The times., 1897-09-27


devised very comprehensive plan for
provlding employment ana self-subsistence
for worthy enforced idle men and women,
which if put into operation, he believes
would become a permanent recourse foT
aneliCrajing The conditions OF lmpoverlsh
uient which overtake our worilingInen and
1yorIine,y crueIs from tine 10 time. espe-
cially ~ the iagg ger cities, because OF their
need for employment.
A Times reporter called on the gentle
man IN question 10 obtain the details of
the scheme which promises 80 much good
for the working classes lie expected 10
see someone prominently connected with
one Of The labor organizations, but found
instead a gentleman who, while deeply
devoted To The cause Of Tie workiuGuan
and all progressive movements maintains
no connection with such bodies.
i 6r IN perfect sympathy with their
objects. many OF which are indeed COM
Ine:dable," he said, when asked why he
hsi not identified himself with some Of
then urgaulza ions, but l believe that
where a single object is TO be achieved
such a. ! have e view, more can be &C
complshed from the outside.
The plan I would offer interpuses no
obstacles to The accomplishment OF the
rcCorIas in which any Organization ma
I,e dire tIy engaged, but Tie main reliance
for its successful iuaue uratiOn is in ellie
itIug for II The cooperation OF all PRO
grcssive organizations fer The Consumna
ton OF its single puipose-that of provid
ing work and subsistence for the worthy
enforced idle men and women.
As shall be prevented for the present
from giving the matter my undivided at
tentica, am deSirouS u obtaining the
aid Of a few gentlemen and ladies of
general intelligence ana broad views sa ),
dozen OF twenty no are Interested in
this particular phase Of economies, 10 as
EIst IL perfe,tinE the details OF the plan
and carrying it forward. with any niodi-
fioauons ,l,4I heJter judgment may die
tate.
The 3aurS or want and desutution Co
incident with the approach Of winter VIII
soon be felG and tie present is the most
auspicious tiuac For setting afoot a move
Iueut Of the kind in contemplated as
the necessity for it VIII be more ap-
parent. would ike for you TO add,
therefore. that those desiring to Join in
tins work should make their intentions
known by addressing Advance Club, care
Of Tie Times office. To initiate the move
ment, however. VIII require an eXpeudI
tire OF small sum, and those who re-
srond shoIld be in a position TO contribute
their quota.
what are the details Of your plan:
asked the reporter.
II Sh..H a ~ The Times 10 indulge me %
defer making known to its readers an out
line or the plan for the present. / prefer
not q maze il public At this time, for two
reasons first, the scheme is a very CON-
prehensive one and Of considerable mag
nitude. necessarily so in view of the uni
versaI bencficence which it viii bestowi
besides, have not expected to be able Ia
present 8 plan complete in every detail or
without apparent defects.
"Inlpeued 10y an intense desire TO put
forth some effort 10 even partially lift
the black pail Of idleness and its con
comitant miseries, which have 50 long
darkened the pathw ay OF our countrymen
ana wogsen, J have been prevented from
giving the subject that critical analysis
so essential u its greater perfection; and
therefore hesitate TO place il before a
critical public until il shall have received
the consideration OF those I mag invite
TO confer with me ana who may modify
the details Soncw hat.
Secondly, in event Of the plan being
perfected Tor presentation by the selec
committee above mentioned, believe that
the LiusU effica cious way of introducing
fl, So as 10 secure it's unprej judicel con
Rideratiun 10y those most directly inter
ested, is TO submit il simultaneously to ali
the local bodies throughout the country OF
the various progressive organizations, re
quesJing their re1erence OF it to 2 com
mittee here. which would serve in tn
capacity of an information bureau until
a conference could be arranged 10 deNis'
WAYS and means for putting the plan int
Operatiun.
This would prevent the work OF pro
m95ing the plan failing to any one particular
organization, which might be prejudicial
10 The plan, but would secure for il the co
operation OF all. AT that time The Times
viii be furnished al expose Of the plan
Tor publication" }"
lis The scheme socialistic?'' asked the
reporter.
''Nowadays," he replied, every sugges
tiun from the platform or through the
press. loCEing TO the betterment OF the
conditions OF The working classes by otheI
than tie esta ablished methods Of organized
Charity, endowed Institutions of learning
State rcfu-In1tories, and the like inme
diately subjects The author to the ar
raignment of socialism,
and yet every analytical reader o
close observer or tie times cannot fai
10 appreheHG the slew but sure progress
which is nanifesting itself toward a
Change fn the condition of affairs tha
VIII secure a more equitable recognition
Of thr requirements Of the middle classes
and an ameliora ton of the expressions ol
poverty ana destitution which arise from
the constantly existing preponderanee d
EIpply over demand.
We may cali this socia Iism, anarchism
communism, or any other ISM hut tbs
Tact remains that American progressive
ness VIII not much longer submit 70 sucl
oppressive conditions without seeking some
effectal measure of relief.
= do not wish by this brief referenc,
70 rhe appalling Conditions of dis5res:
which have daily threatened the institu
tions ~ our land, u be construed as claSsi
flying myself with those ultra-reformer
who world seek fl the brief space of {
decade, perhaps, to establish the 'eQuilih
rum between supply and demand, or dis
pense compensation regardless Of indiYid
lsl exertion or merit.
Not that deoTy their ultimate obiect
OF challenge their sincerity of purpose: bu