The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-05-30
LABOR'S PROTEST.
The Eight Hour Law Must
be Sustained.
The IHdMsfri0I Congress Plat
form Endorsed.
Meetings in Various Parts of the Coun-
try, Resolutions Adopted, Etc.
SAN FRANCISCO


Horticultural Hall was a perfect success,
full 10000 people were present, and the
most intense enthusiasm manifested ind-
eating that the fruit is fully ripe for pluck
ing and that laborers are already in the
field to be assigned their proper places
and duties To perform. Organization be-
| ing the watch word, it was dwelt upon
| by every speaker, and all seemed to have
been expecting to hear it. Judging from
! the close attention and quIetness Of such
an immense audience, well as the re
peated encores and applause at its mention,
| believe the dawn Of new era is about
| to break forth upon the mechanical and
| labor interests of our nation. Outside
the building boniires burned, rockets were
sent off, and "A splendid band Was ia at
tendance by s o'clock the vast hall was
crowded to its utmost capacity, and
throughout the entire evening the great
est enthusiasm prevailed. In fact, the
demonstration was a grand success i'll every
particular. After the vast assembage had
been called to order the following
OFFICERS ~ rHE MEETING
were selected
President Hon. G. G. Tcrrill, Grand
chanics in California.
! Vice Presidents Hon. James pat'er-
son, President Of Cabinetmakers -,
/ 4 IN,
/ Days Of Tlilurs' Union: Captain T.. j
| Kane, Of Boilermakers James McGill,
Of Br.cklayers Peter r. Black, Of Ship
| iomers James +. Connolly, Of Caulkers /;
George f. Grant, of Nmpcarpenters.
| Thomas ;. Foushee, Of Painters Captain
q. g. kenney. Of Plumbers and Gasiit-
tiers James Van Ripper, Of Senate Of
| United Mechanics : J. r. Finn, Of Mould
ers' Union; Steward Moore, Of Coopers'
/ Onion Lew r. Cole, Of Union Foundry
John X. Jones, Of Anal amatcd Society
of Carpenters; ID. +. Hogan. Of Stone
cutters Union G. b. Merriam, Of Black
smiths James Suit, Of Riggers George
4. Allen, Of Society Of Engineers, and all
| Presidents of Trade Associations present.
Secretaries John ID. Condor, Of Me
chanlcs State Council j. W. Gregg. of
F.! Housecarpenters' League NJ Campbell,
Of Shipwrights, and the Secretaries II an
the other Trade Associations present.
THE PROCEEDINGS
/ Mr. Terrill was called to the chair, aud
briefly stated the objects Of the meeting
to be to oppose the repeal Of the Eight
/ Hour Law. 1t was unnecessary, he SAID,
for him to % into detailed explanation
Of the matter he would leave that for
General VIM to do. 1T would be more
fully stated and read to the audience hy
him. The speaker then introduced
GENERAL A. N. VIM,
which was the signal for round IF ap-
plause from the vast assembly Mr. Wnn
said that for many years prior to 1865 the
public mind had been ag1tated To- effect a
change IN the hour Of labor. The passage
Of the Eight-Huur Law had shown a
change IN public sentiment toward work
ngmen extraordinary IN its character.
Mr.. NInn spoke at length Of the manner
III which the Eight Hour Law became a
law. Ii was first adopted by a resolution
Of the Board of Education ana SuperviS-
ors in this city, and was subsequently,
made one of the planks IN the platforms
of both political parties. This was the
germs Of the first Eight Hour Law in the
world. At the instance and suggestion ni
Governor Haight, the Legislature had
passed the bill without a dissenting vote.
General Banks presented the measure IN
Congress it passed the House without
opposition and met with but little ia the
Senate. President johnson Signed the
bill, and the result was a glorious one.
The speaker then delivered a scathing re-
buke to officials who had opposed the law,
and devoted himself particularly t. a. b.
Mullett, Government Architect, and asked
that he be removed from office. II was 81
asked by thousands in other portions oi
the United States, and they were but re-
echoIng 1t here. His name was mentioned
with condemnation from New York to tn,
Pacific tonight, and they were but re-
echolng the spirit OF the sentiments and
sending it on to Oregon and Alaska
while chained lightning is speeding the
glad news to every part Of the inhabited
globe.
General Winns address was an able and
logical one, and he was frequently inter
rupted by the plaudits of his attentive
listeners. At its conclusion, he read the
PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS
prepared for the meeting, which wer,
unanimously adopted. They were as fol
lows:
WHEREAS The Government Of the United
States is based upon tho Intelligence an,
loyalty of the people, which can only be- Sc
cured by proper respect for their social ana
political rights and Whereas the Eight
Hour system of labor is essential to the hap
piness Of those who work by the day, az il
gives more time for study, and tits the min,
for better understanding Of the duties ano
privileges of citizenship; therefore,
ResOtced, THAT the national Eight
Hour Law is a necessity, growing out of til,
vast improvement IN labor saving machinery
and by the Just demands OF our citizens VIII,
work by the day, whereby they have enjoyed
the privilege Of thinking and acting for them
selves, and thus improved their social stand
ing.
THAT Government officials. who VIC
lated or evaded the law, have willfully in
suited the poor, for which they deserve, ant
have received, the Just rebuke Of that lArg,
and respectable class of men and women.
3.-That we duly appreciate the indepen
dence of General Grant in reversing the
unjust ruling OF Government officials, anC
declaring the Eight Hour Law III full force
according to its plain intent and meaning, IL
relation to workInen employed BY the day
while We deeply regret that it did not extenc
to men employed ON behalf OF the Govern
ment by its contractors, which We deem
equally as well defined by that act Of Con
gress.
4-That the interference Of a. Il. Mullet
and his assertion that men did not do as mucl
work per hour Of an eight hour day as the,
did per hour OF ten hour day, is undigniiiet
and untrue while his Recommendation
to repeal the Eight-Hour Law was extra
Official, inludicious, uncalled for and i'm