The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-09-23
EIGHT HOURS
The Demonstration 10 New York.
The Largest Display ever made hJ
the WOrkiRgmen I'm America.
rnE MASS Mssrno-- RESOLUTIONS, ETc.

We are indebted to the New Haven San
day Morning Union for the following ac
count OF the great Eight Hour demonslra
ton in New York:
The workingmen Of New York may vel
feel proud Of their demonstration last
"Wednesday. There were not less thar
$4,000 men in the procession, and bad il
not been for tie rain in the forenoon, which
made the walking very disagreeable, as well
as the threatening of more rain in the af
ternoon, it is fair TO presume that from ten
TO fifteen thousand more men would have
been in line. All along the route cheer
after cheer rent the air from those who
stood on the sidewalks and bousetop9, aud
frcm the windows the daughters Of toll
saluted them by the waving Of handkcr.
chiefs and the clupping Of hands. Never
was there more well behaved, peaceuble
aud orderly procession in the metropolis
and looking at the men as they fled By, one
could not help but notice the earnest, de-
termined look in their faces. The centers
Of traction appeared to be section ? of the
lnternationals, carrying the red flag, and
the colored men, both Of whom were en-
Enthusiastically cheered by the citizens at
every point The Internationals numbered
about two hundred men. They carried a
large banner With the OLD watchword>
Inscribed" Liberty, Equa.ity, Frater-
nity."
The right Of the line was accorded to the
stone cutters, who numbered over t1o
thousand and we've a fine body of mcu.
Every man wore a chamois apron, in the
center Of which was the figure of a brawny
arm raising the stone car, er's mallet Fol
lowing them came the marble cutters, the
granite stone cutters, the blue stone cut
ters, and then the carpenters. The latter
made fine appearance, with their numer-
Gus flags and banners. Among the notices
carried by the carpenters and bricklayers
ere the following: Eight hours for la
Dor, eight hours for sleep. ana eight hours
for mental improvement :" eve are deter
mined to have the eight hour law enforced
" No more paper laws" "Our strength
lies in the Justice o. our demand. Let the
working people of the world unite"
Then came section Of the Internation-
ats, followed BY the stone masons, more
brickl~yers, more societies Of painters, and
then the plasterers, with their triumphal
car, drawn by eight horses. This car was
covered with notices, among which were
the following: tie neX; Governor will
enforce the eight hour laws" "We will
fight for eight hours" "No more talk--we
mean business Workingmen are the
bulwsrk ~Of the nation :" ''Thes State
Capital will be pIasssred at eight hours. =
The Protective Society OF Plumbers then
followed, with numerous flags and in
scriptious. Then came the tallors, and,
following them, the Knights Of 81. Crispin,
a fine body Of meR, with flags and notices,
among which were the following: Down
with the prison contract system "If
prisoners must labor, let the people reap the
benefit thereof"
Then came the Brooklyn societies, and
then the colored brigade, who seemed high
ly pleased with the reception that greeted
them, and, as one of them 81 d "Golly,
massa, the workingmen have adopted the
new departure 7"
Following the colored men were a NUN
Der Of German societies, who brought up the
rear Of the procession.
At different points along the route sal
utes we're fred by detachments Of working
men detailed for that purpose, and the
greatest enthusiasm prevailed. Not more
than twenty five policemen accompanied the
procession, and although delay was oc
casioned in making the start, owing to the
rain, after the start was made everything
worked with true military discipline, and no
general could have handled or manOeuvred
an army better than Chief Marshal Curran
and his aids The men marched well. and
doubtless the citizens Of the metropolis who
have underrated the power Of trades
unions, have had practical opportunity of
ascertaining their strength.
The procession marched down -Four
teenlh street to Fourth avenue, down the
Bowery, up Chatham street. through the
City Hall Park, and up Broadway to
Eighth street, where it dsbanded for the
purpose Of attending the mass mce citing at
Cooper Institute, and long before the doors
we're opened, the crowd lad gathered
around the main entrance clamoring for
admission, aud as soon as they we're opened
the hall was quickly filled and Grafulla,s S
Band entertained the audience while wait
ing with some choice music
The banner Of the Association Interna-
tionale des TravailIcurs, Section No. 2
New York. was unfu led upon the plat
form, and was received with enthusiastic
and continued applause. The banner Of
the JOurneymen Union Painters occupied
conspicuous position, as also did the