The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-10-10

travagant gayeties. Starvation! starva-
ton! Only those who have seen the
wealth and splendor of the metropolis
can understand what travesty on
civilization this means. The past few
weeks have recalled vividly the words
of the New York sewing woman who
year ago wrote to her sister in the west:
'Oh, sister! is God dead? Has humanity
left the earth?" The cloakmakers were
slowly starving when at work for So and
81 per week. Is it any wonder that
there was small riot? Is it not more
wonderful that these sufferers can keep
"the peace" at all? Let those who deny
that labor has ground for discomfort
read of the cloakmakers of New York
and the coal miners of Spring Valley.
There is in Tulare county, California,
cooperative colony which is founded
on the principles of modern socialism.
It is named Kaweah Cooperative Col
ony and has been in existence four years.
-Four years ago Edward Bellamy's book,
Looking Backward" was not known or
heard of. These facts are here stated
for the purpose of letting those who may
read them know that statements, which
are common, to the effect that Kaweah
is can outcome of Bellamy's book" are
not true. 1t would be nearer the truth
to say that the book found its scheme in
Kaweah; but that is not exactly fact,
for three years ago the colony and Mr..
Bellamy had not heard of each other. I
have no wish to attempt to detract from
the fame which justly belongs to the
author of Looking Backward" but
insist that there is an "Old Guard" In
the west that was sacrificing and break
ing ground in the field of cooperative
living long before he found out that any
thing was wrong with the present system.
Honor where honor is due.
The political pot is boiling in New
York The German Socialists will
nominate ticket, and of course those
Of the labor movement who are opposed
to the Socialists will be it's bitterest foes.
Some of the anti-Socialists of the Central
Labor union are nosing around the So
called Citizens movement" The ranks
of labor are very much divided on the
matter, and some of the German unions
have even refused to support the action
of their former associates. To settle the
trouble and bring order out of chaos it is
proposed that the Nationalists ask the
different factions to come together, bury
their differences and make O united
stand. How things will be few weeks
hence it is hard to predict, but in the
words of Sir Lucius O'Trigger, "It's O
mighty purity quarrel as it stands"
Itwould have been better for the cause
of labor if Mr.. Powderly had accepted
the conditions submitted by Samuel
Gompers and those two gentlemen had
met and fought it out on the platform at
Cooper Union. In that case Mr.. Pow
derly would surely have been more tenn
perate in his utterances, and Mr.. Com
pers would not have been provoked to
the retort he has made. It was natural
that the G. NJ. W., surrounded by his
followers, who applauded the slightest
criticism of the Federation, should be-
come excited and say things which, even
if they were true, were one sided, and
had better been left unsaid. Mr.. Com
pers has been placed under similar infu-
ences in retaliating since. Had the gen.
tlemen met on common platform, with
equal rights, they would have been more
discreet in their remarks. AS it is, the
Did sore is torn open, and the blame will
be placed by men in accordance with
their prejudices.
Chief Arthur, of the locomotive engi-
neers, said in recent interview that
strikes were decreasing, and that they
would be fewer in the future than they
have been in the past. In the face of the
facts this looks like queer statement.
Strikes are on the upward tendency, and
they will continue SO until some radical
changes are made in the system of en-
ploying labor. Workingmen are learn
ing fast about the wrongs put upon them.
and they intend to fight harder and
harder until the burden is lifted. What's
the use of trying to hide SO glorious
truth as this? But, it is said, Mr.. Arthur
has not known anything about the laborer
and his aspirations for several years.
Jos. R. BUCHANAN.
Interpretation of Life.