St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1886-01-23
SOCIALISTiC.

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Affairs VIII Change About May 1st--Chi-
cago Magazine of Dyna mite Bombs
With an Army of Bomb -Throwers--T The
t''y DlstriGte4 for Offensive Operations
--Wihchesters FOR Workingmen.
CHICAGO, ILL, January 15.--lt will be
remembered that at the time an Internal
machine was found on Judge Trees
, premises in this city few weeks ago,
there was an immediate suggestion that
1t haa been placed there by Socialists,
ana might be the opening move of a des-
uitory dynamite warfare on wealthy
property owners and when publicity was
given to the fact that somewhat SINH
lar explosive had been left in the build
ing occupied by the Chicago, Burlington
& Quincy Railroad Company's general
Offices, unthinking alarmists Jumped to
the conclusion that this was intended to
De the second gun of the dynamite attack.
Much concern was manifested by many
cltlzens, Notwithstanding the matter was
made little of by wcll-informed
people, and With view to ascertaining
how much truth there was in the rumors.
local paper instituted an investigation
into the character of the two suspicious
machines, and as to the present doings
of the little band of Chicago Socialists.
So far, this inquiry has been productive
of most alarming givings out in me w4S
of revolutionary talk, a.rd most reassur-
ing paucity q facts to justify fear that
. ~ iftyi
now from Socialists than it has been
In the last dozen years. at the
outset, it was claimed that the
Socialists and trades unions had jQine
hands to carry by force the strike for the
! eight-hour law on May LIST. There is no
evidence of any such union, beyond: the
fact that, week before last, the metal
workers voted funds to arm themselves,
and a week ago Tuesday the cabinet
makers set aside one-half of their entire
surplus for the purchase of Winchester
rifles. The Socialists boast that they have
over 1000 bombs loaded and distributed
in the hands of trusty persons. The So
cialistic Brotherhood has the advantage
of possessing an organ printed in the Ger.
man language, which, week after week,
disseminates incendiary ideas, while from
its job press go circulars, maps, ETC., de-
scribing the streets, sewers and tunnels of
the city, and giving instructions in street
warfare and in the practical use of ex-
plosives. Socialist leaders claim that
they have established depots for the fos-
tering of various bombs, but none were
found, and that they have lists of prom-
nent persons to be disposed of by dyna-
mite, but none were shown. They claim
that every Sunday morning for year
bands of Socialists have been going to
the country to practice the throwing of
bombs, and that tests of their effective
ness and the manner of explosions have
been frequently made, but nobody has
seen or heard these experiments. One
thing the investigation did 60 far to prove
the improbability that the Socialists
had anything to do with placing the in
fernal machines at Judge Trees house
or in the offices of the Chicago, Burling-
ton & Quincy Railroad Company. The
dissimilarity of these from each other, as
well as from the dynamite bomb manu-
featured for the Socialists, is very
marked. Besides the bombs men
toned the Socialistic leaders refer mys-
machines which explode by clock-work
or electricity. They are intended for
guarding approaches, mining the streets
or for the destruction of property. When
properly placed two or three 81 them
would demolish building or 50 tear up
street rs to render it impossible. Un-
derstanding the effect of vagueness on
the public mind as well as on the faith of
their followers, the Socialistic leaders
are very chary of facts i'll their replies to
PORTED inquiries They delight in little
hints of sanguinary preparations and
claim that since they were forbidden by
Governor Oglesby to arm with rifles and
publicly drill, they have resorted to
dynamite, and say that from being agita-
tors they have become Nhilsts. AS to
the ramifcations of their organization it
is said to be divided into clubs of two.
Beyond this they are not supposed to be
known to each other, thus insurlng them.
selves against betrayal.
The leaders profess to be in possession
Of perfect plans of the underground sys-
tenn of Chicago and careful reports OF the
ways by which the house-tops at the vari-
)us street corners can be readily reached.
From these reports, locations have been
selected for congregation and defense.
rhe principal ones arc the Lake Front,
Market square and West Randolph street
between DeSplalneS ana HalStead streets.
The plans are accompanied by sugges-
ions as to the principal street corners
which should be fortified and the way to
% about it. About the only man who
kinks that the Socialists may find an op.
ortunity for incen'liary work through an
ssociation with trades unions on Nav
st, is Mr.. Joseph Greenhut, who is the
uthor of the cight-hour agitation He
rofoSsos to think fl at tha SociaIietc and
ne labor organizations are unit on the
uestion, and that the movement vii,
warf all previous ones in the labor So
IN lie saNs That little dnnenlnucn l. To