The New York herald., 1876-03-25
THE WORKINGMEN.
THEIR OPINIONS OF CONVICT LABOR AND THE
OPPRESSION BY cAPITAL-MAss MEETING AT
COOPER INSTITUTE.

against what they consider the attacks OF capitalists
Before the business OF the meeting commenced the
following circular was distributed throughout the
hall
coNsPrRAuEs-A REPsAL OF THE OLD CONSPIRACY LAW OF
1894.
BY act OF 1870 Laws OF 1870, page 30 chapter 10
II declared that the orderly and peaceable assembling
or cooperation of persons employed In any profession
trade or handIcra for the purpose securing an adj
in the rate Of wages or compensation, or TOR the
maintenance OF such rate shall not be deemed re-
strctcd prohibited by the provisions OF r. $ 692,
section s. Sub. g. which orbids conspraces against
trade
Mr. Murphy, of the crispins called tho meeting to
order and Mr Michael r. Walsh was elected chair.
man.
Nr. Denny was then elected Secretary and read the
following resolutions, which were adopted
Whereas employing capitalists in the several trades
taking adynntage OF the general stagnation Of bust,
a favorable time avail themselves every op-
ppaT TIsecye Of The means ,by .ne eS%
whcrea inrtherance Of their object they
bandmen also approached the Legislature this stare
%e Hs beS OF o tho h y and eony 70 me
the labor Convc; bill showing most eouclusively their
anxious desire 10 forward their nefarous scheme also
compelling their employees 10 assume position Of nntago
Resolved That we the workngmcn of New York citv in
meeting assembled % hereby most sincerely approve
il not only etons The Labor Convict b but also in nsiug
the establishment any that may be calculated TO
originate the same And be
Resolved That wc cesnixe in the many Illegal arrests
which have taken place among tho Crspns and taors the
grudc labo " protest against
action Of the Police in the arbitrary
sgbodinaes in be unnecessarily harsh treatment whieh
Resolved Ths, delegation be chosen from this
hasc visit Ills Execency tho Governor and also His
their notice the arbitrary which honest and
erty without any warrant Of law And Sc il ''''''
Resolved That regard all encroachmens on tho rights
tempt destroy the the American aborer and
duce him TO the level of the disranchsed of
Resolved That wc the workngmcu Of New York. in mass
trades unions regarding we do all opposition and
whether In our interests thereto shall be
dscredit OF the authors.
Mr. Murphy said the workngmen had been suffering
to a degree altogether unknown to the general puoc
for time Their condition made it imperative on
them to state the Of the present trouble The
strike OF the Crspns, he said, not chargeabc TO
workmen, but to tho employers The difficulties Of
the Crlspins with Hannah Reddish were gone into at
somo length by the speaker This firm, he said had
signed not long before the strike, which commenced
on behalf of the Crlspins weeks ago, docu-
approving fully of the principles of the Crspns
Society. About that time certain machinery was i'm
ported from another city and non-society men were
brought to work it, although Mr.. Hannan's own
men understood tho machinery themselves
Then the strange men solicited 10 join the
society, and they said they would If Mr.. Hannah
consented. He consulted and refused, saying he
was now free from society dictation and would so
remain. But il is the determination OF the society as
we'll TO let shop dictate to It, (Appause The
workmen Will show in the courts that the members of
that firm, add not the labor organizations were tho
real conspirators against The commerce of New York
In conclusion the speaker urged the consolidation OF
all the trades organizations in tho city, so that when
is struck all can reply.
Mr. Fortune, OF the Talors' Union, was then intro
duced and SAID The first question which presses
our attention is, care the present relations between
capital aud labor just p! To this reply, that the
increasing periodical convulsons between the two par
ties answer, No Tho rapid multiplication OF
with corresponding decrease Of social comfort
among the employed class. cmphnucay answer mo :"
Political economy has boon suboted TO the service of
capital, aud their ingenious theories In nearly all
cases, converge TO one pont-''fhat the amount Of
compensation the aborcr entitled TO receive shall be
that which ls sufficient TO sustain lue" Can this doc
trne be true All humanity answers "No;' for
while they apply this doctrine 10 us the capitalist has
limit set to his compensation, except,
indeed, the advisory council doctrine called
supply and demand Nothing but the limit
OF his own capital restrains his avarce
In conclusion he said --Workngmer, lot keep in
faithful remembrance till time tho names of
those N authority whc aided your enemies during
this struggle the who have prosttutcd justice by
the Incarceration of workmen without cause Let
this grand mass gathering be but the pre-
tcnance OF the small remnant OF rights still left
Mr. Hugh Dalton, OF the typos, was the next
speaker He said:-Formcrly the men OF the unions
had TO strike the quarrel was the other side
OF the house He praised the action OF Governor
Tdcn in regard to the Convict Labor bill and strongly
denounced the idea OF teaching thieves the trades that
honost spend years in learning lie said tho
Legislature had better proceed 10 the end OF the limo
and establish law schools the prisons that the law
breakers might be instructed how to conduct their own
defence in succeeding trials for future crimes. What
right, he asked, had aprntng corp9ation to make
cfo rx-uffn lNnl and
labor while so many hundreds OF honest workingmcn
were idle, walking the streets unable to nnd bread
for their familiesf Yet such contract, ho
said was in negotiation. The speaker next dwct
upon the illegal arrest OF striking workMen. So long
as workingmen behaved themselves tl3cy should be
permitted TO walk the streets unmolestcd. lie thought
workingmcn like other people, had the right to meet
consult, combine TOR their own interests II was a
shame to think that such ihiyr.s could bc
while capitalists met and combined to double
the price OF coal in half an hour cut down tho
workincmcns wages Must the son of roll be tramped
that the OF mainmon may bc elevatedS Nol Let
tho law be equal to all. and. then Cooper Institute
meetings need be held to adjust the differences between
Mr. Mohrstodt President of The Tailors' Society," said
there time when the Workngncns Union of
New York was a power IN trade and politics. and II
would again be shown that they and dare maintain
their just rights
Mr. Nelson W. Young said:--with regard to the Con-
spiracy law. say the Legislature compelled to
peal the old law. The one they now striving TO
enforce fraud Al OF The year could tho
employers have done harm 10 themselves than
they have now When Mr. Fish introduced the Con-
vict Labor bill into the Assembly, 70 with view
10 the benefit OF certain fow. but had become a
law the employers themselves would have found II
runous to them. THIS Convict Labor bill was OF
the most pcrniclous drafted. Contractors are
getting work done Ia tho prisons al rate less than 1t
costs 10 feed the prisoners. No bnsiness can
compete against prison labor lf rS legislators
have done wrong tho Evecutive OF the
State OF New York has bofdlf stood forth
and vetoed the obnoxious bill and has thus said that
tho honest workingman shaft not be trtven from tho
hcu by labor. Mr.. Young concludcd by cali
ing upon all worklngmcn TO Il that " the Legs-
laturc attempted 10 pass the Convict Labor bill
the Governors they should fall by their
take and contract OF oicc every legislator
by his vote should lcgaize the hiring 6ut of
vlcts.
Robert Biisscrt OF the Taors' Society followed
Mr. Young lie dwelt upon the advantages Of unions,
how they lake care OF thcr poor how they bury their
dead and lend helping baud 20 tho widow and orphan.
He challenged politics 10 produce ~ Washington or
New York equally honorable or honest principles lie
said working men could he independent outside OF
the unions, strikes hc was opposed 10 as means OF
enforcing the demands Of the men, but not means
Of M he VA q he cmp liz