and having been removed from
the parish where he lias endeared himself
to his people by his charities and devo
tion to his religion, and whereas, we, Lis
faithful flock, having I teen injured and
insulted by the manner of his removal
from St. Stephen's Church his own
home for twenty-one years and the
ref mre of the poor and alHicted, and
whereas, knowing of no fault or offence
on the part of our dearly heloved pastor,
Dr. McGlynn, to incur the displeasure
and punishment of his immediate supe
riors in this diocese, therefore
Jiemlved, That we, the parishoners of
St. Stephen s, abstain trom any iurther
support, pecuniary or otherwise, of the
Church ot St. Stephens, while the Kev.
Father Arthur Donnelly remains in
chanre, and
Rexulred, That we pledge ourselves to
refuse to contribute to the maintenance
of the church while we are deprived of
the ministrations of the liev. Dr. Edward
Jlctilynn.
liesolred, That a committee be appoint
ed to wait upon His Grace, Archbishot
Corriiran, to inform him of the action
taken by the parishioners of St. Stephen's
and to respectfully request of him the
reason or reasons for which Dr. McGlynn
has Iteen deprived of the charge he has
held so long with sucli honor lo luinseu
and benelit to the Church.
When these resolutions were put
from the chair there was a trcmen
dons shout of assent.
It is alleged, and upon good au
" thority, that the - action - of Arch
bishop Corrigan has been due to the
influence brought to bear upon him
since the late campaign, by leading
politicians, who hope to break uj
the new movement thereby. Jf
this be the case, they have played a
poor card, for many have been
brought to the side of Labor by the
occurrence. It is, however, exceed
ingly -unfortunate that religion
should, have been permitted to inter
fere with politics, as an unsatisfac
tory adjustment of the present dim
cultv may lead the Church of Home
to take an antagonistic position to
ward all labor organizations, in the
future. Dr. McGlynn has gone to
reside with a relative in Harlem
wlipre he now lies seriously ill. I
is said that he left the church will
barely enough money to pay his car
fare to his destination. This is
characteristic of the Doctor, and
undoubtedly true. He and his
father have spent upwards of t-00,
()i) upon the Parish of St. Stephen's,
where lie lias olheiuted with an un
blemished record for the past twen-
v-two years. Michael Davitt is in
this city, but does not seem inclined
to talk.
Lati:k. It is stated now upon
what is considered good authority
that Dr. MeClynn has been perma
nently suspended from the priest-
lood. J n order to regain the lost
confidence of the parishioners of St.
Stephens, it will undoubtedly be as
serted that religious and not politi-
al reasons were the cause of the
betor's suspension. The editor of
the Catholic Herald, published in
this city, announces his determina-
ion to stand by D McClynn.
From private sources I learn that
other Catholic clergymen will open
y express themselves in support of
McGlynn's position.
BLOOD AND IRON.
Bismarck Denounced Assisting' (er-
ma n s Socialists.
A mass meeting, under the auspi
ces of the Socialistic Labor Party,
was held at Cooper Union, New
York, last Wednesday night. The
meeting was convened to enter a pro
test against the arbitrary dissolution
of the Reichstag. The speakers
were John Healin. Alexander Jonas,
II. Walther, Frank Seubert. S. E.
Shevitch and Colonel Iliuton. The
hall was crowded. The mention of
Bismarck's name was the signal for
hisses and groans, but the slightest
reference to Henry (Jeorge brought
applause.
The following resolutions were
adopted:
Whereas, The dissolution of the Ger
man Reichstag because it refused to sub
mit to the autocratic will of Bismarck,
is a scandalous insult to the German peo
ple; and.
Wlwrens, Bismarck with unheard-of
brutality has dared to threaten a whole
nation with destruction because a small
clique of monarchists phrase-mongers
in France indulge in revengeful declara
tions which are in no way approved by
the French working people; and,
Whemis, By this threat the German
government exhibits its intention to
strike a deathly blow at French revolu
tionary socialism, so that, after the latter
is oppressed, it may unhindered crush
out the Social-Democratic movement in
Germany and save the monarchic state
from destruction; be it
Resolved, That we, the New York
workingmen, in mass meeting at Cooper
Institute assembled, condemn the "blood
and iron" policy of the German govern
ment as represented by Bismarck, and
moreover express our sympathy with
our German and French brethren in
their effort to resist the attempt to disre
gard the will of the people; and be it
further
Rewired, That we, recognizing the
solidarity of the proletarians of all coun
tries, pledge our moral and financial sup
port to our German brethren in their
struggle against the arbitrary policy of
the German government.
SOCIALISM IN BRITAIN.
liiivcrsity Classes for the Study of
Socialism Kiighind First.
