The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1897-02-24
Gage and the wortIngmen,

Gage and the worklngmen.
When Mr.. Cages appointment to the
Sccretaryship of the Treasury was an
nounced aud the press began to sound
public opinion as to the wisdom Of the
choice, says Moses p Handy in the March
Repielg OF R6Vi6i0, it was assumed by
those who did not know him that being a
banker and an alleged plutoorat Mr.. Cages
appointment would be particularly DIS
tasteful to, il not actually resented by, the
working classes. Great was the surprise,
therefore, at tho discovery that to no part
of the population of Chicago was the
choice more acceptable than TO the work.
ing people. Not one OF the labor leaders
or the socialistic agitators who were inter
viewed failed TO speak good word in his
behalf. Naturally this phenomenon eN-
cited great deal OF curiosity ann COM
ment. How was 1t possible for man in
Mr.. Cages position thus to win the favor
of u class to which as a banker he was
additionally supposed to be obnoxious
The story of his connection with what are
known as the Economic Conferences
partially answers this question.
Ga the day after the anarchistic out
break eliminated in the Haymartet riot
and bomb throwing, Chicago had the cold
shiycrs. Mingled with apprehension there
was on the part OF some good citizens,
and Mr. Gage among the number, feel
ing of seltreproaCh, II was his thought
that the good citizens and what is known
as the better class shodld not entirely es-
cape the responsibility for what had hap
pencd. Mt Gage felt that for his own
| part he had not been sufficiently careful 10
know what the grievances OF the discon-
tented were or TO what extent their
wrongs might be righted. These feel
| ings led him TO put himself in immediate
communication with certain repres enaiiv Q
men who were more or less in sympathy
with the Disconnected elements of the
| community. Upon consultation with
them he hit upon the idea of the Economic
Conferences. This involved tho organi-
cation Of an Economic Club to be com
posed OF not more than twcnty-four mem
bers embracing in about equal proportions
persons from the industrial classes, from
business pursuits, and from what are
known as the learned professions. The
membership was to include one or more
representatives OF the more prominent
men OF modern economic thought. The
first meeting of the club was held in the
drawing room Of MIR. Cages nne new
residence, into which by singular
coincidence he and his family had moved
on the very day OF the lIaymarket riot.
The company gathered around Mr. Cages
NJ ~ Q IN
talking began. Among those present
were George Schiling, an aggressive
socialistic labor leader Henry ID. Lloyd,
the well known academic apostle OF state
socialism Mark l.. Crawford, a trades
unionist of local note, and the notorious
Tommy Morgan, who is the recognized
leader OF the socialist labor party In
Chicago. Then there WAS n sprinkling of
divines aud lawyers. The business men
were shy, but among those present beside
Mr.. Gage was another banker, Cha. l..
Hutchinson, and Messrs. II. H. kohlsaat
aud Franklin Mac. Neagh.
After several meetings at MIR. Gage Il
house with every satisfaction result ting
from the exchange Of ideas, but no specific
concessions on either side, the Economic
Club, with view to widening its field,
moved into u hired hail. and the public,
to the extent of the seating capacity of the
hail. was invited to attend what became
| known as the Economic Conferences. The
plan WAS to have the members OF the clut
successively preside aud read pape
after which questions might be asked o
the speaker, and general debate wa
allowed. Mr.. Gage presided at the frs
meeting and delivered an address OF
"lanking in its Relations to the Publ
Interest In the debate which followe
he confesses that the social sts were rathC
too much for him. He modesty says tilt
r his complete discontinue was only aver
ed by being asked TO yield the floor Il
half an hour (Which he did most Willingly
to Mrs. Ormiston Chant, the wcll.know
English rcformer. At the second meet
ing 1t was Tommy Morgau's turn to talk
the platform. lie did so with a paper OF
State Socialism, and obtained the immed
late sympathy OF the audience with hi
opening sentence. "Last week, he.,said
"you were addressed by \ distinguished
banker, six feet high and OF imposing APP
pearance. Mr.. Gnge is educated, pfosp
crous and well fed. Tonight ask yol
to hear little Tommy Morgan, not mucl
to look At, stunted from his childhood,
factory hand from seven years of age.
He then made speech which set Mr.
Gage thinking, and 1t was that speech, to
gether with his experience in being caugh
unarmed the week before, that led the in
coming Secretary OF the Treasury to begiI
tie persistent II not Systematic studies o
sociology and political economy which
have made him well informed man OF
those subjects