People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 November 1894 — GEN. BOOTH IN CHICAGO. [ARTICLE]

GEN. BOOTH IN CHICAGO.

*nO«nmiamlcr of the Salvation Army Kx- ' plains II is Social Scheme. Chicago, Nov. 24.— Gen. William i Booth, the picturesque founder and present head of the Salvation army, i toiet the representatives of the Chicago newspapers in the rooms of the Press j club Thursday morning. Gen. Booth liad just arrived in Chicago over the Michigan Central road from Saginaw. Gen. Booth began by telling hia ghosts in a general way the object of ids visit to America. He had come to «6ee whal m re could be done in the furtherance of the army’s work here. Be also wanted to see the American people, explain to them more fully the nbject of the army and the principles of his social scheme, get the prayers of more of the good people and get a little more of the rich people’s money. YVith reference to his social scheme, lie was asked how he proposed to solve labor difficulties. He said there was only one way, and that was to transfer the surplus of laboring men. If in one spot there was work for only 1,200 men and 1,500 .men were looking for jobs, the 300 Who Were left idle, in order to secure employment, would offer their services cheaper. This would cause strikes. The remedy in such a case would be to' remove the surplus of help to some less thickly populated portion of this country and give to each man a portion of ground to till for himself. Here the general was interrupted »nd asked if he did not consider the farmers one of the most miserable -classes in the world to-day. He replied: “Oneof the most miserable, but the trouble lies in the fact that the farmer of to-day farm-< lor the market instead of farming for himself. JI he would eat what he raised he would have plenty and still something to market. Then he would be independent. A man has an in«tinctive liking for a piece of land all his own, find if he could be taught to run his farm on the proper plan he would be thoroughly independent. Independence would bring contentment and among all the.classes of people of this earth there is a no more happy community than a contented peasantry." The great evil in America was the govern ment, he said. Majorities were generally foolish in their opinions. However, he did not indorse monarchies or aristocracies. He favored the government which controlled the Salvation Army, which he said was not military in the strict sense of that term. It was a government of love. *The wisest and best men should be at the head and the others to obey; that was the plan. It was David’s idea of jgoverntnent. and it was his.