I can only add that there are nu
merous circles of Christian Social
ists, with two excellently-written or
gans, just as determined in their So
cialism as in their Christianity; that
in all the British universities classes
are formed for the study of Social
ism, and that the present writer has
been listened to and applauded by
hundreds of students of the univer
sities of Edinburgh and Glasgow,
with professors in the chair; that a
prominent minister of the Established
Church of Scotland declared to me
that he only waited for disestablish
ment to become a Socialist lecturer,
and that the English trades unions,
m congress assembled, have found
it prudent to aflirm that they were
"not unfriendly to Socialism."
(treat Britain will be the first coun
try to realize Socialism, believe me,
and let all men of good will rejoice,
for Socialism does not mean a level
ing down, but a leveling up; not dis
order, but order; not denial, but
faith. Laureiue Uronlund.
GOING BLINDFOLD.
SHARPCRITICISM OFTHE NEW
YORK PLATFORM.
A Radical (iothamlte lleviewstheWork
of a Labor Convent ion "Labor
Chestniits""Takiiiir Excep
tions to Kurd's Opin
ions Politics.
New Vohk, January 19. Great
things had been expected of the
United Labor Party perhaps too
much, under the circumstances
but the public waa certainly war
ranted in expecting something more
definite than the platform which
was adopted by the New York Con
vention of the Party, held on the
Lith instant, and which we print
below. After announcing the adop
tion of the name of "United Labor
Party," subject to the action of a
national convention, the platform
reads:
"As a party we aim, among other
things, at the restitution of the land to
its rightful owners, the people, and the
imposition of a tax on laud values, irre
spective of improvements.
"At the abolition of the present mon
strous system of finance; at the abolition
of the system of issuing interest-bearing
bonds, bills of credit, and notes, instead
of legal tender, non-interest-bearing
money; and at the establishment in its
stead of a national monetary system, in
which a circulating medium in necessary
quantity shall issue direct to the people,
without the intervention of banks, and
in which such national issue shall be full
legal tender in payment of all debti,
public and private.
"At the abolition of the present waste
ful, inadequate and one-sided system of
private ownership of the means of trans
portation and communication.
"At the enfranchisement of our female
fellow-citizens. :
"At the abolition of all indirect taxi
tion, and on taxes on industry, or the
products of labor.
"At the simplification and thorough
reformation of our judicial system, and
the purification of our courts; and
"At the provision for adequate public
industrial and scientific education.
"We aim at the enactment and rigid
enforcement of sanitary laws that shall
stay the deterioration of our species, and
promote their development.
"At the enactment of juster laws on
the liability of employers to employes;
of laws for the equalization of wages to
public employes of both sexes; for the
incorporation of trades unions and asso
ciations; and for the limitation of the
hours of lalxtr, as well as for the rigid
enforcement of the "eight-hour law" in
all municipal, State and national works;
and
"At the enactment of election laws
which shall not, like those now in force,
encourage intimidation, corruption and
fraud.
"We aim at the abolition of the pre
sent ridiculous Civil Service laws, and
the establishment of a wise administra
tive system which shall properly protect
both the government and its employes.
"At the abolition of the inhuman sys
tem of child-labor.
"At the abolition of the degrading
competition of convict with honest la
bor; of the contract system on public
works; of the "truck system," of all
class and projterty qualification for ser
vice on the jury and in the militia; and
of all class legislation, civil and criminal;
and, tinally,
"We aim at the abolition of every in
stitution tending to the debasement of
American citizens, and we shall strive to
secure for them the full advantage of
the civilization to which they are heirs."
A careful Btudy of this document
will discover no essential principle
save that of the money question
(with which every workingmaft is
familiar) and the land. It is, in
fact, a platform composed of the
most hackneyed platitudes and "la
bor chestnuts," without one definite
expression as to radical reforms.
One Mr. Abner C. Thomas, of
whom I have never before happened
to hear, and who is to all intents
and purposes unknown in the arena
of labor, delivered a thrilling ora
tion upon the "danger of having an
over-distinct platform," and the sub
sequent proceedings of the Assem
bly indicates that his opinion was
shared by all. To the far-sighted
reader it will be unnecessary to state
that the standpoint of Mr. Abner C.
Thomas was essentially wrong, so
far as the- actual interests of the
workers are involved.
It has been claimed by many that
it is of more importance that the
workingmen should cast one million
of votes at the first national election
in which they participate, even
though such votes be cast at ran
dom, ai 1 without definite object,
than th t one hundred thousand
votes sht ilil be cast for definite ob
jects an principles. This is even
the expr md opinion of Frederick
Kngels, .lie well-known Social-Democrat.
