Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-16
TIE CHICAGO SOCIALISTS.
MAYOR HARRISON SERENE.
Be Has No Fesrs-1hs Militia Capable OF
cueiiipg Any DiaBrssree that s,ay Take

Be Has No Fesrs-1.hs Militia Capable o.
cueIIipg Any Dissurbsree that MAY TAN,
Place.
[By telegraph TO the Dispatch.I
CHICAGO, January l5.-Dispatches
published ia the East describe with
much detail the plans and preparations
of the Socialists Of Chicago to put some
Of their theories into practice. From
these it appears that formidable num-
Der Of men, armed with bombs and
greBades. only await q suitable oppor-
tunity to begin an indiscriminste war
fare upon everything in the shape Of
law, order, capital, property, and peo-
pie interested in preserving and defend
ing these conditions. The militia and
police the Socialists expect to aunihl.
late without any trouble, and buildings
belonging TO obnoxious people are to be
swept out Of existence by means OF dy-
Mantle, and everything is said to be
prepared for the grand catastrophe.
These dispatches have occasioned con-
siderable comment here.
A vast majority of the people Of
Chicago are law-abiding, and | have no
fear at ali" said Mayor Harrison, " OF
not being able to deal with any up
rising the Socialists or Nihilists may al
tempt. don't believe there is any
ground for apprehension. The Social
lists have some pronounced ideas which
many think cranky, but as class they
are as much interested in the welfare
OF Chicago ss any other men OF equal
intelligence. They are not going to or
ganize to blow up anything or shoot
anybody. The Nihilists are blather-
sixties, and like to talk Of doing terrible
things. They say incendiary things,
and the newspapers try to make SEN
sation out Of them. That is just what
they like Il; but they don't dare to carry
out their threats. They are not organ
lied in any such strength as to cause
apprehension"
Prominent officers Of the militia in
teryiewed on the subject, while lament
ing the poor support given them by the
State, are confident that the companies
here could easily put down any Socialist
uprising. General Fitzsimmons said
There is always a guard at the armo-
ries, and we shall not be taken by sur
prise. | think. Another investigation
will be made at once of what the So
cialsts are about, and there need be no
fear that we shall be in ignorance Of
what is going on"
What would be the result Of con-
fict between the militia armed with
rifles and a lot of Communists armed
with bombs " was asked Of a we'll
known militia man.
"Oh they couldn't DO anything I'M
less there were a vast host of them.
Why, you see, in order to use these
bombs they've got to be within at least
fifty yards of the troops. Now, the
FrSt-regiment boys are well armed
with Springfield breech-loading rifles.
calibre 43. These rifles will throw a
ball that will penetrate an inch-plank
at distance of a mile. and at the dis
lance of fifty yards they would penetrate
fifteen inches Of pine planks spiked
together. The young men have never
been under fire. but they have courage.
and if properly led would undoubtedly
DO good work. In the daytime the
whole command could be assembled in
an hour and half. In case they were
wanted at night, they would be sum-
moned by the nearest commissioned
officer, each one of whom has the adj
dresses Of the men who live near him. -