The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-02-27

success mas been seriously hampered
Dy the problem Of the unemployed,
which the philosophy of trades union
ism does not meet. This solution is
now attacked by the interference of
tne judiciary, and the working people
are beginning to turn toward political
action.
Another side of the problem is that
OF business municipal politics. of which
John Burns is the expounder. This
mas proven disastrous both to mum
lclpal politics and to labor. The city
hall gang gets hold of the working
mems representative. II strike &C.
ours the police may favor the strikers
somewhat. But if the workingmen
join the Populists or the Socialists the
politicians exclaim: Stop that, or the
next time you strike you will receive
no help from the police.'"
PRAISE FOR ALTGELD,
Mr. Lloyd believes that Gov. Alt
geld's character and purpose are very
much misunderstood, and says that
the Illinois governor is great man,
who is not appreciated as he should
be-
Gov. Altgeld's distinguishing char
acteristic," he continued, sis love of
Justice and hatred Of Injustice. AS
IA WyNI JuueC. anu duUnOI, uC WAS LOT
years close and sympathetic student
of administrative law. His book Our
Penal Machinery and It's Victims,' ex-
pressed the results of his investiga-
tlons and had a very wide sale.
II know him well,'' said Mr.. Lloyd
earnestly, "and l believe that no pre-
rogatiye of his Office affords him so
much pleasure as the power of undo
Ing mistakes made in cOnvicting the
innocent or an excessive severity
toward the guilty. l have no doubt
that the nickname, John Pardon Alt
geld which has been given him. will
be willingly accepted by him as the
noblest name by which he can 60 down
to posterity.
Gov. Altgeld's whole heart and
mind are full of sympathy for the peo-
pie, and of apprehension concerning
the present attack upon their liberty
and prosperity by this impudent mon
archy Of millionairism. He is not
| demagogue. If he had been, he never
would have pardoned the anarchists.
He is cear-headed, Shrewd man. He
has managed large business affairs
successfully. BY operations on large
scale he has created instead of merely
saving up his personal fortune. He
holds no Socialistic or anarchistic
views whatever, but simply revolts
against the privilege to create laws
for the benefit Of the few.
when Capt. Black, one of the coun-
sci for the Anarchists, ran for office
against Judge Gary, WHO presided at
their trial, he received only !. 900 votes.
| Gov. Altgeld knew that for every vote
he might gain by pardoning the an
archists he would loose two. But his
training as a lawyer, and his respect
! Tor the forms of law reVOlted against
the sentences imposed on these men.
and he felt that lie must undo, SO far
as he could, the wrong, committed
against them. 1t is we'll known fact
that Coy. Oglesby was willing to com
mute the sentences of two of the an
archists who were hanged, if a suffic-
iently strong petition were presented
to him by the citizens of Chicago.
81 do not believe Gov. Altgeld has
any further political ambitions, al
though the mention of his name is
always received with tumultuous ap-
plauSe by the workingmen.
THE RECENT LABOR TROUBLES.
'"There are two ways of looking at
the course of the federal administra-
tion in the recent troubles In the
West. The federal government con-
| sud JULIUS w SIOW SUlOuSCIs duO
must, in the nature Of things, do so.
Centralized power, like revolution,
never takes a backward step. The &C
tion of President Cleveland was GER
tainly in opposition to the traditions
of the government and that sober
moderation and regard for rights by
which alone free government is main
tanned.
another way of looking at it is this.
Under the modern system by which
the people give the management of
the political parties to rings called
campaign committees and permit the
expenses of the election to be borne
by syndicates of capitalists, the gov
eminent tends more and more to be-
come an instrument of the few for
purposes of private profit. We see
this in the selection of cabinet officers,
the recommendations made as to leg
islatiOn, and in the acts of the govern
ment.
81 look upon the present revival of
interest on the part of the people in
municipal government as the begin
ming Of a new era. see in the city
governments power to improve the
| condition of the people. An evident
movement is beginning among them
to use those powers, which must prove
as progressive for good as they have
been, on the other side for evil. DR..
Parkhurst, in purifying the police, is
but the pioneer of long line of re-
formers, who will advance step by step,
till finally, with the public behind
them, they will demand the exercise
of municipal functions for the public
| business to any extent that the public
| interest may require.
| 1.-The demand for municipal or state
control or regulation of public func-
tions, such as the gas supply, tele-
phones, railroads, etc, is but an inter
mediate step toward public ownership.
For one man to control what another
owns is an impossible situation, which
becomes only more impossible when
one of the parties is the community.
| WHAT THE CONSERVATIVES WANT.
''The conservatives think now that
they can arrest this rising movement
among the people to use their own
| strength for their own beneht, Dy
making it work for mere control or
regulation, but in the end these very
conservatives will be the most frantic
| in demanding that the state shall pur
chase, instead of regulate.
"For instance. the new succession
tax on property in England, according
| to the duke of Devonshire. will absorb
as much as six years income from the
property. When the land owner finds
| six years income taken from him by
the state at one bite, will he not hur-