Workmen's advocate., October 22, 1887, Image 2

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

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WORKMAN'S ADVOCAm
A JOURNAL 01
THE SOCIALISTIC LABOR PARTY
rUBUSIlID IVIHY WI1K.
Publication Office, 781 Chapel Street.
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letartana In all parti of the world, tatter re
quiring answers ihoold contain return pontage
Address all communications to
Workmen'! Advocate,
P. O. Drawer 103, New Haven, Conn.
Bond subscription money to I. O. Drawer 103,
New Haven, Conn, or call at tlit) odlre, No. THt
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Nkw Havkn, October 1887.
ARISTOCRATS OFFENDED.
The procession of Die unemployed
working people of Iondon has cre
ated a stir among tho snobs. They
are offended at tho oor devils for
showing their poverty in tho aristo
cratic quarter of Ixmdon. Is it pos
sible that tho "my-lords" feel the
rebuke thus paraded before them in
open daylight? Or is it rather that
they fear tho "mob" with its black
flag floating in the aristocratic at
mosphere of tho West End ? Both,
perhaps, for a guilty conscience pro
duces fear. And what do tho poor
people demand ? "Work or Bread !"
An answer to this reasonable de
mand will probably be shortly made
in the shape of the reading of the
lliot Act, and if that does not fill
the demand or quiet the "upstart
paupers," a doso of cold lead may
forever still their hunger. Yet Eng
lish aristocracy hesitates long before
administering that "remedy." In
that the Euroean money-bags is
more politic than the American.
The English aristocracy does not
want to precipitate a revolution.
Capital ib timid, and experience is
a good teacher. Our American
moneycrata seem to yearn for educa
tional experience, and if they con
tinue flirting with fato as desperately
as they have recently in New York,
they will no doubt get the benefit of
an educational rumpus.
But at last accounts tho English
West-Enders seemed inclined to
"monkey with tho buzz-saw" not
withstanding their wisdom and their
hypocritical "noblesse oblige."
Lot our ruling class watch tho
effect carefully, and perhaps they
may be vouchsafed a lesson from the
experience of others, which, being
cheaper than homo experience of
that kind, ought to commend itself
to their oommercial minds.
HOME" PROTECTION.
We have received a circular from
the "Homo Market Club," an organ
ization of "protectionists," in which
they say:
"The protectionists propose to organ
ize merely to see that whatever changes
in the tariff lawa are made are not pie
judiciid to tho home market being re
tained for home manufacturers, home
capital, home enterprise and home
labor."
This certainly looks captivating.
And yet the "free traders" will toll
you the same thing they want to
help the "home" workingman and
"home" capitalist Yet these people
will go into separate political parties,
as tho workingmen have always done,
and fight each other. But it's a
aham battle. The "home" capital
ists are just as ready to fleece the
"home" employes, or to import for
eign labor as ever. They compete
with each other in the market, prac-
tico all kinds of commercial chican
ery, and when it comes to tho foot
ing of the bill, Labor pays. Co
operation and useful work for all aro
tho necessities of the hour, and with
these in actual practice, there need
be no fear of foreign competition.
Indeed, the more values we imported
the better it would bo for us. The
"protection". and "free trade" dis
cussion might as well be tabled in
definitely. A RUMP RING.
Tho tactics which proved so suc
cessful at the Richmond convention
were again practiced by tho proprie
tors of tho Noble and Holy Order of
Knights of Iabor ut Minneapolis.
The freezing out of tho majority of
the delegates who could not alTord
to stay longer than two weeks was
again a complete success. During
the two weeks nothing of importance
to the internal workings of the Order
was done all business of that kind
being carefully postponed for the
rump of the convention the men
who were enabled, perhaps by finan
cial assistance of those interested, to
stay until the honest rank and lile
were compelled to return homo.
We have been roundly censured
for our denunciation of the salaried
ringsters of the Order during the
past year. We have warned our fel-
ow workmen to insist upon demo
cratic procedure in the councils of
the Order. We have especial I y
warned against this very rump ring,
and have received left-handed bles
sings from loyal but unreasoning
Knights. Hut "love is blind," they
say.
It will lie wen it tins experience
acts as a preventive of hero-worship,
and leads to a more laborious, though
much more satisfactory practice
tho exercise of reason.
