New-York tribune., 1878-05-10
THE SPECTRE or COMMUNISM.

DEALERS ~ ARMS AND oP INsPECroR-GENERAL
wooDwARD-No GROUNDS FOR FEAR OF LABOR
RIOTS HERE.
Rumors have been current lately in this
city that bands OF Communsts-Germsn, French and
Irish-hayo been buying arms secretly and IN large
quantities. preparatory to general uprising
Yesterday morning the report widely aud exoitedy
circulated tlat the organizations IN Brooklyn had
assumed such threatening proportions and attitude that
the 23d Regiment OF the National Guard aud
other regiments had been placed under waiting orders
in ant cpaton OF early active work There no doubt
that large number Of clubs Of worngmen have lately
been organized la Brooklyn and that at their meetings
the widest sort Of Communism talked Their osensi-
bic purpose IL solely political and 1t Is significant that
their work in the wards where the Repub
hcan and Democratic parties most nearly equal the
idea being 10 hold the balance Of in the Fall eiec-
nOns. No eGirts at armng or drilling have been made
The numbers thus organized considerable. The
rumOr that the regiment named had been put under
orders in view OF possible trouble from these Labor
Leagues originated In this wise: There Is Law OF the
which requires that the fatigue uniforms.
coats and kna SCs OF regiments shall be kept In the
armores, and Colonel WaFd OF the 93d Reg
imeut. Tuesday ordered more thorough obedience
TO this guation, which had been somewhat ne
elected. Similar orders issued To the 47th
Regiment. In order u.s. less excitement, the
orders Issued trouGa The Captains of companies
verbally and tha consequent air OF secrecy led to the
exaggeratiOn which coupled the movements with
preparations for taking the field against the Com
munsts.
There IS little doubt that a large number OF the
unemployed, and OF tramps aud crimnals, would
plunge eagerly into any riots. But the labor agaors
and Communists, however much their inclination, have
very little Many Independent milit iry compa
MES exist especially among the German but rs TAR as
could De learned no supplies OF arms or ammunition
have been bought recently IA this city From California
however, the accounts indicate that general uprising
is proposed In order TO os the Chinese from the state
Ia Chicago and also in other cities Of Illinois, active
forts being made 10 organize State mIiitiu.
4 gentleman. well Informed in military matters, who
Dc that riot here Is near a hand said yesterday
II IDLE To shut eyes to the fact that active
though preparations being made To repeat the
scenes Of last Summer The CDmmunistic sentiment Is
waxing strong; IL Is gaining ground here aud IN West
crn cities Agents buying up ars here; cmssarics
Of secret military organizations going throughout
tue country preparing plans for simultaneous uprs
Ing Of the vicious and te unemployed That the authOr
lies OF Clicag1 have q Wholesome tear OF these il
by the fact that they have sent recently To this
city purchase battery. One OF the Chicago Com
munss was in this c " lately aud confessed to friend
that they had 5000 men there sworn TO stand together
and that they gathering arms aud equipments
The movement will Dc headed, perhaps by professional
Communists. bat 10 il will swarm the hosts OF the unem
plUycd In every city. Men WHO viii argue logically on
any other pont cannot be convinced that the country
-houd not give them work Good, honest, industrious
men who yanly seek for work at any price, grow bitter
and will readily join any undertaking, 30 matter how
visionary or drs pcrate which promises 10 give them
any relief Th.y know n the gain prove small, the loss
Will be- smaller su. They have sounded such depths oi
uisery during these hard times, that they fear nothing
rhcsc will form the rank aud hlc who demand bread
and work Then VII come the great army OF tramps,
VINO n,krd 70 the -. of last summer No one
- xg,1 pafu tied
Why should tncy who fired property aud shed blood
tcn fear that the law will be more severe again! There
Wa. that man IN Pennsylyaui who WAS charged win
shooting down two National Guarismen and yet es-
capped punishment These wretches viii plunge into
any movement that promises plumber with perfect as
,urnurc Prcparaons shoud be made here before II Is
too late The appropriation Of 100000 just voted
will give the National Guard Of this cIty blankets, over
coats oanceus etc. the only part Of regular camping
OUTFIT which they lack believe that all the companies
should pat under camp dril NJ once IL II the only
way TO insure safety for the city"
WHAT THE DEALERS IN ARMS SAY.
Inquiry among dealers IN arms and ammunition failed
10 show any ground uneasiuess about rsng this
city They all declared that business WAS never duer
than now that very few were bought by residents
Of the city aud that the chief orders came from Illinois,
which Is making great efforts TO get together good
militia and from California whore organizations are
armng secretly to unite and expel the Chinese from the
state.
Joseph w. Frazier OF New Church-st who fills orders
for guns and ammunition from al parts OF the country.
said Yesterday: This question Of Communism Is
greatly exaggerated There Is doubt that much dis
content exists mainly because OF lack Of work. But
these people always talk great deal and do precious
little In this city organizations that know
OF are making any efforts 10 and equip
themselves. There arc many independent military
companies here. principally among the Germans and
Irish They liko the German turner's ana nave inelr
regular places OF meeting Tboy have arms which they
bought years Just af,0r the war; but OF ammunition
they have supply and hence could do nothng against
good troops. The French Communists do an immense
Hs,Ir from the Gafde lafayette Witch il an mdepend
cn company made up OF respectable French rrsdents
Of and that number 100 rifles. There are proDa
by about men In ali these companies ~ 10 the
National Guard Ia the city, bat they have no ammun
ton aud money 10 buy any. They are practically
powercss A row viii doubtless come THIS summer.
We usually have Ia July August, but unioss the
locai government Is without any backbone. no trouble
need be anticipated -
gun trade WAS never stsgnant than now. Our or
drrs come Principally from Illinois aud California;
They nave had "A IN Chicago over Communism ana
State trying TO do something IN the way Of an organ
lied militia They have ordered battery Tor Chlcago
an excellent STEP II they not obliged to use The
Ii would surprise you TO see how Few states
have wolleqnipped militia. Only Ncw-iork. new
Jersey, Pnnsy yana, Massachusetts, Connecticut and
perhaps, Rhode Island, for small state, have we'll
organized companies Kentucky has not single unl'
formed company, though there are many strong
independent bodies OF nilitia Missouri became
alarmed about year ago ana set aopn' .,r or
work. PROM the South aud Southwest We get many
orders for arms, and "A large number OF independent
military companies have been fIrmed, but these aru by
hest people and for the maintenance of order Let
tiers have from California, asking The
price of arms which naively stated wanted Tor
shooting game. which Is unusually abundant Tnefe
little doubt that trOube viii soon follow ont there me
feeling acanst the Chinese seems be gaining ground
10 Is not confined 10 San FRANCISCO, Dut
has spread Throughout the State. should an
outbreak occur there II will come East like
wild fire and may become general. In these riots the
dO take vigorous measures NJ the start
All the trouble last Summer grew out ol the baltimore
rOts aud the msmanng cement In tho attempts 10 sup
press them"
ORDERS FROM TUE WEST AID PENNSYLVANIA.
In conversation, yesterday, Homer Fisher dealer
aI