davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Labor enquirer., 1886-12-18
The Path to Prison

For the Enquirer.
1t does not always wind through
scenes of wickedness, meanness, selfish
ness and cruelty. 1t is not always trod
by evil, merciles, hard heated villains.
The attributes which most curse man
kind are not always found at its termi-
nation, nor are the qualities which bless
always wanting. Conventional morals
may lead another way and land the pill
grim in palace instead of prison, but
the path may be strewn with more
broken hearts, crushed hopes and weary
lives than tie other. The path to prison
ends in sorrow to the traveller, but he
more often leaves good deeds behind
him than does the self-made man who
had climbed remorselessly up the path
way to success.
Where does it begin, this pathway
which 80 many of the scorned lower
classes" travel, and which the gold
laden" upper classes bly, evade? 1t
begins in poverty, winds through dark
depths of poverty, and ends at the ga tes
of prison, under the deepest depths of
poverty.
Its travellers start where children
creep through filth and squalor, to
snatch dry crust from one another !;
where mothers are too weary from
drudgery to love and guard their Off
spring and fathers too sullen and des-
perateS or, from the factory door where
infants are dwarfed and starved and
driven until the uncertain life of an out
law is relief. 1t leads through milrs
and shops and factories, where human
beings toll all day and receive barely
enough to support life; through bare,
dreary homes or cherries lodging
houses; and through months and years
of enforced idleness, always accompan-
led by unsatisded hopes, undeveloped
faculties, crushed aspirations 1t some.
times takes sharp turn from humble,
peaceable life, where simple friendli-
ness, and poverty, allows the victim to
slide swiftly down the grade.
There is another way to the prison
doors. 1t is short, and pretty certain.
To find this route one has but to ex.
The Labor enquirer., 1886-12-18

press ones mind pretty strongly on the
workings Of established systems and the
wrongs which never lead to prison
doors; to advocate with influence the
rights of the common people; and de-
nounce the respectable eins of the rul.
ing classes. This will land one at rail
road speed at the end Of the path
perhaps with dark shadow of a scat.
fold falling over it.
A policeman's club can fling one down
at the prison gates, with even less cere.
mony, and it matters little what way
down the pathway of life one has taken
But the gigantic crimes, which society
has made lawful. and by which the mil
lions of disinherIted are made wretched
do not lead that way. Apparently they
lead to palaces, luxury, influence, ease
but the road is not yet ended. The f,
nal destination may prove more terrible
than mere plate of iron made into 8
prison door. LIZZIE M. SwANK.
The Labor enquirer., 1886-12-18
EVERGREEN AND VICINITY.
son COunty-WhO Participated In 1t
and some OF the Results.

Last week cordial invitation was ac-
cepted by representative of The EN-
oUIRER from many friends residing in
the vicinity of Evergreen, Jefferson
county, to visit that section and attend
a novelty in conventions
A gathering of potato raisers was held
to discuss the best means of cultiyatio n,
handling and marketing. 1t was attended
by about 100 people, who were in one
way or another interested In this branch
of farm industry.
aalf a car load of Denver newspaper
and business men left the city on the
morning of the seventh instant, speeding
over the Morrison branch of the Denver
& South Park railroad. On the way. We
saw cattle and horses browsing content
edlv on the hillsides and In the valley
OF Bear creek. They appeared to be fat
and healthy although it was nearly mid
winter. Piowing was going on at every
farm and it certainly appears that the
Bear creek valley is prosperous and
prospering.
At Morrison, our party was met by
teams and mountain wagons and con-
Veyed over the newly repaired Morrison
and Evergreen toll-road, which was
The Labor enquirer., 1886-12-18
"THE RATCATCHER."

That great national "rat" trap, the
New York Tribune, has evidently
caught Archbishop Corrigan. 1t had an
editorial, written evidently by one Of
Jay GouId's henchman on its staff, COM
menting, from Shylock standpoint, on
Henry GEORGES letter to Corrigan. II
so pleased the latter that he at once tel
egraphed to Whitelaw (R4t) Reed, edi.
tor of the New York Tribune:
fully endorse your editorial COM
ment on Henry Georges letter. The
pope expressly teaches both right of
property and ownership. Contrary
theories characterized by propaganda is
opposed to Catholic doctrine, and their
clerical advocate is summoned to Rome.
NJ. A. CoRBIGAN.
The clerical advocate" referred to is
DR.. McGlvnn whose fearless stand for
the poor and helpless has brought upon
his head the condemnation ofJay Goulu's
rat" Tribune, Corrigan and Rome"
1t is with exceeding pleasure The EN-.
QU1RER informs it's readers that the re
latiors existing between WhitelaG
Reed and Arch bishop Corriga1 are o
the most friendly character.
Birds of feather-or in the language
Of the elegant, they are a good pair to
draw TO
The Labor enquirer., 1886-12-18
REV. OSCAR @. MccULLoCH.

