Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-07-07
SOCIALIST MORGAN'S LABOR SPEECH.
He Has No Use for Either of the Lead
ing Parties and Does Not Con-
slider the Tariff Vital
Issue in Ameri-
can Politics.

Tommy Morgan, with great impair
TALLY and great deal more vehemence.
criticized adversely the brand new plat
forms of both the great political parties
before the meeting of the Socialist Labor
Party, 45 Randolph street, yesterday
afternoon. There was slim attendance
at the meeting, and referring to this
fact Mr. Morgan said that the meeting
illustrated closely the amount of interest
the common people take in the platforms
without the bands, the speeches and the
tin horns. In his opinion the platforms
were of little interest except for the
glaring absurdities within them. One
of these absurdities was the statement of
the fact-hitherto doubted by working
men-that the people are sovereigns and
the otficeholders servants. Another
glaring absurdity and monumental hum
bug was the doctrine of civil service re-
form. But the most glaring absurdlty
was the tariff plank in each of the plat
forms. There was really no difference
between them. One advocates modi-
fled tariff, the other tariff modified.
Neither party advocates free trade.
II am workingman," said Tommy,
proudly; 81 work every day at the
bench, and | know well that this pre-
tended fight about the tariff is of abso-
lutely no Importance to me. | do not
believe the modification of the tariff
makes any difference to me. will have
to work just as hard and just as long for
Just as little money | have read the
printed eloquence of those gentlemen in
the convention hall, and read the reiter-
ations of their statements of love for the
wOrkingman, and it seemed to me that
there should be some reciprocation. The
love should not be all on one side. When
they put the tariff forward as something
the workingmen are crying for they do
not do so blindly. They know that out
side of the iron and glass workers no
laboring men ever made declaration in
favor of the tariff. We have made de-
mand but they have entirely ignored it
in both the platforms. That demand is
clearly enumerated. 1t is demand for
an eght-hour day. In spite of the fact
that there is such thing as Plnkerton
guard to shoot down workers, in spite
of the fact that a gatling gun was drawn
through the streets of Chicago on Deco
ration Day, i'll spite of the fact that de
tails of the regular army are continually
watching US, both parties entirely ignore
the labor question. Yet they all declare
their love for the workingmen-even
Davis, Swift and Roche, the advocates
of dago labor
In closing the Hyde Park agitator pre-
sented the following resolutions, which
were discussed and adopted:
Whereas That as the organized labor Of the
United States does not consider the question of
the present tariff or its modification contem-
plated by the Mills bill is of vital Importance 10
The workers; and
Whereas, a reduction of the hours of labor
to eight per day, so that the million unemployed
workers may secure employment Is declared
by all the labor organizations to be of the very
first Importance for the welfare Of the laboring
people; and
Whereas, The democratic and republican par.
ii s. the National, State and Municipal z Nern-
ments. have refused to enact laws practically
reducing the hours of labor; and
Whereas, Both the democratic and republican
conventions have ignored this vital question
and the other measures of reform demanded for
years by organized lab r. and In their respec
tive platforms have made the present tariff
versus modified tariffs and the personal char
acter of their candidates the vital issues Of the
present presidential camr aign; therefore,
Resolved That in the opinion of this town
meeting both the republican and democratic
parties are entitled only to the antagonism and
contempt of every voter who desires such legis
lation as will make honest employment perma
nent for every person, and the reward Tor use
full work sufficient TO comfortably feed, cl0the
and shelter and educate every worker in the
land. and
Resolved, That the efusiye declarations Of
love for the poor workingman in their platforms