The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-10-19
MICHAEL DAvrT AS EDITOR.
An Interview with the Wsli-known
AgitatOr.

Agitator.
Mr. Michael Dayitt was found. says the
Par-Mall Gazette, in his Offices, 263 strand,
busy over the work Of preparing for the
issue Of his paper. the Labor World. The
editorial rooms overlook the royal courts OF
Justice. within which Mr.. Davitt played SO
prominent part in the recent Parnell
commission, and the "Father OF the Land
League smiled as our representative re-
marked the proximity. yes" said he, Il
am near enough now to keep an eye upon
the interests of law and order next door,
''What is your particular line OF policy,
Mr.. Dayittf'
"Simply the advocacy of the rights OF
labor. 4 more lust distribution Of the pro-
duets Of industry; better and healthier con-
ditions cf employment in mill and mine and
workshop: less hours Of labor am legal
eight-hOurs' man. In word, snail up
hold every well-diTected effort that mas Tor
lis object the supremacy of the principle OF
labor over that Of vested interests IN every
branch of our industrial economy, and In
every department Of political life"
"Ies: il is not an easy task TO accurately
and infinitely define the policy OF paper
i'm the small compass OF Pall-Mal inter-
view. | intend to try and win for the Labor
World the privilege Of calling II the organ
of the masses | shall be found earnestly
backing up such programmes as have tor
object the winning of brighter and nap
pier lives for those who are designated
the masses In this /, II course, III
clude the workers OF the three
countries-in "A word, the toilers every
where. am not welded 20 any particular
| school of social reform; but am not ego
tistical enough to imagine that can pro-
hound a scheme for the abolition OF the evils
| Of society that will knock all others into a
| cooked hat i'm the matter Of wisdom anu
practicability. can only say that that
plan which will 20 nearest 10 securing 10
| The labOring classes the full value OF the
null produce Of their toll, As the reward OF
| their industry, will have my strongest sup
port"
| $50. then. Mr.. Davitt, we can put you
down a. an exponent OF the FORWARD
| movement"
"les. | have been moving i'm the for
ward direction all through my political
career. and am not yet old enough, nor
| have the reforms that have been won in my
time been sufficiently productive OF good u
| the masses for me to yet write my sell down
| ls "A conservative. The labor problem Il
| now the most vital issue that cOnfrOnts the
| craftsmanship of the civilized world. IL II
| going 10 occupy the serious attention OF
| European governments for the next ten
wears, and the danger IS not so much the
| opposition that may be expected from kings
| and capitalists as from tempOrlzing and
| compromising action on the part Of poll
| ficians whO call themselves the champions
| Of the working classes. look for the true
| labor leaders from among worNngmen
| and my paper will strongly advocate such
| organization and such course ofpolicy on
| the part of the industrial classes as VIII
| enable men from their own ranks 10 repre-
sent them on all public bodies, from The
| village board of guardians to the Imperial
| Parliament in Westminster. ! am for pay
| meut of members together with the throw
! inV of the cost OF electiOns-With safeguards
| against frivolous cOntests-upOn local rates
| But we must press forward, also. for UNI
| yersal adult suffrage. n second ballot, trien
| NAL Parlaments and the 'ending'-nOt Ia,
| .mending'-Of the House Of landlords
| .sThe Irish landlords, Mr.. Dayltt, are moi
| likely TO make your paper their OrganV
| II scarcely think so. LandlOrdism in
| Great Britain, as well as in Ireland, shall
receive no quarter from the Labor World
| The overthrow of landlOrdlsm will be one o
| its most cherished ambitions. The LanC
| for the People and not Tor any class, vii
| be our watchwOrd, and to this battle-cry W,
| will try and rally the democratic force %
the three countries. The public ownership
| of land, mines, minerals, royalties, woods
| forests fisheries, seashOre rights and rail
WAYS will be strenuOusly advocated. tn,
revenues derived from these sources mus
| be devoted TO the good Of the industrial com
munity if we are 10 battle successfully
against the poverty and wretchednes'
which class legislation and indiylduallsti'
| creed have bred in the organism OF society,"
| 1T is almost unnecessary To ask you, Mr.
| Dayitt. what your attitude will be on III,
Home Rule questions"
lit goes without saying that the Labor
| World will be a thorough Home Ruler.
have ALWAYS demanded the fullest possible
measure of Home Rule that can be got fol
Ireland. believing that the wider the meas
ure of Irish national seif-gOyernment i,
| made the more harmonious Will tee reia
tions become between the peoples OF th'
three countries. In Canada, and Austria
liza. and other self-gOyerning English col
onies. where the lrishmen are f0unC
in large numbers, they are as lcya
TO YOUR empire as their Scotch
| Welsh, and English fellow-colonists
This follows from the wise craftsmanship
which gave home rule with no niggar,
hand to those parts Of the empire. Th'
more you trust the people OF Ireland IN th'
matter OF governing themselves, the bette
IL will be for every one concerned. ! am
however, for home rule all round and al
WAYS have been-that il, for England, Scot
land. and Wales, as well as for Ireland; AM
this | believe to be the only true remedy 70
the growing incompetency OF Parliamen
and the manifest evils OF too great centrali
cation in Westminster"