Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-09-30
NCENDIARY SPEECHES
Delivered at the Labor Convention
at Chicago.
STRIKERS SHOULD BE ARMED.

A Resolution to That Effect Voted
Down After Several Radical Argu-
meuts-w estern Delegates succeed
in Forcinga Free Silver Amendment.
Chicago. Sept. S0.--There was lively
row at the national labor convention
yesterday. and for a time during the
proceedings Ii looked as If an exchange
Of blows could not be averted. DIR. II.
S. Taylor, one of Mayor Harrison's
cabinet officials was the cause of the
disturbance. DIR. Taylor was present as
a delegate, and he wanted the privi-
lege of speaking in regard to the plat
form which had been submitted by the
committee on resolutions. But the ma
jority of the delegates seemingly did
not wish the doctor to speak. The del
egates expressed approval, however.
when the doctor said: II am highly
gratified at the money plank in the
platform The money plank in the
platform calls for legal tender money
to be issued direct by the government.
A change came when the doctor an
nounced that the time had not come
for the attempt to establish the sys-
tenn of national paper money. The doc
tor quickly followed this announcement
with plea to have the 16 to 1 idea put
in the platform, to the exclusion of the
money plank already presented. The
audience instantly turned against him,
and an uproar ensued which did not
cease till the speaker sat down.
The three days session of the con-
vention ended yesterday afternoon in a
climax of incendiary speeches. e. M.
Bannister, of st. Louis, chairman of
the convention, resigned the gavel to
introduce a resolution advising strik-
ers in general to arm themselves for
resistance when necessary.
B. R. Creedon, of Idaho, was one of
the most radical speakers. He said:
"The time has come for radical meas
ures. If we adopt this resolution it
will make the st. Louis convention the
largest gathering of workingmen in
the history of the world. Every adj
vance of the human race has been
gained with guns, and we must use
them. This is the best thing that has
been introduced into the convention.
1t is what the people expect"
M. Mccarthy, of Chicago, opposed
the resolution as a matter of policy on
the ground that it was not well to
warn the public of their intentions. He
said: General Miles has already
asked that the army be increased to
225, 900 men, and we don't want to give
the people any warning before we go
at them, or that recommendation will
be followed. 1t is poor policy to dis
cuss this in an open convention, be-
cause we can never beat the capitalists
if we allow them to prepare. We must
catch them before they are ready"
e. M. Bannister, speaking in defense
of his resolution, said it was right that
arms should be met with arms. This
convention, he declared, would never
have been called had it not been for
the Hazleton murders, and some action
must be taken.
A motion to lay the matter on the
table was carried after McCarthy's
speech about it's being poor policy.
The western delegates secured free
silver amendment to the platform. They
said they were empowered to announce
that if it were not passed not a cent
more of money would come out of the
west to assist the eastern men in
strikes and other troubles.