Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-11-02
THE WORKINGMEN.
THE EIGHT HOUR MOVEMENT.


Mass Meeting at the City HaiI-Rese.
lGtions, Speeches, TransparencIes, and
Music.
The Torchlight Procession and Mass Meeting
OF the Workingmen at the City Hall last eve
ming was the grandest affair of the kind ever
attempted in Washington. All the different
trades were identified with the movement for
reduction OF the time of labor to eight hours per
day, and at preliminary meetings had not only
made elaborate arrangements for their own
equipments, but had contributed largely to a
general fund for expenses
Yesterday, the stand at the City Hall was
completed, and attracted throughout the day
no little attention. Over the arch in front was
inscribed in large letters, "Eigbt hours a legal
days work" Surrounding the speaker were
the notices, We will support for political po-
.sition those only who favor eight hours as n
legal days work" "Our cause is based upon
the principles of justice, humanity, Chris tian
iclNillZation, and must succeed" ssThe union of
perity."
:. Ill fares the land to Fastening ills a prey,
Where Wealtn accumulates and men decay"
Limitation by law of the hours of labor to
eight" "Hasten the day when we shall hear no
more OF honorable industry being common or
unclean." "To dignity labor make it less
toll and more a pleasure Society is but the
intellectual ladder; to climb it we must have
time for mental culture
Behind these mottoes gas Jets We're burning
giving very pretty effect to the stand, while
e.
main body of the stand with the national colors
The crowd commenced assembling at the
Clty Hail about half-past eiX, and steadily in
creased in size, Notwithstanding that hundreds
were constantly leaving for the avenue to view
the procession as it passed along.
me nrst DIVISION OF the procession was or
ganiZed at the foot Of Capitol Hill, and the sec
ond division at the Navy Yard. the latter
marching up and joining the other division
before the column moved. At about half. .past
seven the procession, headed by the committee
OF arrangements, visitors and martial music
moved off in the following order:
FIRST DIVISION.
Chief Marshal, VIM. r. Mclean; Aides, Nor
val w. King and Thomas Greer
Employees of the Currency Bureau, Treas
ury Department, numbering seventy two men,
marshaled by Mr.. j. c. Larman. They had
IN line a huge transparency on a wagon, gaily
decorated with flags and eyergreens, and
drawn by six bay horses. On one side was
representation of $50 thirty coupon
note, with coupons attached, bearing under
neath the motto, "The note of free govern
ment." Upon the opposite side was SO
greenback, and representation of hydraulic
press, with the motto, 4" Eight hours dry print
ing beats ten hours wet printing" and " Eight
hours constitutes days work for us-may the
same rule apply 10 ALL On another transpa-
reney borne by this delegation was portrait
Pioneer of eight hours work-the workman's
friend" The men also carried a number of
Chinese lanterns and torches.
Next followed the Columbia Typographical
society, Daniel Harbaugh, marshal, headed
with Rice's band, formerly the ID District
regiment band There were about one hun
ared and nifty men of this organization in line.
They had with them n beautiful car decorated
with foweTs, eyergreens, flags, &c, drawn by
Tour horses, IN which We're press and cases
OF type; with men at work, engaged in printing
several pieces of poetry called THE Working
mems Procession and The Eight Hour
Cause" copies Of which were lndustriously
distributed among the thousands of persons
who crowded the sidewalks. In the latter
IL DOptrI annparpi a
significant verse:
We're power in the nation
We have votes to mould the laws
Let ms then support for office
Only those who aid our cause.
The notices on this car, which attracted
much attention, were The Printers-the In
telligencers who Chronicle the Times OF the Re
publican Union. the Star of nations and 1.-The
Press civilizes, eieyates, makes States and
men-why doom its operators to darkness,
poverty and ceaseiess toll" Several transpa-
rencies were also carried by the members OF
the society, upon which appeared the fol-
lowing inscriptions: "Mechanics' Time
table-Time for Improvement Excel
sior, Onward and Upward Thine for En-
ployment, Time for Rest 1--WE enlighten
others, help us,' mo night work in the Crea-
ti0n, Labor Is Blessing, its abuse Curse"
Eight Hours Days Work." '.Strike While
the Iron is Hot"
I The employers of the Repair Shop of the
Government Printing Office were in line, with
the members of the Typographical Society,
and had with them q car, drawn by horses,
IN " hich was small steam engine lathes, &C.,
with men at work.
The BoUkbinders Association appeared next
| in line, and was headed by Heald's band. Mr
John Epsy acting as marshal. This associa-
ton had magnificent car in line, in which
was ruling machine, in full operation, with
men at work and a lady folding books On
this wagon appeared the motto: sPaper ruling
capital must be ruled by labor" Another
wagon bore on each side the following motto:
1.-The Press, the Church, the Home, mighty
pillars that support the nation. We ask for
time TO use them" In the rear of the same
wagon was a representation OF the book
binders at work. The clock indicates five
minutes of seven p. m, and one workman
says, 'sWill that whistle never blow!" Another,
My lodge meets Tonight but can't lose the
time to attend.' Yet another. az not even
time to go to church" The Bookbinders also
carried a number of transparen cies with them.
inscribed with the notices "Eight hours for
rest; eight hours for recreation: eight hours for
work. ''We will work. but must rest" ssIf
six hours is right in the departments, ten hours
| is wrong In the workshops" Labor is the
source OF wealth and the prosperity of our
country" "EIght hours 4 legal days work.
"United we stand; divided we fall;'' 1--WE sus-
tain no man who does not advocate our cause"
ave thank our friends;' 6. We must meet the
issue with firmncss;' s.Our cause is just"
In this part of the procession transparency
appeared bearing some spirited representations,
that attracted general attention and elected
frequent applause. On ore side appeared the
picture of Il adisconsolate, tagged -out mechanic,
shaking the show from his shoulders as he
nis mouse; OUT, supper cold; baby
gone to sleep without seeing its pap; wife of
his bosom in the dumps, lonesome, fearful and
dspirited, and the clock telling a piteous story
of late hours. This picture is headed, ssTen
hours as it is" The reverse bore the repre-
sentation of jolly, happy looking chap sitting
as cosy as you please, in the shade of his vine
and tig-tree, reading sensible MANI the EJen-
irg Star by daylight; baby Growing astride his
knee; and wife of his buZzum smiling all over
with sunny contentment This picture was
headed Eight hours as it will be-"
The Stone Cutters were under the marshall
ship of Mr.. j. j. Mitchell, and were headed by
the fine band of the 7th regiment V. X. Corps.
They carried with them a number of lanterns
torches, and transparencies, upon which were
the notices United we have stood and shall
stand:' "lnjustice we disclaim. but our rights
we will maintain;" Eight hours we will and
must have" ''One OF the fundamental princi-
pies of progress-eight hours;' 1--WE, the work
ingmen, insist upon our share of the comforts
OF life;n Exhausted nature, representation OF
man lying on a table exhausted y the result of
ten hours" Benefit of eight hours" (repre
sentation of IA her instructing his children.)
The Granite Cutters Association was pre-
ceded by Prof. j. Wagner's band, and was
marshaled by Mr. Robert McMllen. They
bore number of transparencies, inscribed
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