It will be well, however, to
take exceptions to this opinion, com
iug, though it does, from such high
authority.
To those whose only aim is to fer
ment and encourage discord without
the proposition of practical reme
dies, this plan of haphazard politi
cal action may seem possible; but to
those who have the interests of the
workers at heart, "breakers ahead"
will be apparent. Nor are the edi
tors of the subsidized press suffi
ciently informed to comprehend the
true meaning of the new departure.
Instance the New York Times,
which prints a long editorial rejoic
ing that "the New Party has been
inaugurated upon such a basis as
will enable the boodlcrs to get at it
as readily as they reach the other
parties." The fact that none of the
Socialistic principles have been
adopted with the exception of a
phrase which amounts to nothing,
also furnishes grounds for relief for
the Times.
But the editors of the capitalistic
press, as Well as the politicians of
the Abner C. Thomas type, are at
fault in all of their conclusions.
They forget that the majority of
the workers who are to support this
New Party are not politicians, are
not looking for olliee, but are in
dead earnest in their desire for re
form. They intend that the work
ing poonle as a class shall benefit by
this political movement, and they
confidently anticipate beneficial re
sults.
If thoy are disappointed, and upon
such a platform the future can only
bring disappointment, they will cast
about for a irore certain method of
obtaining the desired results, and it
is safe to predict that this method
will not be the ballot.
It will thus be seen that through
a false position at the outset the very
crisis which the Socialists aro en
deavoring to avert is likely to be
precipitated.
SOCIAL POLITICAL NOTES.
The latest accounts of the situation in
Ireland are by no means encouraging to
the parliamentarian wing of Irish patri
ots, though to the revolutionary party
they may lie full of promise. Evictions
continue under the most harassing cir
cumstances, and the brutal government
now threatens the poor people with
more rigorous measures. "Inciting to
riot," conspiracy, intimidation and itoy
cutting are the charge) upon which the
uol ice liDite to convict those Irishmen
who still have enough manhood left to
resist oppression, it seems more than
ever evident that the Irish will never
succeed in gaining their "right to life
except by the co-operation of the English
.Nocial-Uenioeracy, wiuiii is ever ready
to stretch forth the hand of fraternity
whenever the Irish people show an in
dtnation to accept.
The Committee of Twenty-live of t lie
Chicago United Labor Party Inn handed
to the eight labor representatives certain
tactical rules to oltserve and take with
them to the legislature, to the effect that
no sympathy should exist Itetween the
representatives or tiie workingmen anil
thwe of the capitalistic parties, and no
common objects can tie earned out Ije
tween them; that no favors can lie ac
cepted from representatives of the cor
rupt parties nor any granted by Labor
representatives to the representatives of
Capital; that no combinations or agree
ments witii the enemy shall be maue.anu
that the personal carriage ami social ac
tivity of our representatives should bs
such as to relied credit upon the l'aity
to which they owe their position as rep
resentees. The Labor Tarty of ChieBgo
evidently means business, and adopts
correct tactics which must in the end
bring complete victory for the working
men. Stern, uncompromising and hon
est obedience to uch rules can never re
sult in lasting injury to the interests of
Organized Labor, but miwt eventually
carve the w ay to influence and power for
the Labor Party.
rp:umMT nr minima
SECRETARY LEE CONSIDERS
THE RETAILERS.
A Social-Democratic View of the
Storekeepers' Position Forced
Into the Proletariat.
What They May tin in
IE v Socialism.
A timely article in a recent num
ber of Loudon Justice, by II. V.
Lee, secretary of the Social-Demo
cratic Federation, brings home to
the retail storekeepers a hard and
i j i i j i I'll li
incontrovertible iacc, which snoutu
set them to thinking seriously upon
their future position in society, lie
says:
"It is a sign of the times that a
class of people who have hitherto
held aloof from the Social-Demo
cratic movement the shopkeepers
are beginning to interest them
selves in our action, and seem dis
posed to look upon us more favor
ably than heretofore. Naturally the
one point they wish us to make clear
to them is. "What is your position
as regards co-operative stores?" The
reason of this is of course, not lar to
seek. The change which has been
and is taking place in the methods
of production, .entailing the usage
of larger machinery and a greater
sub-division of labor, has crushed
out the small factory owners for the
benelit of the largo companies; and
a similar change is going on in the
distribution of goods, where trades
men aro ousted by the combinations
of capitalists in the form of co-operative
stores. This drives straight
home to the shopkeeping class the
stern fact that these economical
changes but render more chimerical
the prospect of a handsome compc
tency with which to provide for
their children, and in tho enjoyment
of which they had hoped to peace
fully end their days. They are con-
ironieu uisieau oy me lerriuie nigui
mare of failure and bankruptcy.
