The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-12
THE LABOR QUESTION.

The Excited Feeling Among the Labor
ing Men-Views Of One of Their
CIass-No Danger Save From Indiscreet
Action on the Part of the Authorities
Insignificance OF Would Be Leaders.
The question OF the unemployed working men in
this city, now numbering many thousands, has ex-
cited grave apprehensons in the breasts OF many OF
late, and rumors OF probable outbreaks have been
as numerous as the proverbial leaves Of Valiant
brosa- These apprehensions have been increased
by the Incorporate remarks OF certain persons
claiming to be representatives of the labOring
class, tending toward sedition and riot. In view
OF these facts a HERALD reporter Yesterday called
upon a gentleman belonging to the working men
and entirely In sympathy with them. occupying
prominent position among and much respected
by them, to obtain MS views on the situation.
alt Is q 'supject,o he said, ''upon which am
very ready to talk TO YOU" AS some reference had
been made to
THE INTERNArIoNALs
in opening the conve rsaton, he continued :-"You
are wrong IN attaching any importance to that or.
ganlZation. 1t mas no existence In New York. AT
least no following. Started sim ultaDeOuSly In
England and France, IN 1866. and alter the Paris
Exposition. it was successful in the latter country
only owing to the foolish course Of Napoleon,
which drove its members into secret societies and
where they had free scope. they soon died out.
The General Council was transferred tONew York
some Two years SINCE where it has since died from
lnanltion and the effort to introduce eXtraneous
matters into 1t. There are, however. IN New York
a considerable number OF
woRKINGMEN's SOCIETIES
growing out OF the hostile attitude which capital
and labor are assuming toward each other. They
are cropping their way Dlindly, hardly realizing
where the trouble lies yet somehow conscious OF
its existence. There are a large number OF men
out employ some ofthem, with their families, on
the very verge OF starvation. l know them well.
they are naturally IN very excited condition, and
it Will require careful and Iorbearing course on
the part oil the authorities to prevent an outbreak.
1ney consider that the gOyernment-natl0naI,
State or munlclpal-ougnt
TO FURNISH THEM WORK,
as 1t has the means to do 1t. There are thousands
who I'VE from hand TO mouth and VINO nave been
won't to depend on the city ior work. They know
there Is great deal OF 1t to do, IN grading the
streets, improving the parks, &C, and they are
anxious, ally anxious, Tor bread, you see.
Now 1t would be extremely impoiitic Tor the
authorities to interfere with them In their present
condition WITH their meetings, their speeches and
their parades, II they want them"
"Wnat about these leaders, who are talking SO
lOud?'' asked the reporter.
II will tell you,i was the response. sBut nrst
let me say the laboring men are apt to look upon
those IN power as their natural enemies; and any
attempt at present TO suppress their meetings or
their liberty OF speech-no matter how rabid it
may De-might lead TO serious results. As to the
ieauers OF whom you speak they are SO only IN
name. There are three or lour-may be halI
doZen-who are seeking 10 place themselves at the
head Of the worklngmen but they really have no
influence and they will nave none, unless the au-
thoTltles, by some lndiscreet action, make
MARTYRS OF THEM.
The truth is they are loud-moutned, blatant fools,
and Inc workingmen know 1t D.; only any attempt at
interference with them In the present condition
OF affairs would be considered as blow at the
laborlng class. Tell the authorities to let them
alone and they Will do no injury. They are too in
Significant
The attention OF his informant was here called
elsewhere, ana the reporter took his leave.