The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-25
THE HORRINGMEN'S PROTEST.
-
The Trades Unions Urgcdt Band Together
for Common safety.

The workngmcn met in large numbers
In the large hal Of the Cooper Union last even
ing, to protest against the arrest Of trades union
men under the new Interpretation Of the con-
spirscy law, and to devise measures for strength
enng the unions Mr.. Michael Il. Walsh a
printer. presided. and Mr.. william Denny a
tailor was secretary. The resolutions, which
were passed with enthusiasm. aver that employ
ing capitalists have taken advantage Of the gen
eral stagnation. and not only attacked the
trades unions with n view to their disbandmcnt,
but have also approached the Legislature with
bills that are inimical TO the interests OF work.
ingmen. the convict labor bill for example. The
resolutions also protest against the action Of
the Police Commissioners In authorizing the
arbitrary arrest OF workngnen.
Michael Murphy OF the Crspins told the story
Of the differences between his society and
Mcssrs. Hannah & Reddish. That firm worked
hand ln-hand with Its EMPLOYEES after the last
strike in 1871. At that time they promised, in
written paper, never again to disagree with the
society. They said that they had been more
successful under the rates established with the
concurrence of the employees than they ever
had been before, and yet on the nrst Opportu-
ni'v they sought 20 violate n fundamental prin.
ciple of trades unions. which declares that no
employee sndll be petnf ed To make piont ut
the labor Of another. Five men were brought
formed out. These men were iric'ic1l shoe
makers. but tncy were no more skiuful than
those whose Labor tncy were to profit 10y, and
the men were thus forced in sei-defcuce to
quit work. This. the speaker thought, made II
oct-evdvnt tina, the cmploNers and not tho cn-
ploycGiwrrc tho stiikers-the former II wing Vio-
l1ied their solemn complct vOluntlrilv made.
Ihey endcavored To procure substitutes every-
W ere. and the men endcavOfed to dissuade
th So substitutes from working, using no yio-
leucc and aCcosting them only while In the
street. IL was while they were waring this
were arrested and kent In the prison cells an en-
tirc night. But night even In the hltny cells
ot a New York police station could not quench
the ardur OF the men, and thor triumph came
when thcy were discharged the next day. the
j luge dccl ring that they had been guilty Of no
offence Human aglin Invoked the aid Of the
law, and. with tine aid OF the Grand jury, four
men were indicted Tor conspiracy unuer tue old
law ~ lNA The Woihinem"n thought that they
had procured the repeal of the only law that
prohibited peace able assem- tiagc Or COO eratiOn
ot tadcsnen Tor me purpose ot securing al.
vance of wages, hut The old law sttll slumnered
on the statute huu.s, and bad again been
evoked to do the bidding OF capital. The speak er
hin self Mas arrested a. his bench. And ohtan-
ife bail after night detention. hr expects to
be soon called 40 trial under Indictment. IL W q
agair,, this cruel Ufcrireiation 4 the law that
the trades unior- protest. aud thrN are deter
mined tu .t nd upon their rights and resist tnat
or any other assault made upon tneir rights.
II never WIS the lu .pOsr 81 trades unions to
wag' war upon nli,iiual hrms, but 1t Is now
MIN lime TO resist cucroachment upOn their
rights. This eau be horviulij duue only by unity
Of action am lne th' hni ms. In conclusion tie
speaker ulGed % cons 10 Iafiln ul irautS unions.
John Fortune, tailor, next detailed tho
grievance. that lis gfnIi Is suffering at tho
hands Of nruuhs lirotlcrs. % I Ann. he SAID.
demands tho 81 handment of the unions. ana
wil not employ ANY trades umon~t
MIR Hugh Dalton, President Of Iypocrnuhl cal
Union No. q. Wa the next speaker lie had no
feeling AGAINST any OF the persons OF nriuH that
are .rr Ncl a. inst trade societies The srike,
he said. Is nut nos oi society lgainst employer,
but OF empower against the men. II IS the EN-
piOyer VINO !. insisting upon buying labor with
out reference "a to the sellers opinion Of It's
value. lie thanked GOV. alden for yetuing tho
Convict LBhor bili is the tendency Of that blll
Wa TO degrade the iaOorer to the level OF the
thief.
EN-Coron-r Young and MIR. Jacob Morstadt
also addressed the meeting.