The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-15
SOVEREIGN TALKS OF WAR
Head OF X. OF L. Secs Possible Social
Revolution In This Country.


Chicago, Feb. IA special to The
Times Herald from Denver says:
j. X. Sovereign. grand master work.
man OF the Knights of Labor. han writ
ten sensational letter TO The Industrial
Advocate. with Private Dalzell's exhor-
tation for war with foreign nation as
his text.
He declares secret revolutionary socie-
ties, known as the Iron brotf erhood and
the Industrial army. are being organ
lied in every part OF the country, with
the members leagued together to resort
TO civil war as a means OF obtaining
remedies for the populace which they
cannot secure by the basket. lie depre-
Gates Private Dalzell's talk as being In "A
line which mt tend dangerously 10
fan this sentiment into an open flame,
but asserts that, should revolution come,
he will not be among the towards now
on the side Of the pultocratic class"
His letter is dated at Sulphur Springs.
Ark, on Feb. s. and is, in part. as fol-
lows:
Private Dalzell, in a recent article in
The Washington Post, wrote long tale
OF woe. He mentioned our 10000 en-
forced idlers. our 100000 tramps, the
overcrowding of our penal institutions.
the increase of landlords and tenants.
the hopeless increase of debt and long
list of other lamentable conditions"
In conclusion, he said:
Civilization. as Napoleon said Of
armies. travels on Its stomach. ard 1T is
very hungry now, for the most part.
But where can it be filed? Hence all
this unrest, all this wild war talk and
discussion of silver and gold aud the
tariff by people who have neither silver
nor gold. nor anything to pay customs.
Relief shall not come in that way. 1t
never did at this stage of society. 1t will
come In the old way, in war and not
otherwise, either insurrectionary, which
God forbid. or foreign. which heaven
hasten, If IL shall quiet this people and
give them rest. If only the honored rest
OF a patriots grave, fighting for human
ity."
Replying directly to the sentence
quoted, Mr.. Sovereign goes on TO say
that what the people OF the United
States need is an agitation at home that
will force them to test against their
own social and economic disorders but,
that il should come through insurrec-
ton. with all its revolving horrors. is a
proposition repulsive to all the higher
Impulses Of humanity.
Continuing. he says:
"Insurrections. like great confiagra-
tions, start with a spark and are
quenched only with n deluge. One rea-
son in favor OF insurrectlon to idle,
starving and debt-burdened people, Is
more potent i'm exciting war than a
thousand reasons against insurrection
are I'm preserving peace. For that rea-
son. Dalzell. at his time, is dangerous
writer"
Continuing, Mr.. Sovereign says:
Scarcely a day passes that do not
receive one or more appeals TO join one
or other other of the revolutionary or
dcrs being formed In this country, and
offers OF money and arms are frequent
ly received II / will give my efforts TO
the cause of revolution. Thus far, I
have persistently declined 90 give aid or
encouragement to such movements. But
II. through the W things Of such men as
Private Dalzell. revolution comes, in
spite OF all efforts TO prevent It. l will
not be found among the towards nor on
the side OF the plutocratic class"
In conclusion. Mr.. Sovereign fires a
parting shot at Mr.. Dalzell by warning
him 10 desist from recommending war
as a relief 60 the people. one word. he
SAYS IN favor OF war with n foreign
country would multiply tenfold a desire
for revolution at home.