davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-01-14
SOPHlST VAN BUREN, DENSl OW,


To the H'orkmen'S Advocate:
In the current number of The Truth
Seeker there is communication from
Prof. Van Buren, Denslow, entitled,
"The Distribution of Wealth." which
proves the author to be good practical
Jesuit, though he may not be member
of that sophistical society.
That the Professor is an able and elo-
quent writer there can be doubt, but
when he uses his ability to misinterpret
plain statements, and his eloquence as
a cloak to hide bad argument, he in
suits his talents, and forfeits the respect
of honest men.
"Why if" he asks, "as our Declaration
of Independence affirms-all men are
created equal, is it impossible to find any
two men who are in fact equal in any
respect?" Then he takes up nearly
three columns to prove-what even
Hottentot knows-that men are not
physically, mentally or morally equal
1t is hard to believe that in this country
there can be found a person ignorant
enough to believe, or dishonest enough to
pretend, that the statement "all men are
created equal" means anything else than
that they are equal in their right to "life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"
l have heard the professor assert that
he understood Socialism thoroughly, and
yet he speaks of Socialists as 1.-The re-
ligious and moral advocates of equality
in the distribution of wealth who have
lately been reinforced by school of rev
olutionists headed by Karl Marx and
Lasalle in Germany, and by Hyndman
in England and Henry George in Ameri-
ca. Comment is unnecessary.
He next undertakes to prove that
Labor does not create all wealth." and
this is how he does it: "Now, to say that
man who in himself has no power to
work except as another employs him;
whose work is, in fact, itself created and
caused to exist by his employer; who has
to be furnished with subsistence, tools.
workshop, and job, at another's cost,
enterprise, and risk-to say that he is an
original creator of the commodity he
turns out, is palpably false, because his
labor has to be created or caused by his
employer"
There you have it The employer"
sprouts up-fully equipped with 'subsist-
ence, tools, workshop" etc.-like Jonah's
gourd, to protect Mr.. Denslow from the
attacks of those who might claim that
the laborer existed before the "em-
ployer."
But, admitting that employers" owe
nothing to labor for the wealth they DOS
sess, that would not justify them in tax
ing advantage of the laborers' necessity,
and force him to work for one-half of
what his labor is worth.
Yours truly, PETER GIBBONS.
New York, Jan. eth.
Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-01-14
MAKE A CONTRAST.
To the WOrkmen's AdrOcate:

Please accept my thanks for the copies
of the ADVOCATE which you have sent
me. | was particularly interested in
some extracts which appeared in the
December 81 issue, under the caption of
"The Capitalstic Spirit Would it not
be we well if we who believe in human
brotherhood allow that side to do all
that sort of talking? If we believe what
we profess to, that all men are brothers,
we have to own kinship with the Insurer
who ''devours widows houses and for a
pretense makes long prayers" with the
clergyman i'll the pulpit who accepts sup
port from usurers, with corrupt judges,
with manufacturers who think of human
nerve, brain and muscle as so much ma
chinery for turning out the largest
amount of goods, and-may we here
be granted large stock of patience and
brOtherly kindness-even with Pinker-
ton private detectives and clubbing po-
licemen. and even with editors, who
see through glass darby"
Seeing, then, that all these are our
brethren, let us not think too highly Of
ourselves, for it may be that if we had
grown up in the environment that sur
rounded them we should view things as
they do. Have we done all we could to
show them the error of their ways?
Have we not been too harsh in our iudg-
ment of them' They are human; is
there not somewhere in their hearts a
spot that can be touched which will
arouse in them sense of their humani-
ty: For my part, | pity more than |
blame them and | intend during the
coming year to make more strenuous
efforts in their behalf. They may not
be such hopeless cases as we have been
accustomed to regard them. If you will
each week copy some of those bitter,
Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-01-14

Our friend, Peter Gibbons, criti-
cizes paper by Professor Van
Buren, Denslow, and exposes that
gentleman's crude ideas upon the
subjects of wealth and labor, as well
as his ignorance Of the history of
the labor movement and the charac-
ters in it.
Let us by all means have letters
from the thinkers, and they may
have the satisfaction at least of know
ing that they are assisting in the
movement, while their readers will
appreciate the kindness Of the letter
writers.
Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-01-14
OUR LETTER WRITER'S.

