Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-04-21
HERR MOST AND THE WORK.
lNGMEN

Why He was Excluded from the
Workingmen's Assembly-The Views
OF SOmo Of the WOrkinymen-What
the W0rkimKmen Here Want-Satls-
factory Condition Of Their Affair." a
Present.
Many of the workingmen of the District de-
cline to talk OF Most or his theories. on the
ground that they have nothing to do with
either. The action of the Federation of Labor.
IN excluding him from their meeting last Tues
day evening, 10 commended by q number, but it
Is asserted by others that as individuals many OF
the iaboring men are In accord with him in the
sentiments expressed In his address Wednesday
night.
A member OF the Federation of Labor told q
STAR reporter that at the meeting On Tuesday
evening there was considerable business on
hand, and there was considerable opposition to
listening to him rs an organized body of work.
lngmen. When the resolution was presented
inviting Herr Most to address the meeting as
has been stated, 1t was opposed and q repre-
sentative Of the bOOkbinders offered a substitute
reciting some quotations from MOst's speeches,
declaring that the American people are not
ready to endorse his views as they understood
them. and closing with refusal to give him the
privilege of speaking. This was debated at con-
siderable length, and was adopted by large
majority. Some of his friends asserted that the
press dispatches had done him an injury by mis-
quoting him, and that he should have the
opportunity to set himself right. This sugges-
ton was answered By some one asserting that
as organized wOrkingmen they had nothing to
do with him, and if he desired to set himself right
he and his friends should hire u hall for the
purpose.
DON'T WANT TO EXPERIMENT.
The member giving this information said:
no rli hauA ole
smoothly this season with few exceptions. The
plumbers receive an advance Of so cents per
day. and the painters are virtually over with
their strike. nearly all having gone to work at
the advanced PRICES per day. 1t would be q
bad go now TO let in man who might throw in
I fire brand"
BELIEVES THERE IS SOMETHING IN HIM.
reporter asked Mr.. B. G. Mcdonald. of the
tailors' union. the question, ''what is all this
about the opposition of the workingmen to
Herr Most!" ''The workingmen," replied Mr.
Mcdonald, shave no objection to him or to his
cause. but the fact is that some of our working
men are delicate. Recently the American peo-
pie have had some big humbugs stuck on them
including Jumbo, by that prince OF humb ugs
Barnum. and he, having kicked in the traces
some were afraid that Most would prove a Ger
man Jumbo, and therefore there was opposition
to him."
Il have been with Herr Most" continued Mr.
Mcdonald. land / know that the wOrkingmen
are with him. As for the Federation he was
killed Off there by the enforcement OF techni-
calties, but am sure that the majority were
willing to hear him. Do you suppose that
would endorse the man If there was not some
thing in him? The fact that he was twice
elected to the German Rechstag shows his in
fiuence there. He is not the extremist some
would picture him. Wednesday night. after the
meeting. some of Us gave him a banquet at Fritz,
at which Mr.. G.. III. Holmes presided, and there
were about 50 present. Most made an address
there. in which he spoke for about Is minutes
on the Irish questions. and it is doubtful if any
native of the Emerald Isle could draw a more
faithful picture than he did. 1t was an exceed
in@ly fine address. am quite sure that the
wOrkingmen of the District will receive him
when he comes again"
NOT AN AGRARIAN OR RED-HANDED REPUBLICAN,.
Mr.. Julian l.. Wright, leading member of
the Federation of Labor, said to a STAR re-
porter:
81 don't think that Herr Most's objects are
generally understood Some regard him as an
agrarian and rcd-handed republican; but I do
not regard him as such"
What do you think his opinions are?" asked
the reporter
why. he does not advocate anything more
than the newspapers do during session Of Con-
SItSS WHcu the SUBJECT Oh railroad mOnOpOleS
Is brought up. His views are not as extreme
perhaps, as some Of the newspapers on this sub
ject"
Further" continued Mr.. Wright, ''Herr Most
maintains that capitalists ought not to be al
lowed to make 100 per cent on their money.
These are hts views in chief, I believe. He be-
lieves in peaceful measures until the time comes
when we are made slaves and pushed to the
wall. and then he ravors forcible resistance"
What will the laboring men do about Herr
MOst?" continued the reporter
IL can't tell you. There are all sorts of men
In our labor organizations. and they have their
political and religious prejudices, and these are
allowed some times, we think, to interfere with
the labor cause. We want to get such spirit
among our people here that the labor cause will
reason there is great difference Of opinion in
regard to Herr Most, and o variety of objections.
L suppose the subject will come up again at the
meeting on Tuesday,"
IN FAVOR OF GIVING HIM A FAIR CHANCE
Mr.. N. j. Curry. well-known bricklayer and
contractor, and member of the Federation of
Labor. stated last evening to STAR representa-
tive that he thought Herr Most had been mis-
represented grossly as to his views on the labor
question. He believed that he was a type of a
large class Of persons connected with labor
unions in Europe. where views on such matters
are much in advance OF those in this country.
His ideas about extreme measures proper to be
resortcd to, should the worst come to the worst
Ia this country, did not suit here. nor would they
meet with much sympathy here; certainly not
In this city. where all that labor asks for is JUS
tce and fair dealing between labor and capital.
do You think" asked the reporter, the
temper OF the trades unions of this city Is favor
able to receiving him into their bodies and to ail-
iatlng with him?"
Il do not" said Mr.; Curry, "believe they
would admit him without knowing more Of him
and his peculiar sentiments"
Have you made his personal acquaintance,
and what do you think Of his plans as reform
err" asked the reporter.
- met him the night he arrived In this city,
and at the meeting that night OF the Federation,
when he was excluded, voted to receive him
and hear what he had to say. am still in favor
of giving him fair chance to express his sentl-
ments; IL they do not square with truth and
Justice. then l say give him the 'gO-by;' II
otherwise, give him his dues"
why do you think he has been misrepre-
sentedS"
Because" said Mr.. Curry, 81 have heard
no expression Of his since he arrived in this city
such as has been attributed to him In the news
papers. The man has been reared in different
country from ours. His extreme methods are
not 80 extreme where he would apply them;
they certainly would not suit for us. and the
trades unions here do not entertain them Our