The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-01-14
PHILADKLPHIA, JAN 4, 1871,

PHILADELPHIA, JAN 4, 1871.
he Editor of The woakrHeHAS's ADVOCATE
The long dormant energies of the
Workingmen have at last ,
zen somewhat enlivened, and the Chi
ese Coolie is the unconscious cause
lereof. Frightened at the increased
.fiux Of Celestial laborers to this
,untry, the tendency of the tide east
ard, the establishment OF Chinese
labor Agency in New York City, at
ur very Threshold as it were, the Or
anized attempt now being made TO
nnihiate st. Crispinism by the sub
litution of Cinnamon for "Uni0n"
,ordwainers, the mechanics of this be-
lighted city have organized, and are
paying unusual attention TO what they
nave styled the wv orkingmen's Anti
Coolie League" A constitution has
been adopted, officers elected Whose
sympathy with the movement is thor
Ough and beyond caviD and strenuous
efforts are being made to add to the as
yet somewhat illiberal membership.
Among those prominent in this move
ment are some veterans in the cause of
Labor Reform, but the majority have
been brought to the surface by the
Chinaman.
As you have already been informed,
the original organization was a repre-
sentative one, the representation being
derived from Trades Unions, and one
circle of that noble fraternity-grest
George Lippard's legacy to the Cypress
ed-the Brotherhood Of the Union.
Prior to the October election the
League in that form was well attended
and much interest was manifested in
lis proceedings by the general public
Its influence extracted from the several
Congressional aspirants then seeking
the SURFACES Of the people, pledges,
more 'or less decisive, binding their
makers, if elected, to faithfully inter
pref the wishes Of the working people
with reference to the two all important
questions the league was organized to
agitate. How the successful ones will
deal with their promises, it remains for
the future to develop. The election
having TRANSFERRED, and the excitement
consequent thereon having subsidized,
the attendance at the meeting Of the
League materially lessened, and it was
the organization by opening its doors
for the admission of any wOrkingman
willing to subscribe to its pledges, the
decisions Of its officers, and to pay a
merely nominal in tiation fee. 1t is
expected that this move will result in
large accessions to its member ship.
An executive committee of FIVE has
been appointed, which, if understand
the ideas Of its progenitors Alright, is
to be sort of condensed League-for
purposes Of investigation only, how
ever. Its most important functions is
to watch carefully the progress Of the
Anti-Coolie and other phases Of the
Labor movement here and in other
places, and to make TO the League
such suggestions and recommendations
as its observations it may deem advis-
able. Land Reform is the second car.
dinal object Of this 9dy.
1t hopes by petition, by pledgine
candidates, or, # need be. by the Orga
nization Of third party to put an ef.
fectual stop to the habit in which Con-
gress has lately to an outrageous ex.
tent INDUCED, Of donating lands in
large parcels to corporations for specu
lative or other purposes of private
gain. In common with yourself, we
believe that when the necessities Of a
community demand thai a new rail
road be built, steamship line established.
canal dug,or any other public improve
ment effected, (the profits Of which are
to be extensively or even partially en-
joyed by Individually the necessary
capital can easily be procured BY pri-
vate investment, the interference Of the
government in any way being both
unnecessary and unjust to the rest Of
the people. Government subsidies
either in land or money to private or
sectional enterprises of any kind are
wrong in theory, and, in practice, pre-
judicial TO the best interests of the peo-
pie and the morality of the law-makinQ
power. 1t establishes precedent, even
when subsidy is granted for a pur.
pose which in result will benefit the en-
tire people, upon which venal Con-
gressmen may base, and logically, too,
the most outrageous demands. These
are some of the sentiments which ami
mate us az individuals, which led to the
formation Of the League, and with
which we seek 10 Undue those whom
we send to represent us in the councils
Of the nation. AT the last meeting Of
the League, resolution declaring an
utter loss of faith in the promises of
either Democratic or Republican poll
ticians, and recognizing an urgent ne
cessity for independent action was
voted down by the casting vote OF
the President. This a partisan paper
regards as Significant, too, think
it signifcant-signifcant that the
meeting could not see az far ahead
as it should be able to see, Judging
from the evidence we have in such
abundance, proving how corrupt party
P Jltics have these years gotten to be.
at an early day.
The executive committee instructs
me to request correspondence from
Anti Coolie, Land and Labor Reform
organizations in the West. Commu-
nications Of this nature will receive
the prompt attention of c. Ben. John
son, Chairman, 523 South Thirteenth
Street. We are in earnest now. We
have dilly-daIlied quite long enough.
Having hit upon two issues upon which
we are all Of one opinion, it will be
1ur aim ~ mako ~ thpnn a sort of