The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-03-07

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. "a, 1874.


To the Editor Of the wokkSanASs ADVOCATE
In my last letter to you said l would
write you about the Workingmen's
parade and Mass meeting which was to
take place on Saturday, Feb. n, 1874
1t was grand success, although it was q
dismal day. 1t rained quite hard in the
morning, and in fact it rained all Gay, and
was far from being suitable for an outdoor
parade, which deferred hundreds from par
ticipating in the demonstration, yet it was
sufficiently large to convince the opponents
Of the labor cause that the movement was
assuming power and influence which would
hereafter be felt in moulding men for Office
The procession was to move at 8 o'clock
p. m, and as late as 2 o'clock the question
of postponement was debated. 1t was a
sea Of mud, but the workingmen were not
to be driven in by the rain as all the
arrangements were made. We intended
to carry them into effect, had the weather
been appropriate there would have been
double the men out than there were
There were about fifteen hundred to two
thousand in the procession. The police
were with US on this occasion, and acted
differently from the police Of New York /;
when the workiDgmen of that city wanted
to assemble in Tompkins Square to ask
for bread, and the police beat them like
dogs, left one stain in our national history
which time can never erase land | will
state here that the Trade Unions in New
York are obtaining afidavits of victims Of
police brutality on the occasion Of the
meeting there in January, with a view Of
securing an investigation by the legis-
lature.)
After the police came Smith q Meyers
band, but it was laughable to see the
police their banner was decorated with
sheaves Of oats, corn, etc Two of the
officers carried pitchforks upon which they
had oats, corn, potatoes, onions, turnips,
etc, which was decidenly appropriate,
while many Of the force had vegetables for
badges The College Guards made fine
display, as did the Emmett Guards. Next
cams the Typographical Union. As the
printers marched along with heads erect,
they gave no indication of starvation, but
looked like men Of means, by their ap-
pearance. Next came the brotherhood Of
Locomotive Engineers, who looked fat by
having little recreation. for confinement
will kill anyone. Coopers Unions No. 3
and IL, came along, and at their mast
head was flying that old but true motto,
UNITED we Stand, Divided we Fall" The
City Band followed next, then the old re-
liable,) that is the Bricklayer's Union,
which was out in respectable numbers. for
such wet day. Rolling Mill Unions,
three of them came next. The Plasters
Union, which has just organized followed.
Next came the Painters Union, which is
only baby yet, in age, but they were out
to the tune of sixty-hve members, and
they carried at their head very amusing
banner on which was inscribed the Fate
OF Scab, with pictures representing a
man falling off ladder, lDosing his paint.
etc 1t was red hot Next came the
Heaters Union, keeping step to drum and
tife, composed Of their own members. their
banner was decorated with words very ap-
proprlate to the many rats and scabs, now
In our city, and II was this advice to
rats-skln yourselves and come out as
| white men. Then came the Carpenters
and Joiners Union No. T. Cigar Makers
Union next. Machinists and Blacksmith
Union No. and 10, IN quick succession,
followed the Tin, Sheet Iron and Copper
smiths Union, after which came the
Moulder's Unions No and 56. Next
came the enlisted men. Changers and
unorganlzed laboring men. Then the
Capital City Band, followed by the Colored
troops, for they fought nobly and brought
up the rear, in excellent style, and made
quite a showing. The Expressmen's
Union, with their wagons filled to over
army song which says
There some there two feet high
And some little bigger,
And IN thJse country reg ments
think I've a niger
And think in one of those wagons
saw Niger. We had good order, not a
disturbance the whole day; the sidewalks
along the line of march was thronged with
spectators; it put me i'll mind of the 22d
day OF February when that day was cele-
brated. Taking everything into considera-
ton it was the grandest parade that ever
was witnessed in Indianapolis, and after
the procession was disbauded, the various
organizations filed away, each to their re-
spective headquarters The interest mani
tested on this occasion will never be for
gotten.
a h. NJ IN
was crowded to overlooking. Although
all the speakers invited to be present were
not with MS in person, we had their letters
expressing regret Of inability TO attend but
their heart and soul was with us. The
meeting was called to order by j. II.
Wright, President of the Trades Assembly.
l would give you a synopsis of the pro-
ceedlngs Of the meeting, but time forbids.
| will say We were addressed by Mr.. j. p.
Wright, Commander of Enlisted Men A.
+. Redstone, Secretary of the National
Labor Congress" John Fehrenbatch,
President of Machinists and Blacksmith's
Union. The latter seemed to be the
favorite with the meeting. He spoke some
time and told us the truth. | hope the
greater part Of the audience left the hall
to practice what had been told them, for
said Mr.. Fahrenbatch the wor kingmen had
the power if they would only execute it.
We know it, but old party principle appear
to hold on to the workiugmen. The time
has come when we must leave the old party
and look after the interest Of ourselves
After calls for Rihl, Schley, Weaver, Gay,
and others, the meeting broke up. Thus
ended one of the days that the Working
men viii never forget. E. r. T.