Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-05-01
The ssocfaIistic Liberal Commune"

Considerable attention throughout the coun-
try has lately been attracted to the SOcialistic
Liberal Commune in Chicago, and many con-
Trajectory statements of its principles and in
fentiOns have been made. An impression pre-
walls in Chicago that the communists are pre-
pairing for an outbreak this summer. 1t is
certain that they are well supplied with fire
arms and have been dl illing uninterruptedlv
for months, with the avOwed purpose of pro-
tecting themselves in case of strike if the
state or federal troops should be employed
against them. Several thousand persons are
connected with the movement. The cOmmu-
ni5tS are not without political power, having
elected several of the municipal off ;erS 1t is
Claimed that the organization has gained a
strong fOOthold in California, and is spreading
in every direction. In Chicago the cOmmu-
niStS are closely associated with the nineteen
trades unions, and it is feared that general
strike of the labOring classes will take place
within month or two, which will be the pre-
Jude to violence and blOOdShed. The mayor
OF the city is making preparations to guard
against an outbreak 1t is possible that the
danger may have been exaggerated i'm some
respects, but enough remains, when the ex-
periences of last summer are remembered, to
Justify some apprehension.
The platform of the social liberal cOmmun-
lists, which, perhaps, gives good idea of the
liOfcHchl III d COuucHStu IUllll, Is Sldleu DIS
follows:
Il Eight hours for the present as legal
working day and prompt punishment of all vi
OlatOrS: 2 Sanitary inspection of all cOndi-
tons of labor, means of subsistence and dwell
imgs included. 3. Bureau of Labor Statistics in
al the states as we'll as i'll the national govern
ment. The officers of the same to be elected
by tie people. 4. Prohibition of the use of
prison labor by private employers or corpora
tiOns. 5. Prohibition of the employment OF
children under IA years of age in industrial es-
Establishments. 8. Compulsory education of all
children under II years of age. All materials,
books, ETC., necessary in the public schools to
be free of charge. !. Prohibition of the EN-
plOyment of female labor in occupations detri-
mental to health or morality. and equalization
OF wOmen'S wages with those of men where
ecu | service is performed. s.. Strict laws
making employers liable for all accidents re-
sulting through their negligence to the injury
of their employees 9. All wages to be paid in
the lawful money of the nation and at inter
vllS of time not exceeding one week. Viola
lions of this rule to be legally punished. 10.
All conspiracy laws operating against the right
OF wOrkingmen to strike or induce others to
strike shall be repealed. II. GratuitOuS ad-
ministratiOn of justice in all courts of law. II.
All indirect taxation to be abolished and a
graded incOmetax collected in its stead. Ii.
All banking and insurance to be conducted
by the government. IA. The right of suffrage
shall in no wise be abridged. Il Direct popu-
lar legislation, enabling the people to propose
or reject any law at their will, and intrOduc-
ton of minority representation in all legisla-
tive elections. Is. Every public officer shall
be at all times subject to prompt recall by the
election of a successor"
The appearance Ofthe steamer Cimbria of the
Hamburg American packet line at Southwest
HdrbOr. Maine, is yet a matter of mystery
There seems to be no doubt that the vessel has
leen chartered by the Russian government,
but exactly what they propose to do with her
il not so apparent. The surmiSe that she was
to be turned into a cruiser for war purposes is
pronounced improbable, for the reason that
she is totally unfit to carry heavy guns, and
would need to be almost entirely rebuilt to
adapt her for such purpose. 1t is not impOs-
Sible, however, that she could mount some
light guns. sufficient to enable her to prey upon
the commerce of England in case of war, aud
trust to her speed to escape, in case of pursuit
by British cruiser.