The herald., 1897-03-10
honest men are necessary. whatever the
theory of production or distribution.
HON. T, e, GIBBON

EOHcBt men are necessary WHdteNcE TIC
theory of production or distribution.
HON. T. e. GIBBON
Hon. T. e. Gibbon was the next
speaker. He thought the words Of the
bishop regarding the building up of hon
est character were good, but he would
lock his door at night and did not wish
the criminal laws stricken from the
statute books. He did not understand
why people should be poor when labor
could be sold for the necessaries of life.
While in Washington in 1898 the speaker
learned from general conversation that
the people were becoming alarmed
about property conditions. But he
could not understand why, unless 1t was
the drifting away of gold from the Unit
ed States. The financial foundation of
the country was being washed away
Later the banks began to close and the
mills and factories shut down. The
magnificent products of the country con-
tinued, but we had poverty. The speaker
thought that the cry Of overpro6uction
was wrong. Suffering Is apparent on all
Sides Children go almost naked through
the city streets. while the wool of which
garments are made Is not worth pick
ing from the sleeps back. While peo-
pie are starving corn is being burned as
fuel In some farming regions. The great
trouble is that of imperfect distribution
and the cause may be traced to the
greed and manipulations of dishonest
men. There is something wrong in our
commerce and exchanges. In early days
the farmer raised nearly all the neces-
saries of life. independent Of the out
side world. Today the transportation ia
cilities have divided production into
sections, and when one of these agencies
Is overburdened or depressed others
are affected and labor languishes.
The speaker referred pointedly to the
railroad and grain monopolists. He ac-
knowledged his conversion to the silver
cause during the last campaign by some
of the features presented to his mind by
existing affairs controlling the finances
and products of the country. Mr.. Glib
bon illustrated the work of the great
corporations and capitalists and their
power over universal commerce. After
they had accumulated a certain amount
of money, these men cared only for the
power of controlling the agency of COM
merce. These conditions should be
changed. What every man desired was
labor and just reward for the same.
The speaker was frequently interrupted
by applause. His address was able and
most eloquently delivered.
BISHOP JOHNSON
The Right REV. John Horsfall John
son, d. D., bishop of Los Angeles, who
was to have been the next speeker, was
unable to be present owing to Illness
but he sent a letter of regret, showing
his sympathy for those stricken by pow
erty and endorsing the movement for
their relief. The bishop was pleased
at the effort toward general confer
ence of all classes on the important
subject. and believed it would be pro-
ductive of good results. Being unable
to attend the meeting himself, he had
sent a representative in the person of
Rev. John Gray. rector of ST. Paul's
church.
DIR. GRAY
The Rev. DR.. Gray believed the pres
ent conduct of our commerce had much
to do with the stagnation of public af-
fairs. Dishonest corporations are large
ly responsible for the improper con-
centration of the moneyed interests and
the stoppages of the wheels of progress.
The speaker thought the time would
come when the money power would be
overthrown and that the people would
be able to better control the circu-
lating medium. He believed the begin
ming of the new era of prosperity was
in sight and that the laboring man
should feel encouraged. He referred to
the attitude OF his church toward the
workingman. which, he said, had of
late shown much more liberality than
In former years He did not believe
that capital and labor would ever come
tc a clash of arms but that arbitrat tion
would be the means of settling money
questions that vexed the people today.
MR.. M'GLYNN
Mr. NJ McGlynn was the last speaker
He believed that the poverty which con-
fronts us today was not the common
kind. In his travels he had noticed and
heard many reasons for the present con-
ditions of the working people. In Chi
cago he had seen at least $4,000 unem-
ployed OF all trades and professions
walking the streets. destitute and hum
cry. He pictured the hundreds of peo-
pie who occupied the city hall of that
city as place of refuge at night. The
speaker drew a strong and vivid picture
of poverty as it exists In the eastern
cities, including the women and chill
dren working in the factories there for
a mere pittance.
Unless we answer the question, why
Poverty?" very soon, the poverty
stricken class will ask US another ques-
ton which we cannot easily answer,