davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Labor enquirer., 1884-07-05
Go-As-You-Please.

When you want to buy hardware you
have the great American prerogative of
going as or where you please, but if you
will inform yourself and consult your
best interests, it will please you to 60 to
Jensen, Bliss & Co., on the corner of
Eighteenth and Holiday. This house
keeps the largest and best stock of hard
ware and house furnishing goods to be
found in any store west of the Missouri
river. The prices asked are bound to
meet your approval, as the firm has
extra advantages in that particular. Call
and see Jensen, Bliss & Co., corner of
Eighteenth and Holiday, if you are
needing anything in their line.
The Labor enquirer., 1884-07-05

THE telegraph of Wednesday morning
conveys the intelligence of the death of
Allan Pinkerton, the famous" detective,
at Chicago. Pinkerton was undoubtedly
shrewd man, and his force of detec-
tives attained considerable notoriety at
their business. But there are few
readers of THE ENQUIRER who will
mourn over Pinkerton's death. During
the past few years he has been the tool
of capitalists and corporationists, and
has sold himself and his force to the
oppressors of labor. His cowardly hand
has been shown in every prominent
strike against injustice to the working
men, and it will be odd if they have
any tears to shed at the announcement
of his death.
The Labor enquirer., 1884-07-05
BUTLER AND THE DEMOCRACY.

AS the date for holding the democratic
national convention draws nigh the p p
ular sentiment in favor of General Butler
being selected as the candidate for presi-
bent grows stronger and stronger. The
rank and file of the party are in favor of
his selection, and all over the country
are making their preference known.
The independent voters are strong in
their advocacy of Butler, and the work
ing classes are ready and eager to vote
for HIM, whether he is nominated by the
democracy or not.
Whether the convention which meets
in, Chicago next Tuesday will have the
wisdom to select the only man with
whom it can win, remains to be seen
but it is more than probable, while Gen.
eral Butler will have goodlv and stead
fast following in the convention, that
either Cleveland, Bayard or Flower viii
be nominated, with the odds strongly in
favor of the former. 1t is likely that
the democrats in convention will allow
themselves to be controlled by the capi,
| talistic rings,-as has been the case here,
tofore-and Cleveland will be nominated
to play second fiddle during campaign
in which both tickets are headed BY
men foisted onto them by the banking
and monopolistic elements of the Icoun'
try, whose game always is, heads l win
tails you lose."- r"o 4
JAlreadya boom is being worked up fol
Blaine upon what is known as his 'for'
eign policy" and "thorodgh American
ISM" and though this is absurd to the
close observer, yet twill have an effec'
unless counteracted by like character
istics in the candidate who shall oppose
him. OF all the men mentioned as the
possible candidate of the democratic
.convention, General Butler Is the only
one who combines this apparently popu.
lar quality with other and good traits
That he is the superior of Blaine In
everything that goes tovmake man and
statesman, no one who is familiar with
the records of both will attempt to gam:
say. That he has popularity with the
masses which is greater even than thai
4
The Labor enquirer., 1884-07-05
EASTERN SPECIALS.
[BY Associated Labor Press.

