Workmen's advocate., 1886-12-12
ARE THEY AFRAID !
SPRINGFIELD SOCIALISTS AC-
 CEPT A CHALLENGE.
Ready for Debate Connecticut Valley Economic Association Not Quite so Anxious.
 Don't Want to Meet
 Dr. Ayeling.


 field, Mass. which became famous under the fostering care of the late Sam. Bowles, of Springfield RepHbli- can memory, boasts of a organization of men of letters and men of thought in various pursuits, known as the Connecticut Valley Economic Asso- citation. Among the members of the association are Prof. E. w. Bemis, the secretary; Prof. Clark, editor of the monthly, York aud Uages; F. H. Giddings, editor of the Springfield Republican; and Geo. A. Denison, the manufac- turer.
 There is also in Springfield Sec ton of the Socialistic Labor Party, composed for the most part of wage workers. Springfield probably does not boast of this, yet is good thing for the workers of Springfield. This goes without saying.
 The Economic Association chal- lenged the Socialists to a debate, and the challenge was promptly ac- cepted. So the "Economics" were quite lively in giving the matter pub licity, naming the probable de- baters, so that things went on smoothly enough without any effort on the part of the Socialists. But when it became rumored that the Socialistc side would be defended by Dr. Aveling and Mir. Sheyitch. of New York. it seems that a great panic took possession of the gentle men who were announced as de- baters for the Economic Association.
 They evidently declined to meet the Socialistic champions. Then there was some talk of getting Prof. William G. Sumner, of Yale College, to meet the Socialists. To this the Socialists made no objection-they rather liked the idea. But there was some objection to Sumner on the part of the Economic gentle men, some of them leaning more to to the side of Socialism than to Summers individualsm.
 So the proposition was made to the Socialists to put some of their local speakers against those of the Economic Associavion, and have the debate private bers of the two societies only to be admitted to the discussion. Such proposition was hardly to be considered by the So- cialists who, conscious of the sound ness of their principles, were anx- ious to have the public get the ben eft of the debate, and could see no sufficient reason why they should debate Tn private. The hesitation on the part of Prof. Clark, who was named as one of the debaters on the mart of the Economic Association, ana the fact that there was a seem- ing willingness to have a debate previous to the announcement that Dr. Aveling and MT. Shevitch would be the probable defenders of "State Control" leads the Socialists to be- lieve that the gentlemen of the Economic Association are afraid that in public debate the arguments of the Socialists will prevail and infu- ence the intelligent people of Spring field in favor the new political SCI ence.
 The Connecticut Valley Economic Association is branch of the Am erican Economic association, of which Prof. Richard T. Ely, of Johns Hopkins University, is secre- tary. Prof. Ely is the author of various works on Socialism from a conservative stand point, his last work being, ''The Labor Movement in America criticisms of which (by Dr. Edward Aveling) have ap- peared and will be continved in the WoRKMES's ADVOCATE.
 Notwithstanding the fact that the Economic Association seems to in-