Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-05-30
Anniversary Meetings,
BosroN. NAV 20

BosroS, May 80.
AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY.
The annual meeting of tue American tract
society was held this afternoon, and the follow
ing officers were elected for the ensuing year:
President, VIM e. Chaplin; Vice Presidents
Hon. Henry Wilson and j. G. Tappan; Secre.
tary and Treasurer, Arthur Gilman. The report
Of the treasurer was read and favorahly re.
teeed, Ii represented the total receipts rs
1922, disbursements SS977, assets SIS, 1G7 SO,
total liabilities S14,412.74, balance in favor of
the society S3,754.62
BOSTON EIGHT HOUR LEAGUE.
The Boston eight hour league held its third
annual convention to-day in the MeionaOn.
George f. Mcneil OF Cambridge was chosen
president with long list of vice presidents, aud
five secretaries. About 200 persons we're present
at the opening. Ira Stewart Of Charlestown
presented SERIES Of fesulutiOns which declared
that poverty is the great fact with which the
labor movement DEALS and that &C operation in
labor is tile final result to be obtained; that a
reduction in the hours of labor is tile first step
toward labor REFORM and that the emancipation
Of labor from, the slavery and ignorance
OF poverty solves all the problems that
now most disturb and perplex mankind, and de-
handing legislation TO regulate the hours OF
labor, by which the patent on articles will be
forfeited if labor is employed In Its manufacture
more than eight hours day, and that eight
hours shall he made a legal dFv's work
throughout the country by legislative enact
ment, The resolutions further affirm that less
pay is not the natural sequence Of less hours of
labor They also claim that the issues between
the political parties are not labor questions
and whether the masses have anything to
choose between President Grant and Horace
Greeley turns entirely on the question which
one of the two will be most likely to secure
the legislation demanded. Other resolu-
tons condemned the factory system and
the legislative action on the bureau OF statistics
Df IQbpr owl hn uraa Of fl,a
leagte to trades Unions throughout the world.
Rev George Irask, the anti-tobaccO apostle,
said his peculiar reform babe him work fourteen
hours day or die. Many of the mechanics
We're slaves TO opium, tobacco and strong drink,
and if they could be freed from this incubus, it
would be the first step in the reform. The
chairman reminded the speaker that it was an
eight hour convention, and not an anti-tObaCco
convention, and he sat down
D. H. Cocker "a colored mani wanted to know
whether they invited him to come there and ex
cluded him from their secret leagues The col
ored people were ready to aid in tue fight if they
could be admitted to the secrets. Ii was easier
for an unclean man to enter the kingdom of
heaven than for black man to gain admission
to trades union in New York.
N. L. Chase explained that they stood on
free platform, and that he did not believe in the
eXclusiveness of trades unions. Mr.. Chase then
discussed the general labor question at some
| length. He was ready to cooperate with the
| mechanics of Boston in strike for eight hours
The president stated that they had received
| several letters, and lad one from Hon. IL L.
| Dawes, ndorsing the movement; Gen. Butler,
| Senator Wilson, Mrs. Liyermore, and several
others, sent letters
large and enthusiastic meeting was held in
| the evening, President McNel in the chair A
delegation from sNew York trades unions was
| present. Felix Chilenworth, .of Springfield,
| gave detailed account of the favorable work
| ing of the eight hour system in the armory, and
thanked Senator Sumner and Gov. Washburu
| for their efforts.
/ resolution passed thanking Representative
Dawes for interest taken IN the eight hour sys-
| TEN.
Dennis S. Griffin OF New York said the move
ment was almost a complete success in New
| York, and advocated strike here.
Mr.. Mitchell of New York also advocated a
strike, and said working long days was crushing
to the intelligence of the people, and thought
the workingmen should Join temperance soci-
cites, save money, and fight the question.
Remarks were also made by Miss Jennie Col
| Inns of Boston, j. d. Bates, treasurer of the
| eight hour league, and Others after which the
| convention adjourned.
| A mass meeting of all the trades unions will
| be held in Faneuil hall, Friday night.