Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-08-25
ALlTTLE ADVERSE CRITICISM.

To the Worhmen'S AduOcdte:
Permit me to notice an an article in
your issue of last week, headed affairs
in Chicago, and signed Argus"
TO an ordinary reader the writer
seems to be very intolerant in denoun-
cling Buchanan, of the Enquirer, as a
traitor to labor organizations, because
he differs from ARGUS, regarding
methods.
have never seen Mr.. Buchanan and
don't know him personally, but have
read his paper long enough to know
that the man is sincere, that he has
given large part of his life and energy
to what Argus calls 1.-the cause" and
that he is man of ability and cour-
| age.
| If the labor organizations of Chicago
did subscribe 5000 to the support of his
paper, they have had at least $4,000 worth
hard brain work from him in return.
Meanwhile, too, the members Of the or
CARNATIONS whose work he has been
doing have carelessly and cheerfully
given probably over 5000 in subscrip-
tons and patronage to other papers of
that city, which were doing all they
could in opposition to the principles ad-
vocated in the Enquirer, and yet they
don't attempt to control those papers,
and would be laughed at if they at
tempted it.
Possibly Buchanan may, in a public
speech, have denounced men as scabs
who urged him to work for labor
ticket night and day for weeks, and
then went themselves and voted the old
party tickets when election day came.
But so hasty a writer as "Argus" is
probably little mistaken on this point,
and has in his mind an editorial which
appeared in the Enquirer after one of
those disheartening city elections
wherein Mr.. Buchanan urged the for
nation Of a political organization for
the purpose of carrying out through po-
litical work the principles upon which
the labor organizations are formed, and
proposed extending invitations to Join
to every member of labor organiza-
ton, with the understanding that every
man who enrolled himself would be as
strongly bound to act with the party on
election day as he was to act with his
labor organization in time of trouble.
and if he failed to do 50 he would be
treated as "scab or traitor, lust as
he would now be if he forso0k his labor
organization when it was trying strength
with its opponents
Pardon me for expressing also no.
ton | have imbibed from reading the
ADVOCATE, viz, that it also is inclined to
be intolerant of the opinions and meth
DDS of other reformers who do not ex-
actly agree with its editor regarding
ways and means.
1t and other reform journals have de-
nounced Henry George, and conveyed
the impression that he had sold out be-
cause he has chosen to act with the
democratic party this fall to a GER
tain extent. Possibly the ADVOCATE
and these journals are right but Pro
lection or Free Trade" written or pub
lished as early as 1856, points in the
, same direction that its author has gone
this fall, and the resultant agitation thus
far, which has really brought all labor
questions into popular political discus
sion and within the domain of so-called
practical politics, must be gratifying to
, every sincere reformer, and seems to
have already almost vindicated the wis
dom of the action of Mr.. George if if
has not his motives.
Then what does the ADVOCATE thinl,
OF Parnell and Davitt and their political
methods: |, too, have voted and
worked with the forIorn hopes for years.
and only from pure motives; but are ali
these men corrupt; don't believe il.
JAMES BARLEY.
AMSTERDAM, y. Y. Aug. 10.
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