Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-12-17

WoRKIseNKN's ASSEMBLY. - The regular
meeting OF the Assembly was held at the City
han a>t evening the President. Mr.. II. y.
tary.
Mr.. A. T. Cavie stated that of the nun Der
OF stingnisneo gentlemen Interested IN the
woikfugmen's cause, now in this city, VINO
nad promised to address the meeting, only one
was present, owing to prior engagements He
then introduced Mr.. Richard Traveliick, Pres
ldent OF the Ship Joiners Association OF Mich.
lgsn. Mr.. I. thanked the Assembly for their
invitation, and addressed the meeting. He dep
reeated the manner in which the pu bile LANDS
OF the United States were distributed, and OBJ
Jeetd to their being given At all to railroad
companies or other corporations, illustrating
nis views by history Of the landed estates Of
the labor question was IN in
wen as In this country. He would never cast
vote hereafter as a workingman's friend un-
less tnat candidate was in favor OF reform He
did not wonder at members Of Congress CON-
ing 10 washington poor and going home rich.
Tnere mad been stealing going on, and IL would
De LOT the producing classes to check it. He
hoped to zee the day when the men now in
Congress would be replaced by the friends OF
the working class. He was not In favor of any
party but the labor party. The Democratic
tended that labor produced the wealth of
nation, and the ignorance Of Congressman as
TO the wants Of the people was in reality the
panied to visit the Capitol and find the great
laborlng classes entirely unrepresentad. The
view generally prevailed that none but pro.
fessional man could sit ia Congress. That was
a great mistake, and he knew hundreds of
young men in his own State who were study
ing for professions. many OF whom had net
brain enough to wheel wheel barrow. He
would rather trust q laboring than a PROBES.
sional man in the Councils Of the nation
The speaker dwelt on the enormIty of the
public debt, and deprecated the contraction of
the currency. He then touched upon the eight.
hour question, and argued that the improve
ments in mechanics were subseQ uent to the
shortening OF the hours OF labor from fou rteep
to ten hours He then stated that the princi-
pies he had Enumerated were those of the
National Labor Union, and hoped they would
be endorsed by those present. The address
was received with great enth usiasm, and the
large number OF spectators showed deep inter-
est in the speech.
The Assembly adjourned after the trausac.
ton Of some routine business.
WoRKINGMEN AND WIDOWS ASSOCIATION
On Tuesday evening meeting was held at the
Third Colored Baptist Church, corner of Attn
and l. streets. for the purpose Of forming Ar
association under the above name. benefici sl in
Its character. There were present ute a large
number, including a number Of women The
meeting was called to order by Rev. A. Bould,n,
who took the chair, and w. H. Edenboro ON,
Grated as secretary. A constitution was adopted
which provides that sscitizens OF Washing ton
and ten miles round may become members,
ana there shall be no distinction on account of
sex, color. or political creed; that the objects
shall be TO elevate the poor man, and after the
expiration Of three months, members who NAV
be sick or out of employment shall recei We
bepefits, and the deceased shall be buried; that
the members shall work for what they get until
they can fix and maintain their own prices
that those who refuse to labor when work is
offered to them shall be expelled; and any one
who reports tor benefits without cause shall he
expelled, and no money returned to him or her
&c. An election resulted in the choice of the
following officers: Palmer Briscoe. President:
Alfred Bouldln, Vice President; w. H. Edip-
boro, Secretary; Samuel Thornton, Treasurer:
f. Dickson, A. Kicks, l.. Lucas, Barton Harris,
James Bennett, VIM. Kicks, Alfred Deal, James
Bouldin Henry Jackson, VIM. Robertson, John
Deal, and Parker Richardson, Managers. The
names of about sixty were received including
six widows, and the meeting adjourned for a
week