The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-19
LABOR IN COUNCIL

LABOR In COUNCIL
Mass Meeting ~ the Cooper lnstitute-A
Feeble aAd Ainless Display OF she Sons
Of Toll.
Pfacards over town during the past week an
nounced that the workingmen under the auspices
Of the workrngmen's Central Council would ho.d
mass meeting at the Cooper Institute last even
ing. There was no specific purpose proclaimed
~ the object OF the meeaoL but II
was taken for granted that the whole
range OF labor grievances would be rehearsed.
m various trades were SUPPOSE to assemble at
their headquarters and march 10 Cooper Institute.
u this were done with any sort OF earnestnessi Is
would take building several times larger than
the Cooper Institute to Fold the great army OF
teilerS But there was nothing more tangible
imam talk without an object onered as
tho chief attraction, and the "great mass
meeunp,' was most decided failure.
me hall was little nfore than half hIied by va
cant and spirtless kind OF audience. The truth
appeared TO be thece was no real grievance" on
nand-nothing but the old worn ont topics OF the
E,gnt-hour law and prison labor. trine Of va
riety, II It could be 80 called, was introduced in
the shape OF the Tompkins square outrage; yet
even that, at It's utmost tension, gave out only .
'0'''' 'SA RESOLUTIONS ovrrREp.
The meeting was called to der by Mr. kooert
Williams, working carpenter, Who SAID ne was
glad to see SO many OF the sons OF toll before him.
but, Mr.. Williams seemed to be embarrassed IN
the art OF speech making, he turned round TO the
Secretary'and asked him to read the resolutions
melodrAmatic tone OF voice, read long series OF
resoutions, the principal OF which were Is 1oi
lows:-
Resolved Thatwe deprecae the Introduction Of coolies
that threatens the very existence
=: ss and s,,s. g.:
nv he q lyfI Or
Resolved That the Contract system inevitably acts as
f sss @oS SsiS
em o. e contracts Ss &c ssolishsd 'A
q ne hours q labor should b
S a. s SGa as greatest number
Resolved That favor the establishment or ocpera
@ sna y ad ~e n
ent should give reasonable assistance upon good secu
fellow than
aSss
Resolved. That we demand the immediate removal of
the Supervising Architect the Treasury and his spbor
Hour law -? ana we psrtcuary insist that Congress- take
81 ca e as ns
agency OF government superintendents
LABOR GRIEVANCES STATED
Mr.. Osborne Ward was the first speaker. he
said the corrupt agents Of the government were
country. These Chinese burrowed in cellars and
garrets, fed upon cats and dogs, bred immortality
and lndecency, wOrshipped wooden images and
were here in the midst Of American citizens under
selling honest labor. he denounced the ee-
and he wanted Of
try established by the government all over the
country so that when q man wanted work ne
could call at one OF these bureaus ask Tor and de-
mand it, He next referred. with bewiiderlng re-
dundancy Of dictionary phrases, 70 the kidnapping
peopled the prisons with poor men by forcing
sing sing and elsewhere were furnished win ma
serfal for cheap labor. Referring to the Tomp-
one ought to have sympasny er
Christian Meyer, who was sent to delve in prison
quarry for having dared TO stand up 70 assert the
appiauded vigorously. the speaker rolled OF
be his first, last and only inspiration. and then
gave way TO Mr.. Bllssett, OF the Tailors' Cooper
THE roMPKNs SQUARE OUTRAGE.
Mr.. Bhssett declared that the rights Of American
as on n two on ae or
he stated this lact and proposed to go to Tompkins
sauare the audience was w da1 tax take Insr
can nag and shoot down the hrst man that dared
10 modest them. This was followed BY an outburst
Of cheering that lasted several mnutes.I )After
Blissett had exhausted his very adverse opinions
OF the Police Commissioners, and OF General Dur
some words OF advice strikes. telling them that
strikes were bad and that their great hope in the
future was in cooperation. Then he tackled the
TOmpkins square outrage once more, and retired
amid overwhelming applause.
THH CAPACITY OF LABOR
Mr.. Eastman following in the fiery wake OF BIS.
set discovered himself at disadvantage, as good
many lett the hall, finding the pabuum offered By
eastman OF TOO poor quality. The speaker said
that there was as much capacity In the trades
unions OF New York to make laws as tn that OF any
other body OF men. Several enthusiasts In the
audience cried "Moren "More,n and the speaker
said s'more - tina. he knew there was ability and
every necessary quality in the workingmen's asso
Citations, and that they were the salt Of the earth
and the salvation OF the world.
GERMAN SPEAKER
Next came Mr.. Hendrickhausen, q speaker OF
some force and logic. and told them the Eight
Hour law was necessary to the w0rkingmen OF this
enlightened age; that the despotisms OF Europe
were congenial enough to the Anticipated system
of working men like cattle, but IN this nee and
intelligent republic labor had rights that should be
heard. Several other speakers, including Messrs.
C0yne and Carney, followed and the meeting sep
aTated very little wiser than when 1t assembled.