New-York tribune., 1894-04-29
TR4NPS AND WORhERS.

The demag gOgucS now organizing ana leaulnS
battalions of tramps TO Washington proclaim
themselves to be commanders of an Industrial
army They represent, according to thelr own
declarations, the unemployed masses OF the pop
ulation who are in need Of work. The tralnps
themselves do not confirm the protestations or
their leaders Whenever they are offered WORK
they refuse 10 fall out of the ranks Murrays
band now trailing across Connecticut might
have found employment on new park, nut
contemptuously declined it. In Pcnnsylvania
Coxoy's tramps refused work. An Iowa farmer
driving wagon-oad of Kelys followers by his
farm of 1GO acres near Adair guaranteed every
man behind him steady employ ment during the
summer What do you say?' he asked. I'VE
are going to Washington" one Of them replied,
"to make Congress do something for the work.
ingmen There will be two millions OF us there,
and if they don't give us what we want well
take Washington-that's what well do" These
instances might easily be multiplied. There
are perhaps n few Industrious. sober-minded
workmcn i'm each Of the wandering companies
who have been msled by the infatuated ap-
peals OF demented leaders athirst for notoriety;
but the main body Of these so-callcd INDUSTRIAL
armies is recruited from the idle and vicious
classes. Work is the last thing that most or
them want.
Senator Wolcott in his sensible and patriotic
speech declared that bad as the times are IN
Colorado no man is starving in that State be-
cause he cannot find work or friends willing TO
help him until employment can be secured. Il
believe" he added, that the time has come
when those OF us who are in public life ought
10 becin 70 cultivate more a regard for the per
petuity Of republican institutions and to pander
less 10 that miscallcd portion of the labor vote
whose labor is with their throats and never
with their hands" This is the tone which ought
70 sound out in the debates Of Congress and in
the discussion Of the public press OF the anon
alous CoXey movement. The honest labor of
the country ought always TO receive the hlgh-
est consideration. It's welfare Is the most I'M
portant industrial and National Interest But
honest. sclf-respectng labor Is not represented
by the troops of tramps begging their way from
village 10 village and obtaining free ratons
from communities which are anxious 10 have
safe deliverance from the invaders and 10 pass
them on to the borders Of the next town. II
Il the worst possible alfront 10 the working
peoplc of America, who are known TO be- the
most Intelligent and thrifty body of toilers on
the face of the earth, to assume that these
tramp battalions have any right TO speak for
them.
The real workmen Of the Nation are not de-
grading themselves by Joining In this prepos-
ferrous tramp march To Washington II they
are employed, they are too busy In earning their
living and in providing for their families TO
spare the time for a temporary career OF adj
venture, vagabondage and political agitation.
If they are out Of work owing to the hard times
they are not leaving a stone unturncd 10 secure
cmploymcnt so far as they have leisure for
reflection on current politics they are condemns
ing their own folly In listening 10 the appeals
Of ignorant tariff agitatOrs two years ago To
ioln them in OverthrOwng the industrial sys-
TEN Of the Nation, and 10 do IT, moreover, III
the most PHOSPHORUS year Of American history.
They are not stealing railway trains and swarm
ing 10 Washington under the leadership of mad
can agitatOrs 10 clamOr for the abolition or pow
erty by legislation or TO demand that all the
idle and vicious classes shall be supported at
public expense.
Indeed. 1t is Il most encouraging sign OF the
intelligence and virtue Of the working people
that the companies Of tramps now marching
across the continent have received only incon-
siderable accessions 10 their numbers. CoXcys
band in tramping from Ohio to Washington has
gained very few recruits on the way. Honest
workmcn have looked on in silence and CON
tempt upon this dlsreputable demonstration OF
the miscalled Industrial forces Of the country.
The same fate has overtakcn the other com
panles Of tramps and lawbreakers. Sobcr-mind-
cd workmen have not been in sympathy with
them. The times are hard, but the unemployed
even In their extremity are not In mood to be
imposed upon by demagogucs and charlatans
The temper Of the masses Of labor Is unmlstak-
ably hostile to these degrading manoeuvres OF
Popust fanatics and the idlers accompanying
them. That Is good sign, for 1t indicates that
the best product Of the well-educated, sclf-re-
specting and welorganzed labor Of the Nation
is the upright, faithful, commOn-sense, law
abiding workman