New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-02
DEMANDS OF THE SOCIALISTS.


Certainly replied Mr. Hewitt we shall be glad TO hear
you, Mr.. Schwab.
My names not schwab. but McGregor. I'm Social
ist not Communist.
Then Mr. McGregor sat down by the table and schwab
moved him, often prompting him as TO the heads
OF his DISCOURSE and helping him out of any corners
into which Mr. Hewitt's questions drove him. Mr..
MeGegor talked very earnestly dropping his voice TO
whisper at tines occasionally he rose from his chair
and geseuated wildly He stated his name, his oceupa-
ton that of jewellery, and gave his residence as No.
4S1 East FOurteenthst
Congress has at length" began Mr.. McGregor.
recognized the fact that the working people OF all
countries are suffering Congress wants TO know the
reasons That big subject and not OF as much ao-
count as the remedy Congress is really In earnest,
il must 90 to understand the disease think
Ministry should be appointed, like the Ministry OF War;
TO charge of the labor Question Men have to work
for living to-day formerly they got 1t by theft and
rapine So claim since he must work, each man has
10 do so consider that this makes it necessary for
Governments primarily to consider industry ana us
wants 1 demand, therefore, bureau which shall find
out how many people are at work In the country, and
what their occupations are; shall classify them by
trade or profession shall find out how they live their
wages; their profits how much they know their
means of education their surroundings their sanitary
conditions how long they live In the various trades
until all this is doue the right kind Of laws cannot be
| made The workmen cannot get the statistics them
selves"
Mr.. Hewitt-Have you examined the past census
/ A.-NOt fully.
o. will send you, II you will allow me, COM
pendulum of the census, which has In 1t all the nforma
ton You seem after. 1t has been the custom In
this country $780, gather Just such statistics as
you mentionexcept perhaps in regard to the sanitary
condition the people. The Massachusetts bureau has
| undertaken that, too. ADO you know that Massa-
chuseus bureau is sham and fraudf 1t cannot ex-
anime under oath; it cannot compel attendance; 1t
| can't get at what 1t wants.
Q.-IOw often would you have the census taken A.
| Once IN five years.
! o-The General Government takes 1t in ten
/ years. the State once in i've years. A.-NOt fully
! enough
Mr.. Hewitt-Pn get You that compendium-the
Government pays for IT, Alt is not perfect I've seen
some OF the Governments charts of the rainfall and
such things we all the social conditions Does 1t
| name all the trades, and how many men, women and
/ children engaged in thcmf
o-You want more information, them II understand.
The Massachusetts bureau touches upon the sanitary
| condition. What more would you suggest A.-The
bureau should report year. 70 propose such egs
ation as may be necessary. Something must be done
there win soon be safety for any The working
man is smouldering volcano. l tell you-(here Mr..
McGregor's voice sank TO whisper and he from
/ his chair there's danger
| Q.-Have you any moro suggestiOnsi Ave don't
| want any patchwork reform Give us comprehensive
scheme There is overproduction. This must be lin
| tied until there is work enough forevery man.
| Mr. Rice-Has Congress right 70 make such lawsi
| Ayes Congress has a right to do any thing that
| won't be against the laws OF morality.
| Mr.. Rlce-The Constitution forbds-
| McGregor land schwabl-ChaDge It, The people must
have work. want to work to get shoes. need them
Mr. Hewltt-If should reduce the number OF shoes
made or cut of the number OF shoemakers would II get
| you pair A.-Reduce the number OF hours TO eight
il that does not give every man chance TO work, re-
duce the day to six hours. We must have chance TO
| work There's too much machinery
Mr. Rice-Do you think il reduces the number Of men
| employed TO introduce machinery Ayes
| o-Do you think fewer men make shoes now than In
| DAYS when there were machinesi Ayes. Look at
| England; frat machinery was introduced and women
and children set 10 running IT, The men were changed
| into loafers who depended their wives for drink
money The country had TO pass laws 70 stop children
from working more than four and half hours day.
| Q-Didnt women spin and weave in early days as
much IS they do nowq Are not men employed proper
tionallyi A-That does not matter II man is made
wrong See the tIaInps in tins country. They would
workf they eond se under aeGen1 con
cent humanity thoIr breassthat prevents tnem from
M Mewitf-Before the paIic-prior TO 1s73-was
| there plenty Of enploymentf A-fOra short lime. 600
| Q-Why has the change taken placel A-for 800
years there been advance In machinery The de-
mand occasionod BY t9eTar was oy inede enr
| O-Does the present depression differ from that OF
| 1887 1847, 1879 Ayes; fewer men are employed
| but moro men and women all over the world
A--DO women work in the feds N Europe, and II
! they do not, what has become OF the heid gahgf
| schwab (qlispering), Paupers.
Mr nesitt-BGt statistics show that there are less
paupers in England today than ever before. A-But
MI hewitt neg your pardon but the statistics show
there are lever beggars than formerly. Al am no
| Communist. don't believe in equal wages Let the
Government tine machinery and give us the benefit
CHOW are you going to draw a line in regard 20
thc aid Government should g1yef A.-Tnaps why
want Bureau OF Statistics. Then you'n know how to
| uo@Ahl Now We are back to the bureau Is misery
in The world Increasing A.-rne man Is bet
ter or but don't think the workman Is getting his
Owe are all working for the same end-the greatest
good for the greatest nnmberf A-No I'm rather Tor
ST Rice-%6at you mean Is this: You are better of
but want TO get better OF yeti Ayes, thaps It,
Mir. HewIft-Congress has passed resolution Of that
methods OF collecting Information. have not the
least doubt IN the world you write to r. A. Walker
he Will Dc gao 70 ,ae p any sors e a.
| Mr.. Reel understand you object TO the Massachu-
ses.S SaeSS xo Al would not take an oath
1 Q-Wby do You want others 10 do 50, then A-Peo-
| 'o@What DO you do Do you affirm Al tell ron
the truth, that's all don't tell you the TRUTH the
o~oh no He can't touch you unless you have taken
aaIne sort OF OATH You must take an oath or affirm
that In the presence OF the living God A-But
Mr.. Hswitt-I,hen your statement would not be taken
sehwab and MeGregor together-Thatsit; there is no
| religious liberty in this country. .x.x
The subject hanged. MIR. Rice said that he In
ferred fro what Mr.. MeGFegor had remarked that ne
DID NOS like charitable tnsLtationA Mr MeGngor as
DE were al me better Tor doing ali they could
selves strneeRg g ses thlng ST. rn ma
apply the same trouble 70 Che present state OF society
W0ulant Il DO better 10 wait patiently ana Work our way