P1rTsBuRa, July l, THE iron business
here is very dull and we do not expect
improvement for month or more, but
the indications are good for fair winter
trade and the mills, when they once
have all repairs made and get started
will run steadily.
The river coal miners are stlll on strike
and as the empty coal boats were re.
turned from down river the last of the
week the men will probably soon be at
work again at the advance of wages
they struck for. The miners of the
state will shortly hold a convention in
this city and, for the first time, dele
gates from the anthracite regions will
be in attendance. The purpose is to ef-
feet strong state union. The miners
in the Hooking Valley, Ohio, are on
strike, and if the operators of that
region expect to get their orders filled
about here, they will be disappointed.
Owing to midsummer dullness the rail-
road mines IN. this vicinity are not
working more than two and one-halt
days week. g. r.
All the window glass houses in this
vicinity and throughout the country
shut down for two months on Monday.
The flint glass houses, except prescrip-
ton, also shut down for six weeks.
These shut downs are at. the instigation
of the unions, the workingmen insisting
on their annual holidays. The Hollow
ware Blowers League (green bottles)
have their annual convention at Alton,
Illinois, on July 7.
The molders here are still on strike,
but as they will hold out till doomsday
and the bosses cannot get non-union men
the prospects are the trouble will end
favorably to the men within few weeks.
One foundry gave in at Newcastle and
the men returned to work, but struck
against extra apprentices, who were then
taken off.
Other trades are not bothered by
strikes and lockouts.. Organization con-
tinues to grow satisfactorily. The work.
ingmen of Pittsburg were sorry to hear
of the determination of Hon. James H.
Hopkins, chairman of the committee on
labor, Of the house of representatives,
had declined to be renominated. The
working people will wait long time
before his place is filled. The signing of
the bill, by the president, to create a
bureau of labor statistics gives great
satisfaction. If thefsenate would only
pass the foreign labor bill we would all
be SO much more pleased.
The Penny Press, the new evening
paper is prospecting. as is the Times, the
cooperative daily morning paper. The
Associated Labor Press was received
with much approval and many wishes
for its successful continuance. f.
LABOR HERALD.
The Labor enquirer., 1884-07-05

enjoyed by Lincoln is apparent to every
one who studies passing events and reads
the popular mind.
In nutshell, if the democratic con-
vention nominates General Butler at
Chicago next week, that party will haYe
an opportunity to experience the peculiar
sensation of voting for successful can
didate if they nominate any man but
General Butler they will for the seventh
consecutive time have to retire defeated,
and the impression is that in such an
event the democratic party will be
buried forever. "'Tis consummation
devoutly to be wished"
The Labor enquirer., 1884-07-05

r u I L I Il n. ,
and it was open to all. Of course, others
than merabers of the union were pres
ent, one of whom took the stand and
gave his reasons for having withdrawn
from the union, that it did not go far
enough into the labor problem. You can
always find such people in the different
trades, who will not assist in organization
because their ideas are not carried out.
In my opinion they should not be
allowed the privilege of discussing mat
ters that bear directly on unionism, as
they take advantage of the work per
formed for, and money paid into, the or
carnations without assuming any of the
responsibilities.
The Upholsterers' Union and House
Painters union, two very young organi-
cations, are increasing IN membership
rapidly, ard ere long will be two of our
strongest unions. \
The varnishers held a meeting last
Sunday at Workmen's hall with a view
of recognizing their union. The move
+meIlt will be a success. :
The timers who struck last winter
against the Winchell Manufacturing COM
pany, were surprised last week by hear
ing Of the "scabs" who took their places
striking against the same prices. When
unprincipled "scabs" strike that firm
must be tyrannical in the extreme.
The carriage trimmers who struck last
week at Emerson & Fishers factory are
confident of success. .. 80. i.
The various unions in this vicinity are
highly pleased with the work of the
state labor convention at Columbus last
week. CON.
The Labor enquirer., 1884-07-05

This issue of THE ENQUIRER is loaded
with good things. Contributions from
some of the deepest thinkers and best
writers on the industrial question are to
be found upon every page. Itisa source
of pride to your humble servant" that
this paper has secured such an excellent
corps of contributors; and the more so
because the writers are such earnest and
consistent friends of the cause that they
are not retained by this paper as con-
tributors usually are by other papers
for a financial consideration. feel
perfectly safe in the assertion that no
paper in the land to-day contains ADLER
contributions than does The ENQUIRER,
and l sincerely hope that each subscriber
will carefully read the thoughts of the
many students and logical reasoners who
from week to week analyze the systems
of the world and the conditions, pros
poets and hopes of the people.
The Labor enquirer., 1884-07-05