NEW YORK POLITICS.
The impression has become Bome-
what general among many outside
the Socialist ranks that tho "Pro
gressivo Labor Party" which was or
ganized in New Yoik subsequent to
the expulsion of Socialists at Syra
cuse and tho conversion of the Uni
ted Labor Party into a land-tax par
ty, is in reality the Socialistic Party,
This is not true, nor has the Social
istic Party recognized tho Progres
sive Party any moro than the Union
Labor Party, whoso platform is ccr
tainly not near as comprehensive ns
that of tho Progressive Party.
Moreover tho Progressive Party is a
local affair in New York, as yet, ant
the result of tho next election there
will bIiow whether the estimate o
Socialists is correct or not, Tho
New York Socialists as individuals
are not by any means unanimous in
supporting the Progressive Party
though they aro opposed to tho land
tax party of (ieorgo & Co.
I lie fact is, tins excitement about
politics is entirely too ephemeral atn
superficial to captivate thoughtfu
Socialists. I 'own at the bottom
there must bo education and con vie-
tion. After that the political action
of those who aro converted to Social
ism will not require to be drum met
up with the paraphernalia of o
party tactics, or such "church-re
vival" methods as characterize the
land-tax anti-povertyites.
The work iug people of New York
will still, for tho most part vote wit!
the old parties, and the most ad
vanced of those that vote otherwiso
will no doubt vote with the Progres
sive Party. Many will not vote at
all. Those that will support the
land-tax ticket are so mixed that it
would be difficult to guess their po
litical status except from a purely
sentimental point of view. They
like George, and they like Mcdlyun
and they have a sort of nebulous
faith' in the fatherhood of Ood, the
single tax on land values, and the
rothcrhood of man. Not very
clear cut principles, to be Bure.
Hut lot not our readers be deceived
into the belief that the Socialistic
iabor 1'arty has been bo captivated
y "practical politics" as to go into
a political campaign under tho now
le yuerreot Progressive Labor Party.
GENERAL VOTE, S. L. P.
Tho acts of tho last Congress of
the Socialistic Labor Party, hold at
iuffalo, will soon bo in tho hands of
the Sections for consideration.. Tho
result of tho vote must bo reported
to the National Executive Commit
tee on or before November
NOTES.
Things are just as monopolists like to
see them in New York the lalior re
formers lighting among themselves. All
t this could have lieen avoided by a
ittle wisdom on the part of two men.
XiitHjitliick Atjittttor.
Names ! Names ! Who are the
mighty pair provided they had a
"little wisdom?"
"All wealth comes f-om the earth and
is begotten by labor. (J renter the taxes
the greater the toil of the worker."
How, in the name of reason, is
the single tax going to reduce Labor's
burden, even if, as is so confidently
stated, it reduces the cost of manu-
actu red goods and f ax n products?
And does the Iicvieiv know what that
means to the toilers of Europe? .
Powderly is said in a recent speech
to have yelled: "I hate anarchism
I hate violence !" Of course, every
sensible man dislikes usaless vio-
ence it's not economic; and so
Powderly seems to have expended
much effort in Raying something
that most sensible mem doi't need
to say. Hut perhaps Powderly
thought ho needed a little white
washing, and the commoroi 1 press
has put it on thick.
A single tax on land to its full rental
value will do more for the industry of
the country than all the protection the
Kepulilican party can oiler. It would
make a net reduction of fit) per cent, in
the cost of manufactured goods and pro
duce raised by the fanner. This would
place us. in such a position that we could
command the trade of the world. Mil-
irtiithv li'erirtn.
It certainly would do as much for
labor as "republican" protection.
In fact it would bo a protection of
about the sanio character tho pro
tection of the lamb by the wolf. In
the same issue of tho Jleview in
which the above cool assertion ap
pears, it is acknowledged that labor
pays tho taxes. Hero it is:
Tho workingmen of New York
held their big meeting last Monday
night in Union Square, and not a
policeman's club was raised. Tho
police were denounced for their
cowardly attack last week, and they
had a stenographer on hand to take
down tho denunciatory speeches.
Tho stars and stripes were "permit
ted" by tho "blue terror" to proudly
lloat from tho speakers' stands, and
the flag of all nations was carried by
Union men singing "Marseillaise.
