New-York tribune., 1876-08-11
porJTJcaL Uses. or WORKING MEN

loborinc men of this city. They held meet
ings at Cooper Institute over night, and
marched the following mornings to tn" CITY
Hall. and by resolutions and speeches de-
mandcd employment on public works which
they claimed should be begun for their he ',ro.
The first parade numbered only few hundred
men Yesterday. although the parade was IN
terr,Ipted by the Iolice, there were fully
three thousand gathered in the CITY ian
Park. At the first meetings the resolutions
were denunciatory of every official ana depart
ment except Controller Green ana his department
of Finance. "Wednesday nights resolutions and
spcechcs were especially denunclatory OF Mr'
Green and his obstructive policy OF not pay
ing ont money he did not possess Tor WOiHS
tbe city did not need. Doubtless these demon
STATIONS have been represented to the country
~ tbc pjtiful plea of the idle and starving
masses for work and bread and the sure fore
runner of bread riots 1hey were nothing 0l
the sort. They were concerted ana oTgahNcu
demonstrations of tricky local politicians, ana
the worbingmcn were simply Ignorant ana
passive agents OF .he fraud.
The hand Of Controller Green in getting up
the first demonstration was not aN clearly trace
able rs that of President Martin OF the Park
DEPARTMENT in organizing that OF yedcrday.
Mr. Green by reason of natural aStutcncsS ana
long experience as politician III Keeping place
i'm spite of party changes. moves IN more
mvStcrious way than Mr. Martin. who brings to
the direction of his brief political career only
thc experience of a spcculator III real estate.
Rut Mr.. Green displayed his hand before the
demonstration ended i'll a speech. m,ieporteh
elaboration of which he subsequently furnished
10 the morning papers, and which some OF
them published precisely as if he lad really
delivered it. As printed it was an attempt
to show. first, that national msruc was the
calsc of the general depression of business
and wages; second that the other depart
mcuts were responsible for the non-prosecu-
ton of public works; and third, that when
ever they furnished work to the iaboferS ne
was ready with the cash to pay the hire.
Neither of these assumptions was strictly
correct, and the last Mr.. Green, VINO has 80
closely watched the rapid growth OF the city
debt under his administration, very well kne"
TO he a deceptive statement. The workiA%nch
were clearly deceived. for they applaudcd the
Misrepresentation and ch, cred Mr.. Green
Mr.. Martins turn came nest. HIS men got
possession of Cooper Institute on "Wednesday
night, and paraded in the City Hall yesterday.
In their speeches they compmcnted ana
che,rcd Mr.. Martin as the only active olhciaI
in providing work; denounced Mr. Green Tor
attempting through his subordiuatcs, to con
troll their meeting; Kissed Nj. Green ana the
Mayor as stumbling blocks Ia public improve
mcnts and in their resolutions declared 1t
was the duty of the State TO create labor
(Which it isn't by any means insisted on.
the immediate prosecution Oi al WORKS
authorized by law (whcthcr or not i,y were
needed or there was money 10 pay ioT thein)
and held MIR. Green responsible FOR pre-
"ycnting the prosecution of public works
(Which responsibility, in view OF the needless
character of the proposed Improvements, the
Controller can afford to acccp). fellow
member of Mr.. Martin IN ;hc West side
Association, which is an organization oi large
propertv-owucrs, who are naturally anxious To
improve their property at the general expense,
talked great deal of nonsense about the
example OF Paris with more money than 1t
knows what to do WITH. in spending millions
in bcautifyiag its richest and most ccntra!
quarters. as being a wise policy for this cm-
barl;iS,cd city to follow in improving It's as
set uuinhabitcd and remote parts.
les, 10 create a false sentiment and excitement
which will force the beginning OF work on the
| Riverside Park under the direction al the de
parlmcnt whose patronage hc controls. The
| main wish OF Alr. Green is doubtless TO pre-
vent the enjoyment oi such patronage by any
body hat himself 1t is a serious factor in
political problems TO he solved this Fa!l. The
work is one which no public interest demands;
the Riverside Park is no more necessary TO
ihe city prosperity than is the extension oi
Central Park 10 the Harlem River. II COM
plctcd il would only remotely benefit narrow
tract of West Side property running flom
Eighty-sixth to nc-hundrcd-dnd-t twenty y-iifth-
St. and it would be available only to a small
fraction OF population Who would have to pay
for it. The wish of the idle wOrlingmcn is
| undoubtedly to get employment on works fOr
| which taxpayers must pay, and they are in
different, as between Mr.. Green and Mr.
| Martin, who controls the patronage. They
attend the meetings and applaud or hiss
as the sentiments please or disp!caSc them,
| and are utterly ignorant OF the abuse To which
| Gemagogiam subjects them. They do not
see that i'll the pursuit OF a scandalous quarrel
of public officers they are being used. They
| will get nothing III the end but a bad name
| for their ignorant subScVicncy. The condition
of the laboring classes is undoubtedly bad
| but it is no worse than in other parts of the
| country Ii is unfortunate that their wants
| cannot be supplied in the manner they sug-
| gcst, by giving them work but the policy of
creating work that they may be supplied is
one which would be alike ruinouo TO them and
| IA, oil,