Secrist—The Anti-Auction Movement of 1828. 
159 
contended for were equal education, equal rights to the soil, etc. 
Monopolies in all forms were inveighed against and chiefly those 
seen in banks and auctions 56 because of their close affiliation. 57 
The aversion to auctions per se was, however, secondary, 58 as is 
shown by the absence of all mention of them in the Prospectus 59 
as a topic to be given consideration by the Workingmen’s Ad¬ 
vocate, their official paper. Banking monopolies, however, were 
given specific mention. 
At a meeting, Oct. 26, 1829, the working men entered the 
political field by nominating candidates for the State Legisla¬ 
ture. Their names and occupations, 60 so far as known, are as 
follows: 
For the Assembly. 
For the Senate . 
Name. 
Occupation. 
Name. 
Occupation. 
Ming - , Sr., Alex,. 
Printer 
Wood, Silas J.,. 
Merchant 
Friend, Frederick. 
Brass founder 
Webb, Ed. J.,. 
Carpenter 
Skidmore, Thomas,.. 
Blatckly, Cornelius.. .. 
Kerrison, Kobt. M. 
Potter, Alden,. 
Williamson, Amos,. 
Whiting - , Ebenezer...... 
Clarmon, Simon.. 
Ford, Ebenezer,. 
Mott, Benj. 
Stockmaker 
Machinist 
Teacher 
Carpenter 
Grocer 
There is a striking similarity in the votes of the candidates 
for the Assembly. Lord, who Was elected, received 6,166 votes ;: 
while each of the ten remaining candidates, with one exception, 
got 6,000 and over; six of these getting over 6,100. Numer¬ 
ically, all Assembly candidates were strongest in the 10th ward• 
56 “One dozen auctioneers receive of New York more than a million 
dollars annually over and above all their expense's, for their personal 
services. The thing to do is to break down the auction monopoly.” 
Workingmen Advocate Oct. 31, 1829. 
st ibid. Jan. 16, 1830. 
ss Auctions are denounced but are put in a category of institutions 
“contrary to the genius of republican institutions” alongside of “char¬ 
tered banks . . . and clerical exemption from taxation.” Ibid. 
Oct. 31, 1829 p. 3, col. 4. 
59 ibid. Oct. 31, 1829, p. 3, col. 1. 
so The Workingmen’s party “consisting as well of merchants, lawyers, 
physicians and speculators, as of operatives under the general cogno¬ 
men of working men. Hammond, Hist, of Pol. Parties, etc., Yol. II, pp„ 
330-331; also Jenkins Pol. Parties in N. Y. pp. 368-369. 