Tho workingmen's base ball "lub
was not needed.
The defeat of tho candidate of the
Labor Party of Newark, N. ,L, was
worse than a Waterloo. Last dec
tion the labor ticket polled 6 000
votes; it was a plain labor ticket.
This year the workmen of Newark
listened to the seductive talk about
single tax, and nominated onoof tho
Georgeiau trinity, Hugh O. Pente
cost, for mayor. He polled ",000
votes. Instead of a gain the Ijabor
Party lost 4,000 votes. The work
men of Newark probably suspoc
that Itar pays all taxes. "Vinegar
never catches flies."
The Albany Indejtendent Citizen
makes an appeal to wage-workers
for unity of action on election d.iy,
There must be some reason for unity
of action other than .nere success in
electing candidates. When the peo-
ile are prepared for it there will bo
unity of action, and they won't need
much exhortation upon tho subject.
On what grounds, then, should the
orking people unite? What theory
i there that is founded upon history,
umanity and economy, which tho
working people could adopt' with tho
greatest assurance that they would
a result enjoy the full fruits of
their labor ? When Iabor recognizes
Ito truo remedy there will bo unity
of action.
THE CHICAGO CONSPIRACY.
Beginning with this number we
publish an able review of tho trial of
tho "anarchists" by "Cato," a writer
for tho Chicago Labor Enciuirer.
We believo the Bimple truth to be of
moro value at any time than angry
denunciation. Wo hope that our
readers will assist in giving it Uio
widest circulation, in order that tho
conspiracy to throttle free speech
may bo exposed, and all who may be
reached be warned. Tho review.
being rather long, will run through
three numbers, ending with tho last
number issued previous to the dato
fixed for the murder of the prisoners.
WHAT OTHERS SAY.
FOOLH.
If we Hat in this chamber with closed
windows until the air became thick and
fetid, should we not be fools if we
brought in deodorizers if we sprinkled
chloride of lime and burned assafuctida
while we disdained the great purifier?
UfO. It Ml. UHVtlH,
Similarly, should we not be fools
to attempt to creato right conditions
in tho industrial and social world by
bringing in Mr. Atkinson's and Kev.
Howard Crosby s soup-bone and
wife-labor economies and industries
while we neglected to open tho win-
ows and doors of natural opportuni
ty? If we omitted to employ the
great rectifier of differences of indi
vidual temperament and talent by
affording to all the means which na
ture has provided for enabling each
to do that for which they have the
most pronounced taste, and thus de
velop what is best and highest in
themselves ? Providence People.
IK) KM IT MEAN VVAK?
Are wo to understand that the
knights of the holy money-bag and
their Kalmucks havo now formally
opened war upon tho rights, fran
chises and liberties of tho people?
Are wo to understand that our con
scitution is but a myth, tho declara
tion of human rights by our fore
fathers but a mockery and our re
public a huge fraud? Aro wo to
understand that tho American Revo
lution was mere child-play, and that
the blood shed m liberty's name was
shed in vain ? Are wo to understand
that tho late civil war, so far from
being waged for humanity's and
liberty's sake, was but a sharp busi
ness trick f f tho unscrupulous Shy
lock? Is it true that this very same
Shylock, against whom no Portia has
yet arisen, has come to be tho Amer
ican uifsarr
Ah, 'tis but too truo. . Illinois and
New Jersey bear witness ! Brutus,
thou tarry st long 1
"Can freedom lind no champion and
no chilil,
Such as Columbia saw arise when she
Sprang forth a Pallas, ariu'd and undo
tiled?" Chicago LhIhw Enquirer.
1MSTOS OPINION AI10UT POLICE.
Tho police of all nations, with a
very few honorable exceptions, are
recruited from the vast troop of pro
fessional loafers, who live by their
wits, and skulk after the heels o
scheming politicians in bar-room and
brothel the companions of bullies,
thieves and beats. Fit agents indeed
to carry out the behests of tyranni
cal governments and local blacklegs,
who may havo bellied them into
their jackets. The honest man
among those social pests has no hope
of true recognition for mentor faith
ful service to the public They are
the paid guardians of dens of evi
repute. To assert and maintain the
necessity of their office they are often
obliged to manufacture and promul
gate crime. Measuring the human
mind according to their own, they
make no discrimination between
personages of whatever color or sex.