JOE MED1LL created quite a furry
among the Denver journalists and local
politicians during his visit to this city.
For the benefit of those readers of The
ENQUIRER who are not acquainted with
Joe, will state that he is the unfeeling
wretch who said in the columns of his
paper, the Chicago Tribune, during the
hard times of 1877, that "the country
can be relieved of tramps if the people
will stop giving them bread and try a
little powder and lead upon them" He
is also the profound political economist
who says the poverty of the working
classes is a natural result of their own
improvidence. Icould further introduce
this fellow but this is enough. How do
you like Joe, the great republican party
LEADER"
The Labor enquirer., 1884-07-05

AIT, wealth, religion, morals, labor, gov
ernment, politics, war, learning, the
stage, the church. the mine, and the
board of trade have each aseveral stand
ard according to which they measure
some men as better than others. Even
bands of criminals and pirates have
similar standard of government of the
best, though of course in a society Of
pirates OF criminals, that man would be.
deemed .'best,, who made himself the
most. st.eficient and adept in the arts and
struggles incident to piracy and crime.
LaFitte among pirates, and ""Paul Cliff
ford' among robbers, are types Of aris-
tocracy In crime.
Do you doubt that this inherent and
ineradicable social inequality attends
men when they undertake to get what
they suppose to bertheir rights in court
of law 2 Any man who has practised
law as I have for ten years, has dlscov-
| cred that in nearly all controversies in
court, the merits of the case we're on the
side of the man who had the best busi-
ness qualities. So universally is this
true that in court of justice the man
who appears to be destitute Of social
standing and stable business qualities,
has the mere naked right to tell his
II
story to people who, by the inherent law
of their nature founded on long observa-
ton and experience, will not believe, it.
Virtually, therefore; it is impossible to
bring about human equality IN the ad-
ministration of law in courts of justice,
for the reason that one of the facts which
the law and principles of evidence re-
quire every juror and judge to recognize
is the actual inequalities of merit, of ye-
racity, of trustworthlness, which exist
among men. ;ta.~.'. 49, E.. a.:
1 am not capitalist and do not repre-
sent capitalists. have worked for
wages all my life thus far and expect to
do 80 the remainder of my life. / am
compelled, however, to !, recognize the
fact that as Ole Bull had the musical
sense ina degree that 1 couldnever have
had by any amount of cultivation, and
as Charles O'Conor had the legal sense in
a far higher degree than I, and as Will
liam Cullen Bryant had a finer poetic
sense than l, so Cornelius Vanderbilt,
E. B. Ward, Jay Gould, John Roach,
John Jacob Astor and Stephen Girard
have had far more skilIful sense of
value than have, com bined with greater
financial courage than 1, and their large
fortunes are the result. No one of these
men ever enjoyed any right that l have
not been in the full enjoyment of for
nearly fifty years. Each and all of them
however, had clearer perception than
will ever attain to of the relation which
prices of any given commodity will bear
to prices, three, six or nine months
hence. There are other phazes of the
question of the relations of labor to cap
ital to which I allude, but 1 am trespass-
ing on space which you may deem more
valuable for other purposes. Yours,
| VAN RupEN DENsIow =
The Labor enquirer., 1884-07-05
A NARROW VIEW.