The column of communications"
could be made most useful and in
teresting, if our mahy friends who
observe things and are able to express
their opinions would more frequently
take the trouble to write The
newspaper may be made the medium
of q closer acquaintanceship between
those who are bearing their share of
the battle against injustice and con-
tending for better conditions. The
discussions are read by many more
who may not have had the advant-
ages accorded to some, but they can
think and appreciate a good argu-
mont or sentiment, nevertheless.
Now, this week we print q letter
from Mrs. Celia B. Whitehead, which
overtlows with the spirit of fraternity.
She would win over the most brutal
enemies with kindness. Would
that they could all come within her
influence Yet there are those who.
if they speak truly scorn sentiment,
and submit to naught but reason !;
and there are some, it seems, who,
like the old-time prize-fghters, will
not be convinced nor won save by
practical demonstration of superior
lty of force Nor are these various
characters confined to one class of
society-they are found among the
educated and the ignorant, Che rich
and the poor, and the former clothe
their ideas with beauty Of language
and erudite philosophy.
Another of our correspondents is
worShipper of elderly" He evi-
IDENTITY is most sincere in his distrust
of governments, of States. lie
would not have the State take con-
troll of his labor, and imagines that
Socialism would Cypress him. He
is one of those whose first thought is
of self, or, to put it more broadly,
one who believes that the individual
is above the COLLECTIVELY. He should
study Socialist philosophy, and he
would find that as an individual he
would have that liberty which makes
life worth living We're society organ
lied to make cooperation possible;
and he would find, also, that econo-
my is an essential to freedom, and
the more social economy the greater
freedom-the more of the good
things in life to the individual result.
Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-01-14
A PREACHERS TALK.

The sermon which we print on
the first page this week shows the
speaker to be uncOmmonly conyers-
ant with the condition of society to-
day, and proves that all preachers
are not afraid to talk in favor of the
working class. Yet this same
preacher will, for money, try his
level best to extricate Il robber of
laborers-known to himself to be
such-from the meshes of the law;
for this preacher is a lawyer of con-
siderable note, and while he is not a
Christian minister, he still initiates
the gentlemen of the cloth by saying
things which his actions would lead
one to suppose he does not believe.
His name? Robert G. lngersoIl.
Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-01-14

1t is all very well to be virtuous,
but virtue should exercise some dis
elimination. 1t is well to tell the
truth occasionally, and many news
papers and men find it very strange
when they attempt it; but there is
no good reason why, if the truth is
told to one side, it should not also
be told to and of the other. ". Y.
Press.
Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-01-14

The remark of the Llerelaad
Workman, that the Henry George
party has no issue entirely distinct
from other parties, is indicative of
chiId-hke confidence. The main
portion of the party referred to, the
impeccable Ego, has an issue all his
own, and that is such an evident
matter of business that no argument
from labor source can possibly
affect the issue
Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-01-14

vindictive, inhuman sayings from the
capitaIistic press and make contrast by
the nobility, fraternity, and wisdom of
your own utterances, shall be proud to
use your paper as missionary to some
of our erring brethren above mentioned
Fraternally, c. B. WHITEHEAD.
Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-01-14
ENTERED At THE POET OFFICE At NEW HAVEN, CON
NEOTlCuT. AZ SECOND CLANS MATTER
New HAVEN, JANUARY IA, 1887.
CO. GRAFTON.