As an Offset to the blasphemous
records made by the Beechers and Cor
rigans of the church, it must be pleas
ure to the readers of The ENQUIRER, as
it is to he editor, to learn of the grand
work aud noble utterances on behalf OF
Gods oppressed people by the manv
true followers of hrist, who are yet
awhile permitted to occupy a pulpit
here and there in this sin-cursed coun-
try. The doctrine of Christ, the first
Socialist, has its advocates in the pulpis
of New York, Chicago, Milwaukee, Kan
sas City and Denver, and in Indiauapo-
lis there labors in the cause minister
of the gospel, who stands among the
faithful and fearless champions of the
rights ofthe down-trodden workers.
BIS name is Oscar i. McCulloch, his
church, the Plymouth church, and
though this man has achieved fame and
made his name familiar to the literary
and professional circles, by his scholarly
aud oratorical abilities, yet so CON-
pletely has he flowed the Ieachings Of
Christ in his pulpit, that the house
where he holds religious services is
called The Peoples Church" Aud in
that church the weary worker always
gets helpful word and finds friend
who c0uusels with him concerning the
wrongs he suffers and the hardships he
endures. There, too, the greedy, grasp
ing taskmaster, the rich desooiIer of the
industrious and virtuous, be he "Chris
tlan" or what not, has his own horrible
picture held up before him, and hears,
II he listens, to the retrlbutive justice
that will yet overtake him.
Rev. Oscar c. McCnlIoch is a minister
of the gospel who dares to Condemn the
crime of Gary an GrnnelI, and to raise
his voice, in the pulpit against the
murder ofthe Chicago Anarchists. OF
course, for this he is as5aiIed by the
hireling capitalist press, and the upper
class" cries ont against him. But he
finds consolation for such awful ca!am-
ltv in the consciousness Of Christian
duty done, and in such resolutions as
the following, adopted bY working
men's organization of Indianapolis:
Whereas, We believe in justice and
right; and, having read the remarks of
Rev. o. c. McCulloch in recent sermon
on the condemned Anarchists, and his
sentiment being our own, therefore, be il
Resolved, That We most heartily and
sincerely intorse Rev. O. G. McCuloch,
and tn nix God thskthere is one minis
ter of the gospel in this city who has the
manhood to raise his voice in defense OF
down-trodden men. Be it further
Resolved, That We condemn and
losthe the hlreling press Of this city for
their course in denouncing Rev. 0. c
McCulloCh for his r'marks, as being un-
warranted and unjust.
The Labor enquirer., 1886-12-18
THE WORLD DO MOVE.

Shades of the GracchiI The Iroquois
club of nabobs listening to one of their
number who advocated Henry George
Verify the pillars of society are crumb-
ling.
The speaker, s. s. Gregory, based his
position upon the doctrine of eminent
domain" a doctrine which the Flaw and
order" crowd are compelled to accept.
Here is the kernel:
The condition of the exercise Of this
power that it shall be only upon COM
pensation to the owner whose title is
impaired or diverted, is provision Of
positive law found in the organic law of
most Of the states and based upon ideas
of natural Justice.
But If the power to div ert title upon
payment of reasonable compensation is
once conceded, it becomes apparent
that, as the basis for this is simply pub
lie interest overriding private right,
whenever public interest demands it
title must yield without compensation"
This is more extreme than Henry
Georges propositions, for he does not
advise con6scation.
Mans talents, his money, his lands,
his goods were not given him for his
own aggrandizement and self-grati6ca.
ton, out to be used by him as trustee
for the benefit of humanity, to whose
combined efforts his accumulstions are
mainly due"
Now let US hear no more about the
sanctity of property and vested rights,
1t never can be possible for man to be
trustee and owner of the same property.
Personal liberty implies ownership of
enough personal property to secure COM
fort, but 1t does not require the fortune
Of Gould.
The Labor enquirer., 1886-12-18

"take handn in the same. ALI OF 9
sudden the Economic Association" be-
gan to doubt the proprlety of having the
debate in public and discouraged the
idea of allowing anyone but citizens OF
Springfield to take part in it.
The Socialists are anxious and deter
mined the debate shall be in public and
free to all, while the professors and rich
factory owners of the Economic Asso-
ciatlon" deprecate the proposition OF
publicity, which they were averse to
onlv after it was limited that Dr.. Ave-
ling would attend the debate. E
The latest developments in the case
are, that, seeing themselves in rather a
hot box, the Economics" have secured
Prof. William G.. Sumner, of Yale, to
help them from destruction by the So
cialistg. Morsl-Workingne men educate
yourselves.
The Labor enquirer., 1886-12-18
A Gnat-Bratned Parrot.

