Evening star., 1895-08-03
Views of Some Labor Leaders on
Mr.. Sovereign's Proposition.
IT Is GENERALLY DISAPPROVED
Regarded as an ImpracticabIe and
Absurd Scheme.
SOME WHO FAVOR 1T

Star reporters have interviewed a number
Of the prominent labor leaders Of the Dis
trict on the recent proclamation of General
Master Workman Sovereign of the knights
of Labor calling on the members of the
societies OF organized labor throughout the
| country to boycott the national bank notes
after September I.
With few exceptions men who are
prominent in local labor circles disapprove
Mr.. Sovereign's action and regard the pro-
posed boycott as absurd and impracticable.
Members Of the order of knights of Labor,
as a rule, as matter of loyalty to the
head of the order, decline to discuss the
subject.
President McHugh.
President James F. McHugh of the Fed
Grafton of Labor. on being asked his opinion
Of Mr.. Sovereign's proclamation, said:
1.-The scheme is very wild and visionary
one: 1t is not now SO much the question
| of the kind Of money that we get as to
get enough of it. 1t is too hard at this
time for most men to get a dollar after
| they have worked for 1t to be particular
as to the kind. and the great majority of
| US are glad to get any kind Of money that
will answer the purpose.
II think II the working people act as
they have been advised to by Mr.. Sovereign
they will become the laughing stock Of the
whole country.
"I am strongly opposed to the course
! suggested by Mr.. Sovereign. think it
better for us to leave all such matters
alone. If any benefit Is to accrue to the
working people it must be accomplished
by legislation.
District Master Workman Simmons.
Mr.. W. H. G. Simmons, district master
workman of District Assembly No. &C..
knights Of Labor. said: II indorse the
principle, as understand it, advocated in
Mr.. Sovereign's letter. 1t is one Of the
fundamental ones Of the Knights Of
Labor to do business on business prin-
ciples, and we do not consider it good
| business policy to allow any institution
to do $50. 1000 Of business on 100000 capi-
tai, and then to pay no tax for that privi-
lege.
ganized on this principle. therefore hearth
ly indorse the proposition of the genera!
master workman to retire the national
bank circulation and substitute United
States greenbacks in place thereof.
81 read the statement Of the controller
in reference to MIR Sovereign's letter, and
think that the controller must either be
an ass himself or else he thinks the work
ing people collectively are, for he says the
national banks would not suffer II the gen.
eral master workman's plan was carried
out, but the working people would. because
1t would withdraw s211, 100000 from circula-
tion. Yet he tells us in the same breath
that the government WOulQ reQeSm Tue Id
| tional bank notes.
1.-The controller forgot to tell us whether
| these bank notes were to be redeemed with
democratic promises or republican mud. L
cannot see how he is going to retire the
| circulation If he Is going to redeem the ma
| tional bank notes in money.
Il think that United States money should
be the only money in circulation in this
country, and. therefore, believe that the
| national banks should pay tax as well as
| any other business institutions. believe
| that wherever it is practicable to do so
| those to whom Mr.. Sovereign's letter was
| addressed will carry out its terms after
| September l."
Commissioner Wright.
Carroll D. Wright, commissioner of labor
| when asked his views In reference to Mr..
| Sovereign's proclamation. said: "It Is not
my custom to give opinions on current
| questions Of the day, but I will say that
the currency question Of this country will
never be settled by proclamation"
Mr.. Geo. A. Tracy.
Mr.. George A. Tracy, president Of Co
lumbia Typographical Union, No. 1O1. on
being asked for an opinion on the mani
festo Of General Master Workman Sover-
eign, said: 1.-The organization that repre-
sent is not in any way connected with the
knights of Labor. and therefore do not
care to have much to say on the subject.
I might remark, however, that of all the
absurd proclamations sent out by Mr.. Sow
ereign, this latest one rs to my mind the
most preposterous. 1t seems to me that
the knights of Labor can look for nothing
but failure in such an undertaking, even II
1t had u semblance Of right in it.
'"The organization that Mr.. Sovereign
represents has always boasted Of its allegi-
ance to American laws and institutions and
the ballot box as. the medium of relief from
oppressive laws and conditions. In the face
Of this Mr.. Sovereign has practically de-
clared b. ycott on the United States gov
ernment. and, I presume, the members Of
the order will have to choose between the
Knights of Labor and the recognized in
stitutions Of America.
''To my mind the boycott can have no
effect whatever on the national banks.
true, but the government stands behind
| them ready to redeem them on presenta-
ton. The only effect the proclamation
would have on the country. if generally
obeyed, would be to contract the currency
and make money scarcer than it Isl
DO you believe in the boycott general
ly? Mr.. Tracy was asked.
Il believe in the boycott In extreme
cases." Mr.. Tracy replied, land then maxi
ing it effective. Indiscriminate boycotting
weakens the effect Of the boycott as
weapon Of defense. and therefore should
be carefully guarded. I do not believe in
boycotting a circulating medium that is
backed up by the United States govern
ment. especially when the votes Of the
pSoPAo Sdh eidHSo Tie entlTo money system
Of our country"
Mr.. George o. Cook.
Mr.. George O., Cook of the legislative COM
mittee Of the Federation Of Labor when
spoken to on the subject, said: "I am op-
posed to national bank methods, but do not
favor Mr.. Sovereign's suggestion. which, IL
successful would result in a contraction of
the currency. A late treasury statement
shows a decrease of $50 100000 in the clrcu-
lation during the past year, and instead Of
resorting to means to further decrease the
volume OF currency, we should do all we
can to secure an increase
Il do not think the labor people will ap-
preciate Mr.. Sovereigns scheme. Instead
OF contraction we want more money. Now,
when there seems to be a revival of business
the proposition seems extremely foolish, and
1t may distract the people from the i'm
portant question of the free coinage of sill
yer. The national bank notes represent
| financial force too great to be successfully
fought In the manner suggested Besides
| this the workingman at this time cannot
afford to refuse any kind Of money which
will purchase his necessities"
Mr.. Milford Spohn.
Mr.. Milford Spohn, prominent member
Of the Bricklayers' Union, said: "I am op-
posed to the national banks as banks of