Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1891-03-21

S PR FADING THE LIGH T
WESTWARO.
Daniel DeLeon Speaks in Cleveland,
SanduSky, Toledo and Detroit
The New Forces at Work Every
where.

CLEVELAND, O., March II, 1891.
The situation in Cleveland, O., is
much as il is in New York, and of
course, worry different from what it
is found to ne III Erie, Pa. The ad-
vanced portion of Labor is aggressive;
capitalist intimidation and corruption
do their part, it is true, and, as in New
York, the martyrs are not a few Never.
theless, there is not here that terror that
strikes one as characteristic Of the
atmosphere created by the ruling class
in Erie. This however, is owing greatly
to a popularity of the locality,
There is in Cleveland certain body
called the "FrankIin Club; it is an
organization of Natonalists. The New
Yorker who remembers the activity and
tactics of the X. of l.. organization called
the Excelsior Labor Club" may form
some conception of what rhis club does
and aCcOmplishes. The Excelsior Club
was noted for It's ''protests' aud "letters
to magistrates, and created quite a stir.
Multiply by thousand what the "EX,
celsior Club" used to do and one will
have an approximate idea of the work
of the "Franklin Cub. WAR seems
to be the motto of ts members, and a
more belIigerent lot you can hardly
imagine. There is not IA political trick,
a capitalist scheme, bad measure, or
IL Philistine doing, there is not an act
of tlmidity or a deed Of corruption per
formed by a labor organization that
they have not merclessly denounced;
and they have denounced IN such way
that, wonderful to say, the papers have
been compelled 10 take notice Of i very
fully. lhus have recent schemes of the
CounCilmen to give away an electric
franchise been exposed, and the electric
corporation was forced TO make an offer
of money for the franchise. A scheme
of some city railroad lines TO appropriate
a large public park has likewise been
checkmatcd When, on last Labor day,
lilt Nit1lIIuI lJHbtli pillpll w llltil NttlIlh
to be substantially a counterpart Of that
of New Iork-approprlated $50 for the
police fund, the club raised such a howl
that the disgraceful performance is not
likely to be repeated | could mention
a score of other incidents satisfactorily
shown to me, but it would make this
letter too long. There il, however one
more | should state The PhiIistine
spirit that promoted the raising of the
mansoleum to Garfield in this city
shocked the club, but when ten cent
admission fee to the monument was
charged, the club dubbed the thing a
"Dime Museum and got the popular
laughter on their side.
The meetings are held on Sundays.
Regular reports of them are published
in the Monday morning papers and !
learn positively that this spunky body
is dreaded by the politicians, capital
lists and labor cOrrnptlOnlsts. OF course
they are Socialists and do not disClaim
the name; but they, as a body, hold TO
the theory that their mission should, for
the present, limit itself to local agita.
tion, to stirring up the local animals. to
harrass the enemy. This indeed they
do to perfection. A bigger, more an.
nOying gad-Ay the flank of caplt9lism il
not troubled with anywhere elsf | know
of.
This notwithstanding we fir sufli
cient number Of members of the Frank
lin Club, with enough energy to spare
to also organize themselves into al
| American Section of the Socialist Labor
party. This will be done in day or so
and they will join the national organiza
/ ton. Secondly, being sound on the
principle Of independent political action
they have already held three elections
| their vote growing each time; and they
/ have Just issued a call for a convention
( to nominate candidates for the sprinl
/ elections. The Socialist Section is in
vited and also bOrd fie labor organiza
tions. No doubt is entertained her,
/ that the returns will show greater gains
1t should be noted at the same time
that the path of the club has not beer
strewn with flowers. Probably. indeed
the very prosecutions to which they
were subjected have had much to d.
with their present vigOr. Outside o
/ Cleveland few may know that year agC
the police brutally broke up a public
meeting of these men, smashed thei
banner dubbed them and arrested tn,
leaders-did in fact the same thing theI
so often did in New York. The men
however, stood their ground, the mat
ter was hushed up, and they now enjo.
and make full use of the right of assemb
lage and free speech.
With such body here, as matter @
rnnrno L ahnr .nar not h1. t-aIlal n,rn