Millionaire Leland Stanford has
been expressing his opinion on CO.
operative enterprises. 81 am firm
believer in the principles of cooper
ation,' he said recently to reporter.
Most capitalists are, and they bene-
fit by it. Their employees cooperate
and produce wealth; they themselves
control its distribution, and become
wealthy. Their employees, from the
scientific chemist and the profess
sional man of business down to the
day laborer, get {. living, more or
legs complete, as u return for their
cooperative industry. But Mr..
Stanford goes a little farther: lie
actually leaves the capitalist per- Sc
out of his calculation, when he draws
the following picture:
'upitdi bIlt'ttt ny liittllthtilL tlittI-
prise is vast benefactor to man. Sup
pose now that each Of the 100 workmen
employed produces in excess of his wages
the value of 81 a day; 81 day for each
aggregated gives 800 per day to the en-
ployer His profit from these 100 men
is 500, These 100 men by asssocating
their efforts and their credit could COM
mand n sulticiency of that reserve force
which we call capital to build the shop
and purchase the material to start bust
ness"
When reminded Of the fact that
nearly all such undertakings had
proved failures, Mr.. Stanford en-
planned the difficulty by saying that
the reason was the workers were not
good statesmen, or book keepers, or
purchasers of material, etc, and
thought that by the cooperation of
men of such various accomplish
ments success was certain.
One very important consideration
was entirely overlooked by both Mr..
Stanford and the interviewing re-
porter, namely, competition. In the
first place, when individual capital
lists found themselves confronted
with competitors who might prove
dangerous if they We're allowed to
obtain foothold in the markets,
they would exercise the same power
they now use against individual com
petltors which large capital placed
at their disposal gives them to I'M
dersell their weaker competitors in
the markets. This power of aggre-
gated capital has swampel many a
minor manufacturer, and it would
have the same effect upon cooper
ative company of workers. Certain
ly, the large capitalist would lose for
thc lliio oclHS, btb hc Moulu only
sell his wares at a lcas as long as it
might be necessary to vanquish his
competitors, Then, perhaps he
might employ them, and illustrate
the efficacy of cooperation in pro
duction on a still larger scale. The
credit of the co-operators would sink
in proportion to their prospects of
success, and thus any benefit that
might temporarily be drawn from
borrowed capital would vanish.
Private cooperative associations
under the competitive system have
proved failures, not for want of va.
Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-01-14

George w. Childs seems never to weary
in well-doing, The day and night before
Christmas was a busy time with him. for
he was occupied as usual i'll making pres
ents to his employees as well as numerous
other worthy persons. But Mr.. Childs
does not wait for Christmas in order to
do good, for his whole life is filled with
noble deeds and cheering words. May
he live long to dispense the blessings
which Providence has placed in his keep
ing, Craftsman.
And by the way, might it not be
well also to make some good wishes
for the "Providence" that places the
BLESSINGS in Mr.. Childs' hands for
distribution among the worthy atom
ic constituents of "Proyidence"
The Craftsman is the official journal
of the international Typographical
Union, and MIR. 'Childs made that
body present of some thousands Of
dollars. Hence, long may he wave
Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-01-14
COMMUNICATIONS.

NoTIcE TO CORRESPONDENTS. Write plain;
boil down your letters; make them short
Write only on one side of the paper. Be as good
natured as you can be under the circum
stances.
Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-01-14

ty. Probably few among the New
York labor men ever suspected him
Of being anything else than Tam
many man. But when he says his
views have undergone great change
since certain date, it will strike
some New Workers that chance to
nibblc at the public crib at the rate
Of $500 year had something t. do
with the change-if there was a
change in his views. vale!
Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-01-14
A GREAT GUN.