FOr LQo Enquirer.
Having few cents 10 spend one day,
stood before long counter waiting
should be a. liberty to serve me. While
l waited | could not easily avoid listen
ing to a conversation between mer-
chant and two commercial travellers. 1t
seemed that the travellers had just met
after long separation, and one of them
was relating to the merchant the story
of their former acquaintance
Yes said he, I'VE served through
the war together, were messmates the
whole four years. In our mess the fel-
low who happened to have money
bought for all the rest and we never had
a settlement and never had a quarrel
thought any Anarchist would be
pleased with such picture of Revolu
tionary helpfulness, but few moments
later the other man, l will call him No.
2, said:
do you think Spies and them fellers
will be hung?"
Il don't know" replied No. l, "but
hope they will. If they aren't hung
wouldn't give d-n for our -" u
did not understand the last word, but
think it was government
II feel sorry for the poor DEVILS" re.
marked No. 2.
Il don't, promptly replied No. l, 81
don't feel bit sorry for them; and
hope they'll be hung"
He was evidently a Chicago man
working for a Chicago master who
wanted them fellers" hung, and with
the brains of gnat and the tongue of a
parrot,he recited the lesson his master
taught, not even omitting a certain
ferceness of manner that reminds one o.
the stage brigand with the mild eye and
the wild-looking false moustache.
No. probably does not yet know that
he himself is victim of the system
which he says Anarchists ought to be
hung for showing up in its true light
CLARA Dixon DAVIDSON.
The Labor enquirer., 1886-12-18

washed out last August, to the place OF
destination. where we found splendid
assemblage of people. They are truly
good representatives Of the people, men
of patriarcnal appearance. men of mid
die age and young, sturdy mountain
boys who are doing yeomen's service in
building up the country. There was
health in ever7 face. and the tout en-
semble was type of American enter
prise and ability.
There was met more than score OF
French compatriots, and it was most
cheering and agreeable to hear the tones
of the Fatherland in the mountains OF
Colorado.
At julius Dedise's, on several occa-
sions, reunions were held during. our
weeks visit, when toasts were drank in
honor of La Belle France, America and
our Canadian neighbors. We visited,
after the close of the convention, Spruce
park, which is splendid body of land,
we'll cultivated, with an intelligent read
ing population also. Buffalo park, an
equally we'll established section. From
this extended trip we returned by the
same route that we passed over in going,
finding charming, wild and romantic
scenery, alfalfa, clover and timothy as
green as in April, and the air as balmy
as in May.
The health resorts are being fitted up
at knights. Stewarts, Hines, Evergreen
Troutdale and Farratti's Denver resort
The town of Morrison is now recovering
from the loss of trade caused by the
washout of the toll-road and is in fail
way to become the lively, prosperous,
90 ahead Morrison of old.
My cordial thanks for courtesies re-
ceived are due to A. F. Post, G. R. Kap
pas, Leon Mallet, David Morrel anc
wife, R. T. Barnable, Julius Dedise anc
scores of others. The dinner provided
by the people OF Evergreen was one
the most substantial ever enjoyed by
hungry crowd of Denver people. Itwa
not only substantial but elegant, Fl
representation of the products of the
country.
In conclusion, I can say that there
was strong desire on the part of tn
people to unite in organizinga Knights
of Labor assembly to serve in the grant
cause which is so ably championed b.
The ENQUIRER. The week occupied in
this visit and attendance upon the po
tato convention will be long remembered
as one of the pleasantest events of M
life. Your LOCAL.
The Labor enquirer., 1886-12-18
A TUG OF WAR.
Such Seems to Be the Situation in Parts
OF Washington Territory.

