The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-15

through whose nstrumentaity the proposed
parade on Tuesday was SO promptly stopped. 1t
seems that once the parties declined the route Of
procession laid down by the police authorities
namely, from Tompkins square, through Eighth
street to the Bowery, down Bowery to Canal
street, through Canal street to South Fifth avenue
to Union square-once that the so-called working
men refused to be dictated to by the Commission
ers of Police as to which way the pro-
gramme OF the march should be carried
out the entire business was, to use a some
what familiar phrase, "shut down upon" The
processOnists were determined to go below Canal
street with the view Of cOngregating at the City
Hall, but as the Commissioners, for reasons of
their own, were averse to that line OF march a
hitch arose, with the result already known. The
Park Commissioners subsequently invoked the aid
OF the Police Commissioners to prevent meeting
at TOmpkins square, ana how well they succeeded
in complying with that request need not be recapit
ulated. The scene in the square on Tuesday
morning was painful to witness, and 1t is to be
hoped that similar one will never be enacted
Howbeit, the matter has formed the topic OF much
conversation as affecting the
RIGHTS OF PARTIES TO ASSEMBLE
and parade. 1t is claimed that the people who
congregated In TompkIns square were unlawfully
removed, and that the violence used on the 0cca-
sion was in a measure unustifable. On the other
hand reasons are assigned by the authorities for
the measures pursued, which, II sound and sub
stantal go to show that their action was not only
warranted by the circumstances, but decidedly
merItoriOus Tits We'll known, in the first place,
that among the various wOrkingmen's assOcia-
tions great deal Of difference Of opinion existed
as to the prOprtety Of this demonstration. Indeed
the movement, as will be seen by subjOined
document, was severely denounced by body said
THE,aENuINE woRKNGMEN
OF the city, and that the parties intending to
parade included number OF violent demagogues.
While, OF course, that statement, even II true,
would hardly affect their right to make public
demonstration, 1t seems to have had considerable
weight with the authorities Tor all permits, both to
assemble in Tompkins square and to subsequently
form procession, were emphaticaly denied. The
Park commissioners, it should be mentioned, claim
the right to control the property entrusted to their
in exercising their functions they have authority
to enforce tnsir views IN this particular
instance the aid Of the police was brought
comment yesterday was the right Of the Commits
sioners to remove from TOmpkns square q number
OF persons assembled Ostensibly for peaceable pur
poses 1t Is alleged that the parties there cOngre-
gated gave no indications whatever OF any ap-
preaching disturbance, and that not until the po-
lence resOrted to. No notification, it Is said was
issued setting forth that the workingmen were
prohibited IRON meeting in the square, and that SO
far from anticipating any interference from the
police they were quietly awaiting the arrival Of
Mayor Havemeyer, who was expected to address
them. A representative Of the HERALD called on
the Mayor yesterday afternoon to ascertain his
views on the situation
THE MAYOR ON THE SITUATION.
The venerable chief OF the municipal government
was signing checks by the dozen and seemed to
be In excellent spirits, doubtless inspired by the
on the day preceding. At all events he was in the
best of hum0r and in abiding TO the proceedings
expressed his profound SATISFACTION that the 'evll
had been nipped IN the bud" When asked as to
his reasons for not addressing the workingmen he
said that he had intended saying few words to
them in compliance with request made TO him,
dOned he had no other alternative than to decline.
"But," said the reporter, 'the people were
awaiting your arrival at TOmpklns square, where
1t was expected you would deliver an address,"
"That is very strange considering that never
nation as to the character OF the assemblage and,
when asked to say something to them, consented.
to do so upon their dismissal at Union square, in
order that they might 90 to their homes In peace
able manner"
THE ACTION OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
Of the PARK Commissioners as we'll as that Of the
Police Commissioners under whose orders the
people assembled In the square were so summarily
''Nothing else could have been done in the prem.
Uses; nothing better could have happened; for
ended had not the police stopped the affair in
time"
''Then you think the Commissioners had right
to remove the people from the squareY"
III think it was an excellent precaution, and, Of
course, I am not going to take the responsibility
Uainy at sny time to be- comueled to take voent
measures in cases OF the kind, but IL ia often
easier to cure an evil than to arrest it's progress
ceedings in the morning and anticipated serious
results Under all the circumstances there is
worse. My intention in delivering an address to
the assemblage was more to pacify them than any
thing else, for had heard OF its character. or
course you are aware that these people did not
represent the working classes OF the city. In fact
/ am gwen to understand by O document have
lust received from the Police Commissioner that a
the demonstration and invoked the aid Of the
authorities to prevent it,"
PROTEST AGAINST THE DEMONSTRATION.
The communication referred to by Mayor Have
meyer set forth that committee representing the
sentiments OF the real workingmen, both employed
and unemployed, consisting OF Messrs. p. Dunn,
chairman, John BrOphy, P. j. Hennessy, p. Griffin,
J. Holden and ]. Duffy, appeared before the Police
Commissioners and stated that they had been
deputized by the workingmen OF this city to pre-.
sent an address to the Board. In this address the
committee headed by P. J. Mcclure was denounced
as being in no respect representatives OF working
men, employed or unemployed. They den0unce
the committee as Communists, InternatiOnalists,
that they win NOT Join them in any proceedings or
procession whatever. The Communists have forced
themselves into the councils OF the true working
men, and have attempted to control their meet
ings, and for this reason II for no other, the
workingmen propose to abandon the meeting an
70 1s IN Of ad
ternationalists the committee requested the
Board OF Police to prevent any meeting at that
place, ostensibly In behalf Of the unemployed
workingmen. The committee IN their address
added That they would apply to the Legis-
lature by q popular petition OF real work
ingmen to so amend the law that the
corporate authorities may have power to 80 con-
duct the public improvements as to favor the en-
poyment Of the largest practical number Of real
workingmen who may be seeking honest employ.
ment They have learned with regret That the law,
which requires the public improvements to be car.
ried on by contract rather than In the name OF
and by the Corporation ITSELF has deprived the
Mayor and Commonaty of the power Of imme-
diatey enlarging the amount Of public improve
ments Of the city. The committee, after present.
they had requested 1t, and the Department OF
Parks had revoked the previously given permit to
OCCUPY TOmpktns square for such purpose, the
police would see that no meeting was held there.
When questioned 30 to the legal right OF the Com
mias0nern - -sAmoua tina neople from TVmpktns