The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-06-17
The Commune.

NEW YORK, June e15.-Sensational pol
iticians here wildey estimated that ther,
were 100000 organized Communists ii
this city and vicinity. An investigation
of Communism in New York and Brook
lyn has been going on for month past
made by several Tribune reporters, who
have regularly Joined several lodges OF
sections of the "Sociallstic Labor Party,
as the Communists call themselves. The
reporters acted without concert OF
knowledge of each others operations, and
the summary of facts and conclusions
reached are from their distinct reports,
which very closely agreed in almost every
particular.
The various sections in this city, of
which there are now eight, number as
enrolled paying members a little less
than 300 men. Those of Brooklyn, where
there are six sections, do not exceed 500,
and the most active members do not claim
that thenumber exceeds 600. OF the total
in the two cities, nearly 1000 are Ger.
mans, and Of these three-fourths at least
enforce perspiration by the arduous labor
of dispensing beer. There are not more
than one hundred Americana enrolled in
the two cities. and of these maay do not
agree with the more radical sentiments
of the Germans. There are only few
dozen Irishmen. The rest are Frenchmen,
mainly refugees of the Paris Commune.
There is only one American Section in
this city, which meets at No. % Stanton
street, and has thirty-seyen members.
They say: "We are attempting to carry
out our measures through peaceable
means, through politics and the ballot. If
we fail there we may then have to resort
to violence, but not now. While denying
and ridiculing the idea of arming and
drilling, and insisting that they propose
to accomplish a revolution by moral
means, the Socialists say that the out
rageous constitution of society challenges
q rising of the middle classes before
moral means can work out their result.
Such rising they anticipate with grim
satisfaction, and profess to be unable to
stave it of. Questioned on the subject of
working out reform by educating the
masses, they manifested impatlence at
the idea-the slowness of the work being
their main ground of objection. More
over. they appear to doubt its efficiency.
1t has been represented that the Catholic
clergy have been greatly troubled at the
growth of this body, and discountenance
it by every means. Their opposition,
however, on inquiry, is found to be chief.
ly caused by fear of growth of infdeI
notions, and not by anticipation of any
serious trouble or violence.
DRILLING THE POLICE.
President Smith, of the Police Board,
said the subject of communism in New
York had been regarded by the Police
Board as too trivial for discussion, and
no orders had been issued to the force in
reference to Communist societies. New
ertheless, the police are being thoroughly
instructed in drill and dispersing of
street mobs, and on off days the officers
are ordered to report at their precincts
Immediately on the first indications of a
disturbance, so as to be ready in case of
an emergency.
STREET MILITARY DRILL.
During the summer the several regi-
ments in this city will be thoroughly
drilled IN street skirmishing and ham
ding mobs. The Twenty second Regiment
had such drill yesterday, skirmishing
on Fifth avenue at Twenty-third street,
forming hollow square on Madison ave-
nue. at Twenty.sixth street, and perform
ing evolutions of loading and firing at
command at Forty-fourth street.