A letter just received from Washing
ton territory states that organized labor
is having hard fight with the Port
Blakely Mill company. The letter goes
on to say /:
"An assembly of the Knights of Labor,
with 155 members, was organized last
week, in Port Blakely, in the face of
lead, cold steel, deputy sherifs and state
militia. The company's hirelings have
been committing the most damnable
outrages that ever disgraced American
territory, and. if there be such thing
as Justice, we will have some of them be.
hind the bars before we are through
with them. It was hard to keep the in
dignant workingmen from declaring war
against their oppAssors. Families oil
workingmen were put. into the streets
and their own houses were torn to the
ground by the hel-hounds Of the en-"
ploving class; bows we're torn from
their parents and put on boord steame RI
|
by armed fiends in the employ of the
mill company.
"The trouble has its hum orous side
A rumor was startad to the effect that
the famous armed sec ctiou of the Inter-
national, of Tacoma, was going down to
Port Blakely to clean out the crowd. All
day Sunday steam was kept up and the
hose was attached to the hot water pipe
at the mill. A revenue cutter was tele
graphed for, and an appeal was sent tc
Governor Squires to send the militia
which he Immediately did but it was 6
big scare. The consciences of the guilty
wretches told them they deserved g
thrashing, and they ought to have had
itD
The Labor enquirer., 1886-12-18
GEMS.
Extracts From Beecher's Thanksgiving
sermon, November rs,
1885.

There are men in New York crying
for land. These men do not want land
1t is the only thing that they don't
want.
A great deal of idle and useless talk is
indulged in bv workingmen as to eight
hours a day. When hear of men ask
ing the government for eight hours with
more pay, I cannot bear it.
do not think the labor problem can
be solved on the basis adopted by work
ingmen who seek equality in labor
The right of the laborer to sell his
labor to whomsoever he pleases, for as
long as he pleases, and for as much as
he pleases, without being punished di
rectly or indirectly for the exercise ot
that right, is one that cannot perman
be withheld. ANY organization that at
tempts to destroy this fundamental
right will be destroyed. (Applause,)
The Anarchist, the Socialist or the
dYnamiter is as much an enemy to our
state of society as IN the natural world
are the wolves. the bears and the hv
enas. In extirpating ttem there is nc
more harm than there would be IN ex,
tirpating adders, rattlesnakes, copper
heads and other vipers. (Applause,)
Socialism is really crying out for pa
ternal government, and you have only
to put a crown on paternal govern.
ment and you have a czar. A paterna
government is an Internal government
all the world over. (Applause.) So
cialism is nothing but Anarchy dis,
guised.
Glasses are going to exist, and there Is
going to be top, bottom and middle, and
labor organizations cannot break that
down.
The reason 30 many workingmen are
suffering is because of the immortality oil
industry. Some time ago 1 visited mai
mandatory, and was told that pme ol
the employees earned from $40 to $50
per week. at once remarked that the
men must be nicely situated, but to my
surprise was told that but few of them
we're situated in that manner. An ex-
planatlon proved that their money was
spent in gambling and drinking. These
men were making $50 a week, and
spending it recklessly, and then they
talk Of their labor grievances.
Some employers can get from their
men but four days a week. On Sunday
they are drunk, and on Monday they
are recovering from the effects. The
next four days they labor, but Saturday
ls tacitly day of rest.
l suppose will be hated for my ut,
teraDces, and think I am always des.
tined to be unpopular because tell the
truth. They will say that stand in
this pulpit wearing broadcloth clothes
and preach to church magnates, and
that have No sympathy with working
mon
The Labor enquirer., 1886-12-18

f Al. GROVER lectured before the ethi.
cal society at Chicago December 10, and
said that every Roman Catholic should
renounce the sovereignty of the pope
before he could hold Office in America:
This would seem only fair, for if,
as the lecturer said, the Romanist in
taking oath of allegiance to this country
makes a n entail reservation In favor oi
the pope should the two demands on
his LOYALTY come in conflict, he is nc
longer friend of religious liberty, but
a menace to it. The world has no for
gotten the Inquisition aud st. Bartholo-
news day.
The Labor enquirer., 1886-12-18

AT a recent meeting of the New York
Central Labor Union a member intro
duced resolution suggesting the pro-
prlety of workingmen buying and sup
porting none but labor pa! ers and re-
fusing to buy or read the capitalistic
papers. The account given by the ssao-
ciated press Was to tue effect that the
resolution was defeated. The New York
Sun gives it out that the resolution was
passed. The associated press did not
care to adcertise the fact that organized
labor is preparing to crush it.
The Labor enquirer., 1886-12-18
FREE LABOR.