The Irish World in its lat issue says
that General Butler is its choice of all
the men in the country fer the presi-
dency; but that if he is not nominated
by the democrats it will be compelled to
support Blaine. This seems odd, and
could be very properly called paradox,
The reason for the position taken by
the Irish World is based upon the
ground that Blaine is the advocate of "a
vigorous foreign policy" which to that
paper means SASSY" attitude towards
England. But 1t appears that General
Butler is the only other prominent man
in this country who possesses the neces-
sary qualifications in this particular.
Now the Irish World is probably
honest in this matter, and means well
enough, but the position it takes GER
tainly does not appear very broad and
is full of inconsistency.
Admitting that it has "sized up"
Blaine correctly vita reference to his
idea of diplomatic re. .ations, and that he
wouldf' sass" back at England, how is it
possible that it can place in the same
category two men of such opposite views
and practices as are Butler and Blaine ?
The Irish World must forget itself when
it announces to support, under any con-
ditions of candidacy, a man who repre-
ents the interests of the banking, rail-
road and other monopofes, which crush
the DOOR of America in the dust. and
, which cooperate with the oppressors of
England and other ands for the suppress
sion of the producers such represen-
.tatiye as James G. Blaine. =
Can a great and fearless advocate of
freemen be willing to prostitute its in
fiuence for the furtherance of the
schemes of gang of public plunderers
and despoilers because they see fit to
name as their fgure-head a man who,
in a fit of spiteful jealousy talks impu.
IDENTIFY tacross the ocean, to an enemy OIL
the Irish people2 And can the Irish
World afford to support and uphold q
party which it has a thousand times
said was inaugurating a system OF slavery
ir this fair land equal to that in opera.
ton In the country from which come SC
many to take refuge here, simply because
that party nominates as its standard
bearer d man whom it thinks would
compel England to give fair trial to 9
citizen Of this country arrested upon heI
territory as criminal
All this, Of course, is based upon 9
supposed admission that Blaine Is en-
tifled to what the Irish World gives
The Labor enquirer., 1884-07-05
EoUALrTY.,

Readers of The ENQUIRER will remem'
ber an article recently published in this
paper from the pen Of "Zeno," I" regular
contributed, in replYto a work written
by Prof. Van: Buren, Denslow. In thii
issue will be found an answer to "zeno''
by Prof Denslow. The professor seemed
to have doubts as to whether his letter
would be given space in these columns,
but he will now see that his suspicious
were groundless; and right here want
to say that The ENQUIRER is always open
to,a discussion Of the vital questions Of
the day, and anyone who is honest tif
mistaken) can be. heard through them.
may be fully satisfied that writer is
wrong, but consider that the best way
to prove him so Is to ALLOW him full
and free expression, amt to squarely
meet his ideas on the felti of fair con-
troversy. " H.. &, .-ssf ,:,
That I do not agree with the professor
in his present article all who have read
this paper for ever. a; short time are
aware !; but, as he has tackled" con-
tributor, and one well able to discuss the
question and show the 'allacy of the
professors ideas, do not intend, at this
time, to answer his letter. However he
has quoted the motto ofptllis paper, in
defense of his position, ant by super
fetal translation of that motto attempted
to place The ENQUIRER on his side, and
l desire to say few words. on that par
ticular point, and then, in all kindness,
turn tie professor over to the disseeting
knife of "zeno." ;..'
"Not rash equality, but equal rights
is the portion of the motto which the
professor appropriates Wall, we Social
lists mean just that and nothing more.
But the place where we divide from the
professor is at the line between rash
equality and equal rights. ..
There can be no equal rights without
CQudlGf III CNOAy eioO oOLoO OuV G41O4O
can be rash equality without equal
rights, and the Socialistic doctrine Is the
only theory which makes provision for
this question and assures so all Justice
without rashness.
A rash equality would give TO everyone
an equal share of the products of labor
regardless of capacity and endeavor !;
equal rights, according to Socialism.
insures each reward according to his
deeds. This seems to be very clear, and
shows perfect harmony between the
doctrines Of Socialism and the motto of
this paper.
The motto was selected with fair
understanding of its language and mean
ing, and the Socialist who would attempt
to argue withoat realizeng its truth
would assaredly find his ground unten-
able-but there are none who do.
The Labor enquirer., 1884-07-05
REpuC1Ne THE FORCE.

