The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-12-11

IA s,ciaI agitations had Kept que
~ U of vital importance before the a,
uO" ';on of the public, and men who b
.Ss nart they had taken in the late re
I'm agitation had obtained CERTAIN
s.ance throughout the country. On
M IT, difficulties first to be encounter e.
o. these men began TO deliberate
WIZ M kind Of platf'rm they sh0ul6
wa f,r. and although this was settled a,
rp already intimated, there was NJ
hi a lingering conviction in tho
o IL of The minority that the action
m % The society would be too restricted
T Y however, the inaugural meeting
w. rsII.d. not only did the friends O.
section Of the council attend, but
eaC representing nothing beyonI
ReO own crotchets. However, very
. ',o after the meeting opened, it was
I'm ~ be seen that opposition was
sand.d. and although this for many;
In.sons was undesirable, it was quit,
.Ioor from the attitude taken up by the,
I'm Who went in for q broad platform.
I.t there was nothing for it but to-
;%e vav to them, or fight them fairly
J" n. end. and defeat them if possible
T.rnDose | need not inform your read
&c hat reformels everywhere are sub
III not only 70 the dangers arising
F.om those who oppose their views, b. 4
III from those, who accepting them /
w;sb only to use them as means to pushi
torward in all sorts of directions, and
10 every conceivable extreme.
This WAS the case at the meeting
held At the Sussex Hotel in London, on
M fourth OF the present month. Mr..
Bradlaugh was there to head one class
Who would have pushed all sorts of
new pIanks into the platform, but as
n I eentleman's name is a symbol o.
multiplied extravaganceS, his support
err we're by no means as numerous a
be would have deshed. The land !
question was cry strongly pressed BY I
certain parties, who think an agitation
ourht 10 be got up in England for the
Durpose of making the land nationa
DroDerty. Every man who had q
eroicbet Of his own supported every
other man similarly situated, until Al
the end Of long and stormy debate.
nv whole of them were rlaced in a
very small minority by the more rea-
nnablc and practical men present
Having been present at the meeting,
was very glad to see this, a. the One
thing ncedluI in my mind amongst re-
frmrrs. ia not TO crowd together al
number Of questions, each difficult ini
itself; bat 10 separate these where they
arc grouped, and fight each singly and
effectively. ! have no desire TO charged
a want Of good faith against reformers
Of any class here or elsewhere; but 1t il
underi bic that large numbers Of stupid
men are to be found amongst them,l
who going in advance find breaking up
discipline, delay the victory as effectu,
ally as if they we're acting in the inter-i
est Of the enemy. However, the diff
Guilty Of the Labor Representation
League, as far as these men are con
cerned, has been overcome, and now
We shall have an opportunity of seeing
what effect it can have on the publici
mind in procuring the return of work
ingmen 10 parliament.
There is a vacancy Just now in the
Tower Hamlets in consequence OF Mr. .
AytOu's appointment to The ministry ott I
public wmks but there can be nni
doubt that he v i'll he reelected through;
lie feeling Of loyalty that existst
I wards Mr.. Gladstone. There wiz
also he 4 vacancy in Southwark, througbY
Mr.. LayMd's appointment as Briuslf
minister at Madrid. Under these cirt
cumAtances, the question arose as to
whether the Labor Representation
Lergue shoull make any attempt td
contest the borough. An attempt j. tq
be made to sound the constituency, and
for myself may say that / have me-
hope whatever of success in such a di{
rection. The great boroughs of Lon4
don are practically in the hands of thd
and they. / need not sayl
are not ardent friends of labor, are not3 4
indeed particularly anxious about any, !
bOdy's interest but their own. 81
Organization must precede actionj
and the league is not organized YET
amongst the constituencies. If thi!
work Is set about all else will fUllowj
There are workingmen voters enough
IN several of our constituencies to r9
turn workingman's candidate, bu1
discipline must be obtained, the goo9
quality Of the candidate ascertaineA
his hearty acceptance secured, and theA
there can be no fear of the result.
Raw haste in the action Of the leagu9
would be more than half sister to delay.
A considerable number of the leagut,
| understand, hope under the restrai$t |
put upon them; but there really is no |
use in fighting with certainty Of d
feat w I. Ii