New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-03-28
Sympathy With the Lynn Strikers.
MASS MEsIING At THE COOPER INSTITUTE.
Speeches by Charles Mccarthy, Horace Greeley,
AionzO Draper Of Lynn, etc.
NIATE RIAL A I'D.

hall of the Cooper Institute IL was advertised tnas
the Hon. Fernando Wood and the Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher would be present and address the meeting,
hut neither of these gentlemen made his appearance.
The meeting was organized by the appointment OF
Mr.. CHARLES MCCARTHY as Chairman, who, on TAX
ing the chair, made quite spirited address to the
assembage. He said:
The meeting had been called for the purpose of sym
pathizing with the men of Lynn, who were on
strike" These men deserved the sympathy OF tue
whole country. They struggling for fair remn'
neraticn for their labor which they did not get The
bosses had ground them down TO the lowest point IL
was stated, and not denied, that many OF the men
could not obtain 50 per week that the women-some
of tl,em-could not earn more than 40 cents for the
same time. In Europe, even, the oppressed WORKING
classes were better OFF. IL lay with the worhngmeh
to rase euch storm of public opinion az to force the
bosses of Eastern Massachusetts to alter sa'e OF
things that was a disgrace 10 this great and free
nation. Applause. The workngmen produced
all the wealth Of the country, and received the
sm aliest share of it. This was because they
were divided, and did not know their power
All his audience had vital interest IN this Massachu
sets movement for if il failed, our own trade would
be overlooked with wOrkmen fleeing from that region
He exhorted his hearers to give what they could u ad
their brethren. IL was time they TOOK Their own
affairs into their hands, and regulated these mat
ters 1t was strange that in this country where the
workingmen were all-powerful, they were ground
down more bitterly than in Europe. IL was not
when the iOurneymen had to work from IA to IL hours
day for such plltances. lie announced that move
ment was going on for union OF ali the Trades,
so s TO make future STRIKES that might become neces-
sary, feasible and sure OF trun ph why, IN the United
States there were 00U shoemakers alone, and they
would each contribute % cents per week. their breth-
rem at Lynn could hold ont year.
A lengthy list of Vice Presidents, mostly working
men, was then read. After which,
TIE Committee Resolutions presented preamble and Ieso
cordwainers Of Massachusetts now on turnout whom they
locked upon the victims OF oppression the part OF their
employ estheir being reduced low that man could
honestly respectfully support himself aud any ana
being proud to see the which those had made
for the overcoming Of the wives,
daughters, and sisters of these men-thereore, they
Resored That they would aid and assist the strikers 70 the
best of their ability till they had emphasized the. Object hst
fstaTy to receive donations for that purpose Adopted
Mr.. ALoNZo DRAPER of Lynn was then introduced
and received with enthusiastic applause He is the &C
knowledged leader of the Massachusetts movements Is
a small, SANDY complexion man, with thoughtful
forehead and much resolution i'll his manner. No Off
hand speech could have been more happily delivered,
OF better adapted the auden than the which he
proceeded to make. Mr.. Draper said that he had
peced not TO have been obliged TO say much, when he
saw the formidable list of names on the programme.
But none of them, except HIMSELF were here tonight.
Here Mr.. Horace Greeley entered by the platform
door and the audience raised such a storm of applause
as compelled the speaker 10 turn III quest Of the Cause
No, he WAS mistaken; he was glad TO find ne
was not alone. Three cheers were again given
for Horace GIeeley.l Said he, L hope that
other thinking will encourage us by their
presence here to-nght, rather than by staying
at home, and celebrating fne-spun theories OF LABOR.
We propose not merely 10 give the workngmen OF the
East fair price for their work. bat TO elevate them,
mentally and morally. lie did not believe exactly IN
the words Of Dean Swift, who had said 1t was easy TO
the poor opinion which the Lord had OF riches, by
observing 10 what kind Of men he had given them.
He believed in the dignity of wealth properly acquired.
There wee rich men OF honorable hearts. AT meet
ing at Newark, last night, the Hon. VIM. &. Wright,
the wealthes man III Newark, had been present; and
not only lent his presence but on the next morning
drew his check for $780, in aid OF the strike. MIR. CHI
ford the President OF the NewJersey Senate had also
aided Them Speaking of the power of public opinion,
and of the laborng classes he quoted the instance Of
the arTaignment OF Treawney, the workngman OF En-
gland. When Treawney was condemned TO death,
song was written, and repeated from John OGroats
the Lands End Of which the burden was as folio ws:
And shall TrelaEney die,
And must Treswney die,
Then three thousand Cornishmen
shall know the why"
And King George had to pardon Trelawney, awed
by the feelings OF his subjects And now should our
Eastern brethren die suffer than death. Loud
cries of "No, MOI The speaker then gave a brief
history of the Lynn Strike. lie claimed that several
losses had made large fortunes last year by cutting
down the wages of their hands. Whit had been the
result of the strike thus far After the first week the
bosses offered TO give them two thirds of their de-
mand. Alter two weeks they agreed TO give the
entire amount asked but refused 10 sign the bill of
wages. SO the cordwainers thought that perhaps in
another fortnight, they would conclude 10 sign the
bill So they con uded TO wait. Besides, they were
having a good time. carnival had reigned
In that region ever since the I'D ult. Pro-
cessons and harbecues had been the order OF the
10000 men mad joined the movement. Their mission
aries were all the State converting the shoe
makers to the trde jaith. Laughter ana applause
Two thousand ladies bad Joined them, and had pledged
themselves lot 10 work for any boss who would not
sign the mems bill OF wages. IDey proposed to estab-
lsh an apprenticeship system; not 10 allow anybody
TO work until had served hid three years; TO cut off
the farmers and sailors who worked two tnres
days, ana then tried 10 make shoes. They had thor
ough organization; "scab-comnttees" III every ward.
lie gave the meaning OF the word 5eab." IL meant
the same among the shOemakers as the rat among
the printers, ana the pettfogger" among the law
yers. An amusing account was given OF the method
employed in converting obduralo scabs' at Lynn
Now there hardly twenty left IN that neighbour
hood. Many "reminiscences of the strike gwen
by the speaker, most Of which already familiar to
the public through the papers. After abiding to the
law-abidng conduct OF Che strikers, Mr.. Draper con-
cuded with appeal to the audience for the needed
% material aid"
Loud calls were here made for Horace Greeley, who
came forward and was received with cheers.
Mr.. GREELEY said Tie state OF fljts this evening |
presented, renders first duty plain one. Some
thousan0s OF our country in want, and they
aek for assistance Let each do what we eau to-
ward their relief
The fact tbat they are engaged in struggle for |
what they believe TO be their nights and for the general
rights OF LABOR ST. CITIZENS their claim upon SYM
paIhies. They might procure ime iate allie Walton
OF their suiisrngs but they believe that by doing 30
they would protract and intensity their permanent dis
abilities, and those of their feowcraflsmen So they
bear on
The shoemakers of Lynn and those who act with |
them i'll their present movement demand the establish
ment of Bill of Prices accepted alike by employers
and workmen and guaranteeing ike pay for like
VI on "a Ia m IA IN and