Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-08-21
FIRST EDITION.
The Unemployed in Council.

| MASS MEETING AT THE CITY HALL, Last EVENING
| LARGE ATTENDANCE, BUT GREAT LACK OF HAIR
MoNY--ADoPTIoN OF REQUEST TO COUNCIL To
| RELIEVE THE BUILDING OF THE NEW BASIN FROM
| ALL POLITICAL BIAS.
mass meeting OF the unemployed working.
men of the city was held at the City Hail. last
evening, which was very largely attended. Al
the appointed hour, o'clock, but few persons
had gathered i'll front of the building, and the
hall WAS not lighted but with the ringing of the
Council bell the masses came, and by 8 o'clock,
when the meeting was organized, all the avail
able space was occupied.
| A. Il. Peterson calledthe meeting to order and
on his motion b. @. Carpenter was elected Pres
ident. MIR. Carpenter remarked the impossible
ity OF finding out the object of the meeting, but
supposed it was to find work for the unem-
ployed.
| A. L. Peterson moved that committee OF
three be appointed to frame request to Coun-
Gil for aid for the workingmen. The motion was
strongly voted down, but the chairman said he
WAS not prepared to state the result of the vote,
division was called for, but this was pro-
nouneed by the chairman an impossibility.
| Charles McCloskey thought that the meeting
ought to state its wishes clearly, and said that
mechanics generally did not care to work with
| the pick and shovel.
| evidently voted in the affirmative those voting
nay repeating their votes in quick and rapid sue
| cession.
| A. T. Peterson then proceeded to explain the
object OF the meeting, saying that it was to ark
Council to have the basin built by the day that
our own idle workingmen may find work and not
be pushed aside for those from other cities. Ia
voice: "Who is to boss it p Another derisive-
ly, "Capt. Chas. II. Gallagher" A third "Wc
know him, Mr.. Peterson then proceeded saying
that he with others had called the meeting, but,
cowardly fellows they had backed out IA voice
'They were ashamed of themselves"
The chairman then made an address of sew
eral minutes, declaring that he WAS not ashamed
to meet with the workngmen, and expressing
the belief that there are plenty of mechanics who
will work on the new basin, al they wanted
work, and bread they are determined to have.
" The man., he said, "who would oppose the
job because Capt. Gallagher bosses it is no man
at ALL "If 1 work, Capt. Gallagher cannot
control my vote, and dare him to try it," Ia
voice, Then he'll discharge you AZ he has done
Others Mr.. Carpenter pronounced the accusa-
tlons Of the Eoery Euening against the Capt. a
libel, and said that If e. b. had the city patron
age it would be a ring organ. 1t would see the
wOrkingmen and their children starve, great
friendship as it processes for them, If it can
only carry its point.
q. G. Cameron remarked that Capt Gallagher
had told him, in the presence Of five Witnesses,
that if he (dallagher) superintendent the build
ing of the new basin he would employ none but
Republicans. A voice /: d" That's 30"
that Capt. Gallagher shan't do the work. Tire
mendous applause.
G. G. Cameron The job haq been gotten up
to give Capt. Gallagher the control
A voice =" NO it's to pay Joe Philips rent. "
Loud applause
After some further remarks by Messrs. Peter
son and Carpenter, George Day suggested that
Council be requested to fix the wages to be paid
for work on the new basin at $1.50 per day and
employ all men who apply for work without re-
gard to their political sentiments.
Henry Jackson moved that committee of
three be appointed to frame request Ito Coun-
cil which was carried, the ayes only being taken.
George Day, G.. g. Cameron and Charles Nc
Closky were named by the meeting, and while
they were preparing their resolution, Geo. W.
Roberts was invited to the stand and made a
somewhat lengthy address, declaring his sym
pathy with the workngmen and expressing his
fnll accord with them IN the building of the new
basin. He stated his opposition to the contract
system, because it il indicative Of dlstiust and
pronounced the late panic the outgrowth OF just
such feeling.
During Mr.. Roberts speech the announce
ment was made that the ordinance had passed
Council, but it failed to excite the least satisfac
tion. lThe report at this time, wa premature ]
The Committee then made their report AZ fol-
lows
WHEREAS, There are large number of work.
ingmen in this city out of employment at the
present time, and believing that some measures
ought to be devised to find employment for
them,
RESOLVED, That we, the working-men of Will
mington, in meeting assembled, request the Ci-
ty Council to put the building of the new basin
in the hands of persons who will give work
to men who are unemployed, irrespective
of party, and not in the hands OF any
man who has publicly declared that
he will not employ any but Republicans to work
on the new basin.
The report was adopted with great unaminity,
and the committee instructed to lay the same
before Council after which the meeting adjourn
ed
The visit of the Committee to Council il re-
ported with the proceedings of Council