Here is an item which Is going the
rounds of the papers that has great
significance:
DIR. Gatling has invented another gun
which he calls the police gun" and
which is designed for use in riots. 1t is
brass, weighs seventy eight pounds, is
mounted on tripod with universal
joint, works very much like the Calling
gun, and will deliver 900 shots a minute
in any observation-disclosures, up or down.
That's the stuff. Mr.. eating,
you're a trump. You may be the
savior of society, yet. How much
depends upon this great man who
has invented gun that will shoot
sideways, lengthwise, up and down,
and kill a thousand men, women and
children at every shot. There is
still chance for improvement Fix
it so that it will shoot around behind
the block, down cellar and up stairs
where the deadly missiles will 60
whizzing under the bed in order to
strike down any sneaking rioter who
isn't man enough to come out on the
street and be shot. The price of
bread will have much to do with the
uses of this qua. All of the great
''trasts" of the present day should
put their trust in the police gun by
taking stock in the same, thereby
pulling both ends of the string.
When the price of bread goes up,
stock in the police gun will 60 up.
And by the way, here is big oppor-
tunity for Sam. Randall. This gun
is particularly adapted to his locality.
Congress ought to engross it, embel-
lish it, paint 1.-THE great moral
persuader that will kill 1000 men,
women and children at one dis
charge. - r0nd Rapids Workman.
The running of separate presi-
dental ticket by the Georgeites] is
all right enough II 1t be run on a
square national issue in which the
Henry George party differs from any
other party in the field. But the
Henry George party has no such ma
tional issue. The peculiar doctrine
of single tax on land, which dis
tinguishes the Henry George party
from all other partiesis State issue,
pure and simple. In the matter Of
tariff, the Henry George men are in
accord with the free trade wing of
the Democratic party. In the mat
ter of governmental ownership of
railroads and 'elegraphs, and govern
mental control of currency, they are
in accord with the Union Labor
party, and to run separate Henry
George presidential ticket on either
of those issues would be to divide
where there should be union, and to
insure defeat where there should be
victory. - leueland Workman
Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-01-14
NOT ES.

The law Of supply and demand
fixes prices, say our blithe econom-
lists. How about the prices fixed by
the trusts?
Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-01-14

All over the country is going up a cry
among organized labor for coming to-
gether of the various labor factions, to
the end that labor may be united ON a
common platform, The opposition to
this comes mainly from certain lead
ers' who think that such movement
will deprive them Of their leadership
Detroit Adrutce,
This is fitting rcbuke to the
"leadcrs" who made themselves
prominent in New York City and
State by packing conventions and
expclling duly elected delegates who
differed from them in opinion. We
refer, of course, to the land-tax and
free-trade party and their noble
leaders of the George stripe. They
called themselves Omitted"
Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-01-14

We do not banker for the establish
ment or perpetuation of a Labor party"
as such-we have got over that; but all
our energies will be devoted to the form
alton Of a party of the people, of some
name, in opposition to the hypocrisy
and downright rascality of the so-called
great parties of the present.-HUGord
Examiner.
What is the principle that $50
called great parties oppose? Is it
not plain to our Hartford friend that
the question is the labor question and
that q party which battles against
the system that permits the workers
to be swindled out of their property
is necessarily a labor party? Or is
the Examiner about to attack the
"so-caIled great parties from anoth-
er standpoint? If not, what's the
matter with the Socialist Labor
Party?
Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-01-14

The former secretary of the late
New York George Party, has noti-
fled the world through the Union
Printer that he has joined the Tam
many wing of the democratic" par
Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-01-14

The case of Rev. VIM. +. Davis,
who is languishing in Jail for speak
ing upon the Boston Common with
out permit from the mayor, was
considered by the Evangelical ALI
ance sitting in Boston last Monday.
They, in effect, object to asking per-
mission of any one to preach on pub
lie grounds, and hold the ordinance
which requires permission to speak
as our infringement of free speech.
The evangelists, however, consider
their case from the gospel" stand
point mainly, and seem to expect
special privileges for the preaching
of their religious ideas.
Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-01-14

The announcement that Father
McGlynn would speak upon the sub
ject of "The Pope and Politics, .
drew a large crowd in New York
last Sunday evening, who were evil
dently delighted with the way the
reverend gentleman belabored CHS
holiness. " McGlynn hurled boom
erang in conclusion, by saying that
"every ecclesiastical cobbIer should
stick to his last" The audience
seemed to think 50, too.
Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-01-14

The very friendly expressions of
sympathy for the strikers from a
New York penny paper, the Press, a
"repubican' sheet. are 80 remark
able that we reprint them in the
column of "Wbat Others Say
Not that they are to be taken as
honest expressions, but simply to
show the versatility of capitalistic
writers. This paper advocates the
continuance of the system of exploit
alton which makes it necessary for
workmen TO strike until they learn a
better method.
Telegram-herald., 1888-03-11
THE DEAD EMPEROR
FREDERICK ON The WAY TO BERLIN.
The New Empsror Met Near Genoa Dy the
Italian htng-rhs kassi.n Prsss in
Mourning Bismarck Expresses
Gonfidenes la frsaorlek-

