The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-03-21
General Working Mems Meeting.

great meeting of the working men of New
York and its vicinity, was held last evening at
Croton Hall, Ecorner of Bowery and Division
street, pursuant to notice. to hear the report of the
committee appointed at the last meeting.
AT o'clock the meeting was called to order by
Mr.. Maxwell JAMES A. PyNE, Esq, was appoint
ed Chairman, and G. H. EVANS, Secretary. The
minutes of the last meeting were read and approved
The report of the committee and plan of organi-
cation were next in order.
MIR. CoNMERFoRD rose, and requested, before
they were read, TO be allowed to make few re-
marks in relation to himself. He said that some
OF the members OF the committee had made some
insnuatlons against his sincerity in his ldenifca-
with the Society. He now rose to say that he had
attended this meeting to- repe those inslnuations,
and TO state that he had identified himself with the
Society and would continue to do
The reading of the report called for and
read by Mr.. DIVER one Of the Committee. 1t detailed
with minuteness the hardshps and disabilities under
which the working classes abOred and, amongst other
things, stated that the COMMITTEES had Investigated
number Of facts bearing on that point They ascertansd
in the course Of their enquiries that there too many
working men congregated together in the cities and
towns throughout the Unon which reduced the price
labor far below the of subsistence for the mechan
10 and his family The power Of machinery and its effects
upon manual labor was next discussed and the report
concluded by recommending equitable distribution OF
the public lands amongst the working classes, which
was the only remedy for the evil
The Report was. then adopted, after an unmportant
The constitution of the society and the plan of organ
zaton containing the bylaws and rules of the society
were next read: These documents were very volumi
nous, and full hour was consumed in reading them
was then moved and seconded that the constitution
and plan Of organization should be adopted.
documents were extremely lengthy and required great
consideration and there several members of the
cety that would wish to consider them before they were
ration Of those documents should be postponed until
Thursday week.
meeting Mike responded and said:-My friends, came
not to this meeting for the purpose Of making speech
but as have been called upon shall not be said that
lodged the question. There is not man in the com
muniy but feels the degradation that the working
men labour under from the accumulation of CAPT
tai. Almost the whole of the civilized world
has from time to time witnessed the changes that
been brought about by the operation of capital pulling
down one class and raising another its ruins viii
said Mike advert to the evil OF strikes amongst thu
working classes have felt them myself and so far
my own experience has served me- l know their disas
old spitlckng hunkers If one of those fellows wanted
to get himself elected to Office (sad Nike he'd tel
you that his election would produce the misneum,
the Union. But here is the only scheme, that which ha
been offered tonightand if adopted and followed up will
the working classes We have heard Of join
Jacob and Stephen Girard who have realized mil
lions, but did they realize those millions by their owl
labor No They realized them from the sweat ant
labor Of the Woodworking mechanic and labOrer Blu
here is practical measure that every under
stand that every man when he goes to his work sho
can READ ana point out 10 MS IellOW WOrkmen It's utility
What proposes simplet is plain it is just and ii
necessary-tis just such plain practical scheme tina
you can at once see the utility Of-every thing tina
man eats and drinks must be dug from the soil by tn
labor Of man, and long idle and cannot fin,
work. he has right to look to that soil his nhertanc
for subsistence Here then practical plan that come
home to every man. We do not propose to take away
mans land We don't propose to take away the farms
Long Island but want that the Legislature shall
take away the public lands from the working and hi
family Mr. Walsh continued to discuss this topic cor
siderable length. After which he said that when a ma
any talents the first attempt Of the arstocracy
him. the next attempt to buy him. and when that fail
they rub him over with plenty of soft SOAP invite him
ought to he ashamed to keep such low company This
way the democracy have been trodden down by tn
| corruption Of their own members. Mike continued Z
address the meeting at considerable length and loud
y cheered when he sat down. One other person
addressed the meetings after which adjourned
| Thursday week.