New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-16
ORGANIZING AGAINST POVERTY.

ORGANIZING AGAINOI IOF
If poverty is bad thing--and no one seems
to think it is good thng-the more societies
there are to put an end 10 it the better 80
it is to be hoped Justice Patterson will grant the
application Of MIR. Louis F. Post and others for
the incorporation Of another Anti-Poveta
Society distinct from that of which the Rev.
DR.. McGlynn obtained control the other night
by master-stroke of practical politics. 1t IS
true that the result may be somewhat conius-
ing. We shall have DIR. McGlyDns society and
Henry Georges society, each claiming to DO
the true and original organization, and each
presenting the same general features of sun
day evening meeting a collection. good deal
Of talking and singing, with flats predominant
ing in both, and a spirit Of pnrelcnting hostility
to poverty If there should be an Anti-Poverty
State Convention at any time, no doubt these
societies would send contcsting delegations,
each claiming that it was the only association
honestly and heartily opposed to poverty first,
last and all the time. and charging the other
with being really, in secret. in favor of poverty
and working in its interest and perhaps even
with being in povertys pay. There would be
examinations and determinations. and other dis
tressing phenomena. but so long as the net re-
suit was to spread abroad the idea that no one
should relax for a moment his determination
to steer clear Of poverty. nor even allow him.
self to be tempted into poverty just to see what
IL was like, as men taste forbidden pleasures,
the general result ought to be for good
IL is a difficult question for the outside public
to decide which, if either, OF these two dlstin-
guisbed leaders has lost something of the vigor
Of his Old-time hatred of pOvcrty,-but so far
the appearances are against MIR. George rather
than Dr. McGlynn. Less than six months ago
Mr. George said in his paper that he would
deem it "Ettlc short Of treason to the greater
principle of land reform "tO provoke any
division IN its support by thrusting forward the
smaller principle" of the tariff. He asked indg-
nantIy whether he should "stand palterng
about the tariff now that the standard is
taised and the issue is joined" But since MIR.
Cleveland issued his frec-trade message Mr.
George has discovered that the idea to which he
has devoted his life is the minor one. after all,
and that Mr.. Clcvcland's idea is the "grcatcr
pripciplc,n and that whereas before it was
treason" to talk tariff when land reform was
In question now it would be treason for him to
talk land reform when the tariff is in question.
SO he refuses to countenance separate Presi-
! dental nomination by the Labor party. ana
proposes to do all he can to re-elect Mr.. Clevc
land.
This looks very much as if Mr.. George did not
hate poverty as earnestly as he did. II it was
good way to help abolish poverty to run him
last fall for Secretary of State, an office whose
duties are mainly clerical and cannot affect
poverty in any way. it would accomplish still
more in that direction TO run him for the Prcsi-
dcncy, an office which can exert considerable
influence upon the well-bcng of citizens. But
Mr.. George is busy putting an end to his own
poverty by lecturing and selling his books.
and perhaps TO some extent even through his
paper, and it is not impossible that he sees re-
Inducements ahead in this contest. which has
| a keen personal interest for him. il he should
support Cleveland. It may be also that he
realizes that the fierce heat OF Presidential
campaign would shrvel up his little party.
There would be an end Of subscriptions TO his
newspaper The book and lecture markets
would be dull Whereas, il it is kept out of
the campaign, it may last several years, stand
ing between poverty and at least one Of its
members In other words, Mr.. George may be
trying to keep his goose alive.