The press, day after day, is fall of
complaints, resecting unprovoked
assault and outrage, upon, aye, and
even murder of, the citizen, and but
seldom is justico meted out, for tho
policeman s word is morn acceptable
than tho outraged ono'soath. A re
view of polioe behavior during tho
past year, even in this city of in
competency, insults and assaults
upon decent citizens, while tho most
friendly relationship prevails between
them and gamblers and street walk
erswould bo sufficient to clean out
tho entire department But then
tho cure would bo worse than the
disease, for, their avocations being
gone, they would swell tho army of
criminals which tho rottenness of
our social system makes possible
Perhaps, since the cowardly murder
of heroic, harmless Jack Ilussey, tho
brutal and uncalled-for clubbing of
peaceful citizens, recently in New
York, is the moBt striking illustra
tion of their inhuman instinct. It
would seem necessary to arm ono's
Bolf for ono's protection. I would
rather take my chances before a jury,
if confronted unjustly by a police
man's club, for knocking him down
lirst, for once in the hands of the
undertaker my slayer may escape.
I ml on J Mlor JA-ader.
RENT AND INTEREST.
It seems to me that Mr. ( ieorgo, in
introducing this "element of time,"
this "increase in nature," has
strangely overlooked the fact of a
corresponding. decrease in nature,
and "time at last sets all things
even." Tho "grain may grow while
the farmer sleeps," but it is absorb
ing tho richness of the soil, and the
weevil may develop while the farmer
sleeps; the froBts may come, the
waters drown, the fares burn, the
calf becomes a cor, grows old and
dies. The trouble with this "ele
ment of time" is that "it generally
requires labor to utilize it," and in
this way establishes a "right of own
ership." Not bo with interest: it
requires no labor; it not only "grows
while the farmer sleeps," but it re
quires no fertilizer. It denes tho
weevil, the frosts and fires. Its vigor
is never abated, it never dies.
In Mr. George's search for the
causes of the unjust distribution of
wealth,' he ignores a most potent fac
tor legislation; he seeks in nature
for laws that are in man only. He
says the increase in nature is the
cause of interest.
I fear Mr. George, in his onslaught
upon land monopoly, has overlooked
another formidable enemy of labor,
a second whelp of tho same dam
money monopoly. If there is any
difference between tho two, it is one
of degree, not of kind; and to chain
one and to let the other run, would
be, to say tho least, unwise. A. L.
Ballon in the Truth Seeker.
SNOBBERY.
The constant effort of Bnobbory to
uniform its servants and thus make
class distinction obtrusive and con
spicuous in this country, is some
thing to be resented and fought by
8elf-re8pecting labor. More people
havo one to hell on account of their
clothes than for any other reason,
tho effect of raiment on tho mind of
tho individual exerting always a po
tent influence on his conduct and
habit of thought. Array industry
in a distinct garb, indicating scrvi
tude, and it will the sooner accej t
servitude as its heaven-appointed lot
and become reconciled to it. This
is precisely what snobbery desires,
but the desire should not be gratified
It is hopeful evidence of proper ap
preciation of the natural dignity of
labor to see the effect of a recent at
tempt to force an absurd and un
comfortable uniform upon the Fifth
Avenue stage drivers in New i ork
They must wear black high hats and
uniform coats of bluo with brass but
tons and red facings. But when
they came to a realizing sense of the
degradation tney struck. Ijobs sen
sitive drivers were put in their places
and then the stable men struck, re
fusing to care for the horses. The
result is that the high hats are abol
isneu and the drivers are back in
their seats with liberty to clothe
themselves as they please in the gar
ments of American civilization.
Nurse maids and private coachmen
are still in the londageof distinctive
dress, but let us hope that they too
will imbibe enough of the spirit of
independence to rebel against the
tyranny and clothe themselves as
their individual tastes shall dictate,
Winsted Press.
DRY STUFF.
Go where you will, in tho shops,
in tho office, in tho storeR, and what
do you hear? Do you hear economic
Biibjects talked about? Not at all.