At the time of the attempted reduction
of wages on the Union Pacific, on the
first of May, and the surrender of the
company to the just demands of the men,
feeling prevailed amongst the most
thoughtful that it was only question of
time until another effort to accomplish
the same end, by a different method,
would be made. Since that time this
feeling has been augmented by number
less circumstances and, so, the conduct
of the company during the past week
has not been great surprise to many.
From all over the line comes informa-
ton to the effect that the working force
has been and is being reduced, in some
places only few men being reserved !;
and it is also certain that at most places
those who have been laid off have been
informed that they could return to work
in few days at reduction of wages.
In Denver, somewhere in the neigh
borhoed of one-fifth of the force has
been discharged-principally laborers
and it is generally understood that
those discharged can recover their situa-
tions by accepting a reduction of wages
of 10 or Is per cent.
The employees of the Union Pacific in
this city have carefully considered the
matter, and they have unanimously come
to the conclusion that the best thing to
do in the premises is to ask the managers
to reduce the hours, instead of the force
or wages, and they have so proceeded.
The overtures made by the men, in this
direction, understand, have been favor
ably received, and the local managers
have assured the committees that in fu-
ture there will be no more employees dis
charged. j." "
This is certainly we'll. If the expenses
of the company are heavier than the
present business will warrant, and re-
duction is snecessary, the managers should
be willing to act upon the request of the
men to reduce the hours and keep the
whole force at work on equal time. Of
course the reduction in hours embraces
a cut in the daily wage; but the employees
are of the opinion that it will be better
for all to work less hours and draw less
pay than it would be for portion of the
force to be thrown out of work entirely.
There can be no mistake about the
logic of economy in this plan, and the
spirit of justice and humanity displayed
is certainly worthy of appreciation. The
men are anxious to share the burden Of
hard times"-the strong with the weak
and the managers of the Union Pacific
system should be willing to grant a re-
quest which does not effect their expen-
ditures, but will prove that they are will
ling to consider the conditions and
wishes of their employees.
The Labor enquirer., 1884-07-05
informed that 1 long list of subscribers,

informed that long list of subscribers,
accompanied by the money, had been
mailed to the office Of THE ENQUIRER the
day previous. / have said Eagle Rock,
from the commencement of the difficulty
up to the present, has done its duty nobly
and well, but permit me to state that
all this has not been done without sac
rifice. There is a. martyr in every strug-
gle some one must direct the move
ments. In all difficulties Of this kind it
devolves on some one or two to speak the
sentiments of the many, In Eagle Rock
Mr.. James Fl. Cater was prominent
among those who performed that duty.
The officials have seen fit to curtail
expenses BY reducing the working force
in the blacksmith shop BY one man, and
Brother Cater is that man. A recent
death and present sickness in that
brothers family made it very inconveni-
ent for him to change his residence at
present. There was helper needed in
the shop, and, although first,class me
chanic, be offered oIwork in that capacity
until it would be convenient for him to
move, but this was, refused. Idon't de-
sire to waste any paper commenting on
such deeds as the above, but desire to
have note of it carefully recorded in
the Book of their Crimes, so we can refer
to it when we come to sum up the rea-
sons why. the interests and very exist
ence of this republic and the happiness
and freedom of her citizens justify and
demand that their pestiferons carcasses
must no longer be permitted to pollute
the surface of the earth Also please
note that the Central Pacific railroad
discharged sixteen gangs of American
citizens and soldiers and hired the same
number of rat-eating Chinese in their
places. etr
read with pleasure in Brother Laba-
dies letter from Michigan, the report Of
the progress of the knights of Labor in
that state, but when he speaks of the
brothers going seventeen miles in q
special train to organize an assembly, il
would appear like a. picnic excursion to
an organizer in Wyoming, Utah or
Idaho, where you must 90 not less than
100 miles, with railroad rates at cents
per mile on the passenger trains, and all
the box cars sealed up on the freights
but'such is life in the west.
l wish all the friends in Denver a good
time on the fourth Il am sorry cannot
be there. ORGANIZER.