They see their sons and daughters
compelled to seek employment as
clerks or assistants, "lady-helps,
or iroverncsscs, in the offices and
houses of those who, perhaps, hav
ing been less scrupulous in the mad
rush for gain, have been more suc
cessful, but whose very success in
the struggle has embittered their
feelinsrs and made them more in
clined to treat those beneath them
as mere profit-making machines.
"The shopkeepers must thorough
ly understand this question. It is
of no use whatever inveighing
against co-operative stores. They
are an economical necessity, being,
like the large factories, the outcome
of the competitive system; and the
useful distribution of goods can be
carried on infinitely better and with
far less labor by means of such large
centres than by numerous small
shops of the same class, half a dozen
doors apart, competing with each
other. These very forms which
now, because owned by a profit
mongering class, who receive their
dividends without even the pretence
of "organizing" labor, oppress the
majority of the population, will be
come blessings when tho workers
once make up their minds to take
their own. This is one of the prin
cipal foundations of the scientific
faith which is within us.
"Therefore, let the shopkeepers
carefully consider these matters,
They know perfectly well that their
position is daily becoming more and
more insecure; they are aware of the
prospwt that looms before them;
they can tell the future which awaits
their children. Would not a few
hours daily labor in a municipal or
communal distributive store be nref
erable to the nianv idle but anxious
hours sttent in their shops to which
few customers come because of the
competition of other shops, and
above all of the large emporiums?
That is a question they must answer
for themselves. If they will but
throw aside their prejudices which
nfortunatcly aro manyand loo
tl
le matter lull in the face, we ha
ittle doubt that they will follow tli
sample of some of their class o
the continent, and join hands wit
tio proletariat into whose rank
they aro being forced in an orgai
ized and educated Revolution. The
they can take over, once and for al
the control ot the nroduction (
wealth, and bring about that coi
tentment and happiness, that ful
outlet for the better side of huma
nature which can only be accom
plished by the downfall of this ai
cursed capitalist system and tho ii
auguration of Social-Democracy."
WANT SATURDAY EVENING.
HolvoLe Paper Makers Make a 1)
iiiand-Au Inventor's Work.
IlohYOKK, Mass., Jan. 10. Tl
paper makers of this place held a
enthusiastic meeting on Sunday af;
ernoon, and resolved to present th
matter of shutting down the mil
on Saturday at (5 p. m. in such de
inito shape that an answer will I
assured; and although the manufai
turers are temporizing after th
manner of little boys daring eacl
other to do something they woul
rather not do, au unfavorable an
swer is not looked for, nor "Hhouli
the idea of au unfavorable reply b
entertained for one moment. Tin
amount per ton of manufacturer
pa per paid in wagos is not now mon
th in one-half of what it was lwelv
to fourteen years ago. True, tip
price of paper has also gone down
Hut, nevertheless, the workman ha,
now to give twice tho amount of la
bor for his subsistence that he gavt
in 1872-74.
This, of course, is tho logical re
suit of tho capitalistic system. T1p
more work you do, the more wort
you must do; wages go down, mei
aro crowded out of employment am
reproached because they beconit
tramps, drunkards, criminals.
IVhaw! who drives them?
Exception is taken to the assertion
m ide in the article on the paper
makers, printed in tho WokkmknV
Advocate some weeks ago, that in
the event of improved machinery
and methods the capitalist puts the
increased earnings into his already
well filled pockets. The following
cine taken from real life will illus
trate: One of the operatives in a factory
located, not in this city, but in this
neighborhood, invented a piece of
machinery. Circumstances did not
admit of its being patented; the cor
poration adopted the invention and
m ido tho inventor a present yes, it
did make him a present of fifty dol
lars and discharged four of his t hop
mates! Complaint is made through our
lo 'al paper that the management of
one of the woolen mills is fleecing
the operatives by a system of exces
sive fines. This is the meanest and
most despicable method of taking
from the wage earner the product of
hi toil, and if anything ever justi
fies a strike it is this disgraceful fin
ing process. Emgara.
MORE YANKEE SOCIALISTS.
The organization of an American
Section, S. L. P., is reported from
Providence, II. I., with sixteen
members to start with. The officers
aro: Frank Fowler, corresponding
secretary; J. Brand, financial secre
tary, and James Jetlerson, treas
urer. A hearty welcome to our
Providence comrades.
THE K. OF L. SOIREE.
Preparations are going forward for
the grand soiree of the Knights of
Labor in this city, under the auspi
ces of District Assembly 14 1. Thom
as' Orchestra has Ijeen engaged and
Prof. Hums will prompt the dancers
through the intricacies of Terpsi
chorean art.
Advertisement with particulars
will appear next week.