1 ho peoplo "haven t got time. But
they havo lots of timo to talk about
baseball, the slugging match, tho
boat race, the horse race, or tho
wreBtlo. Go into the meetings of
workingmen and business men and
do vou meet there tho earnest detiro
and courage- to grapple with the
great underlying evils that threaten
social welfare? No. This is "too
dry." And yet tho workingmen and
business men will get mured if you
accuse them of being the dangerous
classes in the community the fools,
who allow tho destructive missiles of
greed and avarice to strike them
with full force instead of throwing
up and around themselves those in
tellectual barricades that will Bhield
themselves, their families and their
homed. Jitdson drencll.
SMART.
The capitalistic press is out with a
fresh batch of sensational rot, alout an
"anarchist uprising" and "gory revolu
tion" on the centennial anniversary of
the French revolution in 18N9. Their
capitalistic masters are already quaking
with tear anil rage, anil their slush
money Hows more freely if they are kept
excited. Capitalist papers are smart.
1'roridenee ieople.
PREVENTION OF NOISE.
To those who carry on any operations
requiring much hammering or pounding,
a simple means of deadening the noise of
their work is a great relief. Several
methods have been suggested, but the
best are probably these: 1. Rubber
cushions under the legs of the work-
bench. Chambers' Journal describes a
factory where the hammering of fifty
coppersmiths was scarcely audible in the
room lielow, their benches having under
each leg a rubber cushion. 2. Kegs of
sand and sawdust applied in the same
way. A few inches of sao J or sawdust
is first poured into each keg; on this is
laid a board or block on which the legs
rest, and around the leg and block is
poured fine dry sand or sawdust. Not
only all noise, but all vibration and
hock, is nrevented: and an ordinary an
vil, so mounted, may be used in a dwel
ling house without annoying the inhabit
ants. To amateurs, whose workshops
are almost always located in dwelling
houses, this advice affords a cheaD ana
simple relief from a very great annoy -
anee. farm, field ami Stockman.
A COLUMN IN SEVEN LINES.
An article begins, "Why Boilers Ex
plode," and then goes on in a rounda
bout sort of way, instead of coming right
to the point at once and saying that it is
because boiler owners think it more
economical to hire an alleged engineer
at $5 a week than to employ a real en
gineer at a fair salary. "Jioatun 7Vaiis
vript. THE DYING EDITOR.
The owner of a paper lay dying in hit
lair, and the dew of death had gathered
on bis brow so calm and fair; but a
printer knelt beside bus. as his life-blood
ebbed away, and asked ' ho dying writer
if he had a word to say. The doomed
man murmured softly, as he grabbed the
printer's fist: "Well, at last the struggle's
over, and I never will be missed. Take
a message and a token to that city man
of mine, that all his worn-out chestnuts
he had better put in brine. There's his
joke about the weather, which he's used
these many years, and the gag about the
fellow who is always hunting bears. And
the item he's so fond of, on the man who
peddles books, and the chestnut based
on jeople who go fishing at the brooks;
just to save the pairer'a credit, and to
cast no slurs on mine, I would ask him
as a favor just to put such gags in brine.
And the lies he's fond of telling, of the
street cars and the tracks, the joke about
the man who ste upon some tacks, and
tho ones alwut some dandy who will
never pay for clothes, and the one on
women cleaning house it's weary, heav
en knows ! Oh, I know I'll slumber hap
py in my grave beneath the vine, if the
man who does the city work will put
these jokes in brine. Tell the man who
tends to business not to weep when I am
dead, but to buy himself a club and hit
the lirst man on the head, who comes in
with strings of items and requests them
printed free, when the regular rates are
cheajier than the really ought to be.
Tell the foremau when he makes up no
to turn a rule for me, but to simply prir
an item saying that my so jl is free; fo.
I want no eulogistic taffy of that kind in
mino, and I think such hoary chestnuts
should be pickled well in brine. Have
that gay anil fresh reporter I engaged
the other day put a stop to saying
".Selah," also "We have come to stay;"
and if he should say "ye local" you must
trample in his gore, for you know I'd
ne'er allow it in the happy days of yore.
And the man who conies to tell you how
to run the paper well, should be greeted
when he enters with a pewter chestnut
bell; and you'll print the paper promptly,
be the weather full of storms, and the
foreman must be careful when he's mak
ing up the forms that the beauty of the
paper may through all ages shine, and
not be like its neighbors, only fit to put in
bnae.Atchwon Globe.