The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-26
ADVOCATES OF SOCIALISM.
"Mother" Jones, Rev. f. A. Cantrell
and Henry Meyer Talk.

From 7:30 o'clock last night until nearly
IL socialism, in all its phases, was discussed
at a mass meeting of Socialists held In
Mansur Hall. The meeting was held for
the purpose of instruction, and as teachers
of economic questions. the Rev. E. A.
Cantrel, pastor Of the Peoples Church;
Henry Meyer, member OF the executive
board of the United Brotherhood of Car
penters and Joiners, of San Mateo, Cal,
and Mother Jones. the prominent agita-
tor of the United Mine Workers of Ameri-
ca. talked at length.
The hall was well filled and the audience
made up of members of labor organizations
in the city. The sentiment of the crowd
was entirely with the speakers evidenced
In the hearty applause which greeted par
tcular Trades against capitalists. Several
women were in the audience and their ap-
plause and approval of the remarks of the
speakers were as frequent the men and
their CALCULATIONS of Hear, Hear" showed
that they were conversant with the faith.
Henry Meyer, the first speaker, showed
himself antagonistic TO organized labor.
He said that although a workingman him.
sell and a trades unionist he did not believe
the labor unions were accomplishing their
purpose. He said that he belonged to a
LABOR union because ii was the only weapon
with which he could defend himself and
secure just treatment from his employers.
he said the original purpose of organized
labor, as he understood 1t, was to combat
capital and bring about a better condition
In the United States. Now he said organ
friendly relations with capital and all
strikes against IL are ended as soon as a
Few minor concessions are made to the
demands which caused the strike.
Mother" Jones, in a talk lasting three
quarters of an hour. told of some OF her ex-
perences while in the anthracite district in
the interests of the coal miners. Amusing
incidents, as we'll as pathetic ones. showing
the condition of the miners children and
the poorer classes who were ruined by the
great strike, which she said was caused by
the heartlessness of the employers, were
related Mother" Jones devoted much of
her talk to the subject of injuncetions She
advocated the restriction of the enjoining
power of federal judges. and, although her
personal experience with Judge Jackson
was not mentioned, ii was evident that she
remembered 1T from the way in which she
criticised government by Injunction"
The Rev. Mr.. Cantrell delivered a social
istic talk in which he argued that the con-
servatism OF socialism was the great argu-
ment in its favor. lie said mistaken i'm
preston that the Socialist party was a
radical political organization hurt the par
ty. The conservatives of the country would
in time become Socialists, Mr.. Cantrell said
he predicted that revolution in the p0lit-
ical parties of the United States was immi-
nent. and he advised the workingmen of
the country to take the initiative and pro-
woke H. lie CRITICISED the pnllantnrOy OF
certain millionaires and said that the
money with which the gifts of these men
were made possible was collected by them
at the expense of the laborers of the coun-
try. He described his view of the methods
of Huntington in the California land and
railroad work and said that Huntington
had ruined hundreds of men in order that
he might satisfy his desire for money. The
only remedy for present conditions, Mr.
Cantrell said, to vote the Socialist
| ticket He said IL is a minister's right IL
| go into politics when he believed it to be
| for the good of men.