The herald., 1898-03-12
Mr.. Bliss Explains

proper expression OF their v1oWS.)
Mr.. Bliss Explains
To the Editor of the Los Angeles Herald:
Will you allow me through your columns
to say q word to the public that perhaps.
needs to be said in regard to the Union Re-
form league, which 1 have recently had
the honor Of organising in your city. There
seems to have been q misunderstanding In
some quarters in regard to Its purpose and
methods. The league. allow me to say dis
tinctly. is not committed by any means to
all that may have to say. On Its wide
platform I have a right to my Views but
others have an equal right to different
views. This does not appear to have been
understood by all at the meeting held in the
Los Angeles thcater Sunday. February s.
stated there some of my views and Bishop
Montgomery. in his large. generous spirit.
was wholly within the limits Of the league
in stating that he differed from some Of
my conclusions. though he fully agreed
with our fundamental position. There was
no occasion, therefore, for any to think
that they were ''misled'' in coming to the
meeting, unless they make 1t rule Of
life never to take part in a meeting with,
or listen to. those they differ from. AS
Bishop Montgomery so ably and nobly
said, there is great need that those who
do differ learn to come together and to list
en- to other views than their own.
1t is just this work that, among other
things, our league desires to accomplish.
and I write these words ct this time be
cause our league is just commencing a
large educational work on exactly these
lines and we desire the public to under
stand and enter into this project. We have
hired permanent and somewhat extensive
headquarters at the corner of Sixth and
Broadway, where we are opening an office,
reading room and smoking room, where
those Of all political and economic views
may come and read and talk over these va
rious ideas. We are to have regular meet
ings on Sundays at p. m, Tuesdays at
p. m. and Wednesdays at s. At these meet
ings we propose to ask representative So
cialists and individualists, gold monomet-
alists and silver men, Republicans and
Populists, and representatives of all par
ties and all schools of economic thought
to come and present their various views.
At the close of the Sunday afternoon meet
ings we propose to have series of social
suppers, where rich and poor, the possess
ing and non-possessing classes, may come
together In a social way and arrive at a
better understanding each of the other.
Does any thoughtful man not see that
under the present economic and political
conditions of our land this is most wise
and practical thing to do? This is what
Bishop Montgomery declared was needed
and why he supported the league, and
when he was and is so friendly to the
league 1t seems unfortunate that his
friendly speech at the theater should have
been distorted by few into the opposite
Of the case That he did not agree with all
my conclusions is true, but that is not at
all to the point, because the league is not
committed to my conclusions, as the bish-
op perfectly and properly understood.
The league is committed simply to the
principles Of brotherhood. cooperation and
justice. Do any object to these? Beyond
this it simply asks how practically We may
apply these principles. The methods which
1 personally believe in are not untitled.
They have been adopted and proved mar
velously successful in Glasgow and Birm-
ingham and Manchester and Paris and
Berlin, in Germany and Switzerland and
Australia. Even SO far as tried they have
been successful in America. Is 1t Utopian
to think that these measures might work in
Los Angeles?
Against the movement for better city
government neither 1 nor any of the off1c-
ers of the league have ever said word.
We heartily endorse all wise efforts and
aims of the league. We simply believe
that, in addition to its program, We need
to press towards wise municipalizing OF
public monopoles, which view is spreading
rapidly over the United States. Our league.
then, comes not as a rival but as an ally Of
any movement for better government.
Many of those prominent in the Better City
Government league, we are glad to say,
have already allied themselves with our
movement and We bespeak for both leagues
cordial cooperation. Our movement Is
purely educational, but we have not been
taught to believe that education Is imprac-
tical, and we ask, therefore, the support Of
all citizens who desire to see better feel
ing between employer and employed. be-
tween capitalists and laborers, and who de-
sire to extend economic education.
Our first meeting Is Sunday, March 13, at
Illinois hall, at 4 p. M, where prominent
speakers will appear, and we cordially in
vite the public.
i am, respectfully yours,
w. D. P. BLISS.