Jefferson DAv says, and he ought to
be considered competent authority, that
the south is more prosperous under so,
called free labor than under the old re-
gime. He SAYS the planters in slave
times were compelled to see that the
negroes had sufficient 70 ID and place
to sleep, and that the slave would be
taken care of should be become dis
abled.
To-day the southern aborer gets less
than the slave did before him; he gets
but enough to procure the planest food,
and he gets that only when he has
work. When out of work he must do
the best he can-beg, borr w or steal.
When sick there is no doctor to come
with medicines free to him.
1t is verv evident that the laborer on
the southern plantation gets less for his
labor than the slave did, Consequently
Davis is right when he iutimates that
the employers would not change to the
old way had they the chance, as free(2)
labor is cheaper than slave labor.
The Labor enquirer., 1886-12-18
IT now appears that the Trades Union

1T now appears that the Trades Union
convention, recently held at Columbus,
was not in Its nature calculated to pro-
mote harmony between the various
labor organizations, and eastern ex-
changes seem to anticipate trouble.
This is too bad, and it is time to call a
halt. There should be general upris-
Ing of the membership of the great labor
organizations of the country and gen.
eral cutting off of official heads that rest
on warlike shoulders. The main bodies
of the organizations are all right, but
there is scabbiness about some of the
heads.
The Labor enquirer., 1886-12-18
Protecting Their Intereata.

The Denver Trades assembly have
adopted the following resolutions:
Whereas, The time has arrived for the
trades unions of Denver and vicinity,
through this central body, the Trades
Assembly, to take such action as may be
necessary in advancing such legislation
as will protect the interest and welfare
of ths mechanic, artisan and laborer,
Resolved, That we recommend for
recognition four of our number who be-
long to both political parties for posi-.
ton, two In each branch of the coming
legislature, in order that We may have
reliable representatives who will watch
and advance all matters Of general ad.
vantage for the workingnan.
Resolved, That the foregoing be pub
lished in the daily papers of Denver.
The Labor enquirer., 1886-12-18
AMUSING AND INsTRUcrINa.

The city Of Sprinedeld, Massachusetts,,
boasts Of society of learned men of the
professions, and rich manufacturers, un.
der the name of the Connecticut Val.
ley Economic Association" Springfield
has also q good, healthy. growing Social
istic organization. In oruer TO counter.
act the "baneful influence" of the latter's
teachings, the Economic Association"
challenged the Socialists to public de,
bate, thinking that of course 1t would be
easy to demolish them as they were
common woIkingmen. 1t leaked out
that Or. Aveling, the scholarly Socialist,
would drop in during the debate and
The Labor enquirer., 1886-12-18

THERE s a new han 1 at the helm in
the News office; he is a heavyweight.
In an editorial in Thursday issue he
settles the tramp question, 80 far as Colo
RADIO is concerned. He proposes that all
tramps be put to work at the Blake
street wood yard, and that they be fed
in return for the labor performed. Colu-
RADIOS Quota of the national army of
tramps is at present about 1000; allow
that each one would cut one cord of
wood dav, there would soon be "over-
production" in tat article, then what
would become0f the tramps? Besides
the natural cheapeuing of wood as fuel,
would work havoc in the coal market.
and maze tramps out of lots of the coal
miners. The News man had 5ettee try
again for remedy for "the tramp evil"
The Labor enquirer., 1886-12-18
COERCING THE PRIEST.

The capitalistic press is striving to i'm
press upon DR.. McGlYnn the horrible
situation he would be placed IN should
"Rpme' excommunfcate him. Papers
which have heretofore vilifej Catholi =
cistn are, Just at this particular time,
very much concerned at the ctlons OF
DR.. McGIynn during the last campaign
when he took the side of the people as
against the shylocks. Rome" and the
capit alistic press will stand together and
see to it that he is whipped back into the
orthodox traces of the church, whose
remedy for the miseries of the poor is
charity" and Servants obey your
masters" and the poor We have with
you always"
Hardly anyone will accuse the New
York Sun of having anv greater love for
the Catholic church, than jaw Gould's
god has for holy water; vet the Sun is 80
perturbed in spirit and 80 lovingly solic-
itous that DR.. McGlynn may heed
"R mes" orders to hush up, that it, IN
kind and loving be-a-good boy-Mc way,
says: "Dr. McGlynn is too much de-
voted to his Driest!y work to invite a
breach with his church, outside of which
he would be powerless, helpless and
wretched beyond description. His
career would be ended. and he would
sink into the place of men like Gavazzi
and Hyacinthe"