Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-09-18
ANARCHISTS AND LABOR UNIONS.
The ke0 Flag I'm ChicagO-AImos
Scene From the French
Revolution.

Revolution.
There is war in Chicago between the
Anarchists and the Labor Unions, The
Anarchists are chiefly Europeans, who
have grudge against all government, all
property and all public order. They
number several thousand, and in recent
Sunday parade turned out 1000 strong.
The red flag was frequent in the line, and
the legends and notices were suggestive.
They ran: Each Government is con-
spiracy against the people," Clown with
all laws" Government is for slaves -
"Our civilization is powder, lead and
clubs;" Liberty without equality is a
lie" ''Lawlessness is equality "Pri-
vate property is theft :" "Might is right. F."
The procession seemed to have stepped
into the street out of the French revolu-
ton. The speeches were lawless and
reckless, and the beer and liquor con-
sumed testified to the thirst of the threat
ening crowd.
A few days later the Labor Unions par
AIDED without the red flag and piratical
notices, and passed this resolution:
1.-THE organized mechanics and work.
ingmen of Chicago, on this, the first cele-
bration of the labor national holiday,
deem it due themselves and the public
to announce that they know their rights.
and will maintain them at all hazards.
They prefer the ballot to the bullet, rea-
son to ruffianism, united and intelligent
action to meaningless violence as the
agency best calculated to remove the
evils of which they complain. The
means that may be justifable in the des-
potism of the Old World are unwarranted
and out of place in free republic where
the franchise is the inalienable right OF
every American citizen, irrespective OF
color and nationality, and they are I'M
willing to aid in the destruction of the
institutions OF our country, the hope of
the oppressed of every cline, which their
valor and patriotism have secured"
Upon that platform the Union should
receive the sympathy and support of
every citizen. Laboring men who love
this country and stand for its institutions,
regardful of the lives, liberty and property
to protect which governments are created,
are the best element, the genuine nobil
ity OF free country. They are the Gre
ators OF its wealth, the inspiration of its
thrift, its dependence in peace and its
defenders in war Let those who guide
public opinion consider we'll this voice of
labor from Chicago. Let them remember
that every injustice put upon the noble
men who are capable of so elevated an
utterance, recruits the ranks OF anarchy
and enlists labor under the red flag, while
justice and good faith swell the roster of
those who at their hard toll cheerfully
bear testimony to the benefcence of in
situations which, fairly administered, offer
TO them the ownership of homes and the
enjoyment of LIES opportunities, and to
their children education and progress.
We discuss party politics and exhaust
US lifting men into office and creating
greatness of littleness Can no time be
given to the interests Of these patriotic
laborers? Where is the Senator or Rep
resentative in Congress who will aid
them by laws that shelter their wages
and increase the purchasing power of
their earnings, by cooperative purchase
OF homes and of the necessaries of life?
The aggregation of capital is subject
OF great complaint, but witness the mar
wells il has wrought! 1t has gridironed
the land with railways and it plows the
sea with floating palaces that are ferries
between continents. 1t is cooperation
only. Apply the same principle to the
investments labor makes of its wages,
and in half of another generation there
need not be laborer in this land who
does not own the roof that shelters his
wife and babies.
1t ID known that in the purchase OF
food and clothing alone, in the petty re-
tail way which is now the practice, labor
is at disadvantage of fifty per cent in
the market. Suppose community of
four thousand laborers, buying pound
Of meat day each. In the aggregate
there is the dishonest or accidental short
age upon each pound as it is weighed
There is also the chance for
leaving the fractional change in favor OF
the seller, and there is the high retail
price on the meat, which when con-
sumed has cost away above what it
should. Suppose, again, that State and
Federal cooperative laws knit these four
thousand laborers together for their COM
mon welfare, and this food purchase
be in one transaction of two tons of
dressed beef! The accidental or intended
short weight is eliminated, the disadvan-
tage in making change is impossible, and
the food is secured in better condition
and variety at wholesale rates. Apply
this PROCESS to the whole range of sup
plies, to the purchase, in large blocks, OF
land for homes, and to the erection of
houses upon it, and why does it not take
the pinch and strain out of the thrifty
10 l1oripo M a N "a Hfp9
Let the Anarchists fill with beer and
stagger under the red flag, and denounce
while we shape our laws and
policy to put property within the easy
reach and ownership of such thrifty and
patriotic labor as has digniied toll by the
toro,,aro&< ,,ttarovno of tho ChipaUo rAsO-