The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-04-01
THE woRKINeMENs PROTEST.
The Trades Unions Urged to Band To-
gether for Common safety.

From the New York Sun, March Is
The workiBgmen met in large numbers
in the large hall Of the Cooper Union last
evening, to protest against the arrest Of
trades union men under the new inter
probation Of the Conspiracy law, and to
devise measures for strengthening the
Unions. Mr.. Michael r. Walsh, printer,
presided, and Mr. William Denny, tailor,
was secretary. The res buttons, which
we're passed with enthusiasm, aver that
employing capitalists have taken advantage
Of the general stagnaiion, and not only
attacked the trades unions with a view TO
their disbandment, but have also approach
ed the Legislature with bills that are ini-
mical to the interests of workingmen, and
the Convict Labor bill for instance. The
resolutions also protest against the action
Of the Police Commissioners ia authorizing
the arbitrary arrest Of workingmen.
Michael Murphy, Of the Crispins, told
the story OF the differences of the society
and NJ ssrs. Hannah e. Reddish. That
irm worked hand-in-hand with the EN-
ployes after the last strike in 1871. At
that time they promised, in a written
paper, never again to dIsagree with the
society. They said they had been more
successful under the rates established with
the concurrence Of the employees than they
ever had been before, aud yet ON the FIST
opportunity they sought to violate Fun
dament Al principle Of trades unions, which
declares that no emplOye shall be permit
ted to make profit Of the labor Of anoth-
err Five ne W. brought on from BOsto.
10 whom the labor was 10 be farmed out.
These men we're practical shoemakers, but
they we're no more skIllful than those
whose labor they were u profit by, and the
men we're thus forced in self defence to
quit work. This, the speaker thought,
made it self-evident that the employers
and not the employed we're the strikers
the former having violated their compact
voluntarily made. They endeayored to
procure substitutes everywhere, and the
men endeavored to dlssuade those substi-
tutes from working, using no violence and
accostipg them only while on the street.
Ii was while they were waging this legitI.
mate warfare that thirty OF their number
were arrested and kept in the prison cells
an entire night. But a night even in the
filthy cells Of New York police station
could could not quench the ardor Of the
men, aud their triumph came when they
were discharged the next day, the Judge
declaring that they had been guilty Of no
tfense. Hannah again invoked the aid Of
the law, and, with the aid ~ the Grand
Jury, four men were indicted for conspir-
acy under the old law of 1884. The work
ingmen thou ht they had procured the re-
peal Of the only law that prohibited peace
able assemblage or co operation Of
tradesmcn for the purpose Of securing ad-
vance ct wages. but the old law still stun
bered on the statute books, aud had al ain
been evoked to do the bidding of capital.
The speaker himself was arrested at his
bench, and obtaining bail after q nights
detention, he expects to be sUon called to
trial under Indictment. IL was against
this cruel Interpretation ~ the law that
the trades unions protest, aud they are de-
termlned ~ stand upon their rights aud
r. slst that or any other assault upon their
rights. 1t never was the purpose 81 trades
unions to wage war upon individual Trims,
but Il IS no.. high time 10 resist encrrach-
nients upon their rights This can be
hopefully done only by unity uf action
among the unions. In conclusion, the
speaker urged a consolidation Of trades
I unions.
John Fortune, tailor, next detailed the
grievances that his guild is suffering at the
hands Of Brooks Bros. That trm, lac said,
demands the disbandment Of the anion,
and will not employ any trades unionist.
Mr.. Hugh Dalton, President Of Typo
graphical Union No. q, was the next speak
er. He had no feeling against any W tie
persons or firms that are arrayed against
trades societies. The strike, he said, is not
now OF society against employer, Tut ~
employer against the men. IL IL the en-
ployer who Is insisting upon buying labor
without reference as to the sellers opinion
ct its value He thanked Gov Tilden fur
for vetoIng the Convict Labor bill, AS the
tendency Of that bill was to degrade the
laborer to the level ~ the thief
Ex-Coroner Young and Mr.. Jacob Nor
stadt also addressed the meeting.