The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-09-13
One of the Largest Political Gath
erings ever Held in st. Paul.
Speeches of Hon. IgnatiuS Don
nelly, and Mr.. j. Ham
Davidson.
Resolution of the NOrkingmen
as to What they Think and
What they Want.
lPioneer-Press report.

Pioneer-Press report
The call for a meeting of the workngmen
of st. Paul to assemble at the old
court house last night. resulted i'll a monster
gathering which could not find even standing
room within the walls OF the old building,
Chinese lanterns and some lamps were
speedily procured, and it wss adjourned to
the front steps of the old court house yard.
At the designated hour Mr.. Z. NJ. Robinson
called the convention ty order and nominated
Timothy Reardon as chairman
w. K. Nicos was then made secretary. and
Mr. Reardon introduced the programme by
few pointed opening remarks. He said that
this comfy and city is governed by rings.
and the reason that there are SO many rotten
institutions open and running in this city, is
becauseso many OF the officials patronlze aud
sustain them He then introduced
col. JAS H. DAVIDSON
as the first speaker of the evening. Mr.. Dav-
idson expressed his sym pathy with any move
ment having for its object the ameioration OF
the condition of laboring men, and stated
some OF the causes which lin his opinion) had
led to the pre- sent condition OF the laboring
classes The financial crash OF 1873 stopped
railroad building, closed factories, stopped
mining, and sent 1ultitudes adritt to
enter into mechanics in other branches OF
business; corrupt special and class legislation
had also had much to do with promoting the
bad condition OF things.
The speaker pitched into the legislature and
municipal rings generally, and the State
prison ring in particular. and suggested that
some remedy should be applied by the people
| who have to loot the bills.
non. IGNATIUs DONNELLY
was the next speaker, and he displayed much
| OF his old time ability as stump orator. He
rather pitched into some things that David
| son said about the prospects OF the country
priortO the crash OF 1878.
| Mr.. Donnelly claimed that prior to that time
| there had been no contraction and that the
belly of the lahoring man was then inflated
with healthful food and plenty OF it: his back
was inflated with good warm clothes, and
above all, his pocket was inflated with plenty
of greenbacks Mr.. Donnely's speech was a
discussion on the financial questions OF the
day and ar argument Tor large volume OF
currency as the cure for all the present diff
cultes. His address was interrupted with
| many demonstrations or approval
Prior to Mr.. Donnelly's speech, Frank
Brewer moved the appointment ola
COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS,
and the chair appointed Frank Brewer, V. B.
Parks, Charles Stanley and L H. Wood
RESOLUTIONS:
Resolved, First-That the existing strife
between capital and labor loudly calls tor wise
and fair craftsmanship that will secure to
each its Just rights, without entertainments
on the other, and we insist and will ever
maintain that the honest workingman is ell :
titled to and should receive a fair days pay
for fair day S work
| Second-We believe that the powers of gov
ernment should not be used to enrich the few
and impoverish and Cypress the many, but
to follow that wise policy which ensures en-
ployment to the industrious laborer, pros
| perty to the w hole people, and the crushing
out OF class legislation.
Third-We believe that the present system
of national banks works entirely in the inter
ests of the capitalists, W no avoid taxation by
investing in the non taxable securities OF the
United States government, and should be
discontinued and that the greenback currency
OF the government should be established "a
the currency of the country in lieu thereof
Fourth-We believe that the civil authority
of the land is, and ever should be, superior t
the military, and that in no case should the
, military authority be used except III tn,
maintenance of the civil author!ey, and he1
used I should not be against the laborine
classes only bnt against all who are response
BILE in any manner TOR the breaking of tn,
peace.
Fiith-We demand of our State legislator
2 such changes in the State law as will bring t
the State fair revenue from the sale OF labo
at the State prison As at present manage,
the prices are so low that outside skilled labo
cannot compete with it, the State receives n
: profit from it. and a ring OF capitalists an
| contractors " tho handle it are alone benefited
Sixth-We protest against the custom here
tofore practiced by some vi our prominen
citizens, OF corrupting the laboring class
p voters, by purchasing their votes with none
and intoxicating liquors, and then complain
O ing of the corruption OF the ballot box, fc
which alone they are responsible; and W
: believe that all the best interests OF this com
4 munity require that all places where intox
: eating liquors are sold should be closed b
y the authorizes on all election DAYS.
Seventh-We believe that the time has con
in the management of our local affairs whe
q citizen. he he ever meritorious. cam,
be elected to position OF emolument and tru
without expanding a large sum of none.
thus forever barring from Office the poor maj
and we believe further, that LOYALTY to part
now means nothing more than Loyalty to
certain ring who desire. to be continual
kept in office: and we believe firmly that ever
foreign born citizen owes his individual To-
alty to the country OF his adoption, and h
10 right to claim any rights, political
otherv ise because he is a German Iris hma
Frenchmau or Scandinavian. but only on h
merits as an American citizen OF which RICH
:. every citizen is and should be justly prou
~ and with his manhood independently hon
- and maintain them at the ballot bov al
g elsew here
FRANK BREWER,
a C. Il. STANLEY,
= T. H WooD,
-, V. =. PARKS,
r Committee