BEKLfs. March lo.-Tbe body Of Emperor
William pas been enlhalmed and now lies
in state in the hall Of the palace. His feat
ures are placid. showing no signs Of the
pain be suffered. The weather Is warm and
favorable for the return Of Emperor Fred
erick from San Reno.
funeral services were held over the re-
mains in the mortusry chamber IN the pal
ace last evening. The chamber was pro-
fusely dec0rsted with flowers. Dowsger
Empress Augusta, Grand Duke and Duchess
of Baden, Crown Prince aud Princess OF
Sweden. and other royal personsges stiend-
ed the services. The body of the Emperor
lay in the same position which the monarch
occupied when lie expired. A crucifx lay
upon his breast and an ivory cross Was IN
his right hand.
The decree of Emperor Frederick in re-
gard to national mourning Is universally y
approved. The newspapers saw that they
hope the large theatres aud other places ol
amusement will, of their own accord, OBJ
serve the first week after the Emperor
death as period of mourning. The
municipal authorities will wear mourning
for six weeks. All the newspapers. with q
single exception of the lolksbiau. are pub
lished with deep borders black.
The body of the desd Emperor will be
exposed in state in the cathedral on Mon.
day. The soldiers of the German army
took the oath of allegiance TO the new En-
peror today. It is stated that Emperor
Fredericks reply to President Carnot is
very cordial and expresses hope that the
relations of Germany and France may con-
tinue TO be friendly.
A French military officer of exalted rank,
accompanied by his staff. will represent
France at the Emperor's funeral.
Telegram-herald., 1888-03-11
THE KAlsER'S LAST WORDS.
Efforts to Manufacture Political Capita
Out of Them.


LONDON, March l0.-The variety of ver-
sions of the alleged last words of the late
Emperor william, reported from Berlin.
excite considerable surprise and arouse suE-
picion In many quarters that sinister efforts
are making To manufacture political capital
out of the sent iments the dead monarch was
supposed To entertain to the moment OF bis
dissolution. In one dispatch we are told
that the Kaiser closed bis earthly career
with an expression hf his conviction that
Germany ought not to make war upon
Russia but rather TO assume toward the
northern empire the most friendly attitude
possible. While another report imp lies
that his last utterance evinced apprehension
and distrust of the Gar ia the expression:
Alexander has promised me that be will
not make war against Us"
Still another remarkable utterarce of
which the Kaiser in his delirium s,said 10
have delivered himself of-though 1t is not
given TO the public in the collection OF last
words-is his declaration that, although ne
was q man of peace, he would adhere TO
his compact and side with Austria'ff Russia
should force him 10 war.
There is nothing very alarming to the
peace of Europe in any or all of the ex-
pressions mentioned, but their repetition in
one capital and another. as the last words
of the ruler of the greatest empire in Eu-
rope, and the reflection upon their meaning
which will naturally follow, cannot fail TO
give them interpretations which the man
who uttered misunderstanding that he did
utter them-never intended TO convey.
Telegram-herald., 1888-03-11

NET York. Nsrch IA specisi cab.
from London saws II can be stssed upon
sbsoi1ts and direc9 sntborItv that, provid-
inz his health viii permit. the Right Hon.
Nillisn T.. Glsdstone viii pas .
vlsit % The United Ststes osri
Pa. he VII be soo0npanis6 ~ bis
- nsroig probable ttfss Hrs. tfisdstoBe vh0
holds So vofages IN mortal horror. VI De
induce6 - f0rm one Ct tbs psrtv. The
viss vii - sDtirsiv 3 private one. and TIE
sxFrenaiers parsicisDs Two - whom. &C
r1-1inQ e. rreseBt Plans. vii scc9rni'znf
kirs. vfii Ses 50 it tbss al invits'sor8f r.
nsuaaefs efc-. wil - Se,3in~1 o. the pes
n aawsDcsd ags arc fte ososzsIty fof 80
nster sroisszDee Of sxcitsrBsDt