Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-03
THEY WANT SUFFRAGE.
Representative Davis Addresses Labor Or
CARNATIONS, Stating Some Of Their Griev-
anceA.

Representative Davis Addresses Labor Or
CARNATIONS, Stating Some Of Their Griev-
ances.
At slimly attended rublic meeting held last
night at Labor Hall, ua4ler the auspices of the
Knights Of Labor and ths American Federation
of Labor. the initial step was taken in an at
tempt to enlist the labor organizations of the
District in behalf of local suffrage and repre-
sentation in Congress.
After some difficulty in securing men to act O
central committee vas appointed, consisting of
Messrs. Dexter. Clark, Maltby, Crane, Shulteis,
Walport and Steiner, who will report at a sub
sequent meeting plan to be proposed to the
labor organizations for securing representation
in Congress.
The meeting last night was called mainly for
the purpose Of hearing an address from Con-
gresham John Davis Of Kansas upon the pur-
poses Of labor organization. He was intro
duced by Mr.. L. P. Wild, who presided.
CONGRESSMAN DAVIS ADDRESS.
ut is asked why labor organizes" began Mr..
Davis, land in answer will say, because the
other fellows organize. If they don't, We won't.
They say that they have right to organize,
but object to our organizing. just such logic
as that caused one memorable defeat in this
country-Braddock's defeat
III we had no grievances, II we were not in
some way oppressed, not man would be here
tonight. Thomas jefferson once said that
men never right their wrongs as long as the
We are now about to right our wrongs. We
are organizing ourselves, but there are two
ways Of organizing. Do we organize ourselves
or let others organize us? Heretofore the
other fellows have organized US for their own
uses. l am reminded of case in point in
I'm nnxrr, yy,S ont Ama t6nr 10 a no
of donkeys that are preyed upon by panthers.
To avoid destruction the donkeys Craze in
herds, and when the evening approaches they
form a circle, heads together, ard with their
business ends toward the enemy. That's Just
the way we should do. Put our heads together
would prey upon us.
"Why should we not hold secret meetings?
There is not a meeting of any corporation or
aggregation Of business men that does not hold
the right to close its doors against strangers for
business purposes. That's all we do. We SIM
ply keep out the enemy"
CORPORATIONS THE POOR MANS ENEMY"
Mr.. Davis referred to corporations as the
great enemy of the poor man. corporation
has the brains, the wealth and the power Of q
dozen men, but it has no heart or soul. A cor
poration Is by law person who can sue and be
sued. Virtually, then. it is one man with the
strength of dozen and with no heart or soul.
Shall labor fight this monster single handed? 1t
would indeed be an unequal struggle; therefore
labor must organize
The rates and fares that we pay on railroads
in this country are fixed by director in Lon
don. The agents of corporations in this coun-
try don't dare to have any soul. What does it
matter that some little town i'll Kansas is suffer-
ing from the rules of a railroad? The London
director doesn't care and his agent doesn't dare
to remedy the evil.
laho oh To Coll
atically, and the first thing it should talk
about is money: money is the blood of civiliza-
ton, without which there can be no civilization.
decrease OF money means languishing of
civilization. Money is tremendous war
pOwer-there are two war powers, the sword
and the purse. Let two countries fight with
these weapons and money will win.
THE MONEY POWER.
Mr.. Davis described the money power Of the
world as originating in the East India Company,
chartered in 1000 to rob the natives of India.
The company robbed the orient, has been rob-
bling for 200 years and investing its spois. and
today as a result there are locked up in London
vaults nearly two hundred billions Of wealth =
not gold and silver alone, but monetary obliga-
tions on the whole world. This is the money
power that controls the world. 1t caused the
war between France and Germany, it ravished
Egypt and is now sucking the life blood from
America. 1t sent $500, 600 to Washington and
secured the demonstration of silver. An En-
glishman owns SO 900 acres of land in the rich
est portion of Illinois, from which he draws to
London 200, 900 annually. That is but one in
stance, which is duplicated in every western
state.
Mr.. Davis made vigorous attack on the
national bank system which allows a man to get
money from the government for per cent and
loans it out for from to sc per cent. The people
pay ID cents year on every 81 bank note that
circulates and the bank gets it.
Thomas jefferson said that the national bank
ing institution is more dangerous to liberty
than a standing army.
NECESSITY OF SUFFRAGE HERE.
Mr.. Davis advocated the necessity of suffrage
in the District and representation in Congress-
This gave opportunity for the introduction OF
Mr.. Henry W. Dexter, who read an address
favoring suffrage. At its close Mr.. Wild asked
for volunteers to make up central committee
There were none and it was necessary to APP
point the five men named above to compose the
committee.
Even in the SHINY attended meeting of last
night strong division of sentiment was shown
on this subject.