, 1877-07-29

tapr. truman, Ordnance Officer; Lieut.. Bang
gnarternlaster; Lieut.. Horniek, Couulissarj
tapl~ Williams, Surgeon; and Lieut. Larrab
Acting Adjptant
NO MORE MEETINGS.
THE PROPOSED CONFERENCE
between the Mayor and Aid. Lawlcr's constit1
ents-thc Labor League men-did not come o
yesterday morning. Mayor Heath sent dow
word to the office that he. was not at all vel
and would remain at home during the da}
Somebody then suggested that Corporatio
Counsel Bonfcld hear the laborlng mems pleas
and after Some delay that gentleman, with AID
Kirk and Gilbert, gave AID. Lawler and hi
friends from the societies OF coopers, harness
makers, lron-molders, stone-cutters, cigar
makers, switchmen, laborers, ship-carpenters
and others an audience
Mr. srhlll1ng, as 4 representative OF th
coopers, stated that what they all wanted wa
| the privilege Of holding meetings. It was o1
! great importance that they should be allowed II
| come together aud discuss the interests Of tht
| labor1ns-naan, and be could assure the apthori
ties that he and his friends in the societies
| In favor OF peace and order.
THE COMMITTEE OF sW1TCHMEN
employed in the Chicago j. Alton freight yard
| made the same request to be allowed to hold
meetings, and displayed to the Corporation
Counsel and his Aidermanic friends copy of q
letter to Superintendent McMullin. Of the Chi
caso & Alton Road, which that gentleman, they
said, had contemptuously thrust aside and re-
fused to read. The following is copy Of the
letter:
CHICAGO, July -, 1S77.-J c. Mclfu{ltn, Esq..
General !superiateadeaf LNicd9o d Alton Railroad,
-slE: We the undersigned switchmen in your
employ, hare certain grievances which we respect
fully beg leave to bring 10 your notice and con-
Biueration-thut OF being compelled 10 work fifteen
Or sixteen hours per day, the pay which hare
have also worked Sundays without any extra COM
pensatlon. And, now. what VIC wish to do is to
work len hours per day-ihe men in charge Of the
engines TO rece'Fe 500 per month and the pelpers
to receive $55 per month for ten hours WORK, uud
- cents per honr for over time.
And now We hope that, after due consideration
By you, you will grant Our request.
signed ty kw1tchmen in your employ.
Aid. Gilbert wanted to know what was the
necessity for holding any meetings right away
Couldn't they be postponed until things quieted
down altOoether} ~
MIR. scunLEG i.
said they desired to consult whether to resume
work or not, and, it they did resume, on what
conditions. Up to this time they had not been
abic to meet to settle these questions. and he
thought if they we're allowed to come together
peaccably and quietly, this matter could be
speedily adjusted anu business resumed.
Aid. Kirk thought the officers OF the various
societies could issue orders to resume work
without holding any meetings.
The chief harness-maker said the trouble
about that was that every man In an association
had just about as much to say, and welded as
much influence, as the officers, and the latter
could not issue such an order unless directed so
to do By the association.
The leader OF The iron-molders stated the
grievances to which his craft had been subjected.
Their wages had been cut down by degrees, lie |
said, from 50 to 90 per cent, and he thought
hey should be allowed to meet and do what
hey could in 4 peaceablc, orderly way towards |
settling these difficulties. For fourteen years +
he 1nolders had met regularly every Saturday |
hight, and their assemblies had always been OF I
he most peaceful character.
AID. KIRK
cmarked that the trouble came from outsiders I
Who got into the 1nerting and made inteupcrate |
peeehes-
The noldcr replied that the meetings were
lcld In thrd-story room, aud none we're al-
nitted but actual members of the Association. |
le again stated that the molders were in favor
# peace and good order. now und for all time
CORPORATION COUNSEL BoNF1ELD,
avlng beard all that was to be said by one side,
ctnarked that, while The authorities had moth.
lg to fear from the trades-unions in tho
'ay Of violence, yet there was a wide differ
nee between rioters aud the true working1ncn, |
nd as the violent agitaturs seemed 10 control !
hlngs 1retty uiucl 1T these meetings, lie did |
.: link 1t advisable III tiltse excited times to
low any oi these gatherings to he ;eld The |
ty otficials had consulted in regard to this J
,atter, and did not siec1n it proper. to remove
ne restrictions. at lea>t Tor the present. Fos-