National Republican., 1878-08-02
COHEN's MISS-MEETTNG.

The Irrepressibie Agitator Holds It at Last
The irrepressible and persistent Isaac Cohen,
having been baiilcd by the police several times
in his efforts to hold meeting, finally sue
coeled last night, although the rain came near
performing tho same service that had dovolvod
upon the police the night before. Cohen YES
teriay called upon the District Commissioners
aud submitted the following "commoonica-
tlon:"
A meeting was held last night In front Of the City
Hall, which was one Of the most orderly and quiet
ever held In tho city. aud not obStructing any.
thing for tho convenience ofthe citizens the chief
Of Police Is no doubt prepared 10 report. Tho Work
insmen's Relief Association desires to hold another
orderly aud pencpnble meeting there tonight and
the undersigned Is instructed u ascertain from tho
honorable Commissioners whether permit to oc-
cupy the portico Of the City Hall for speakers Is
necessary, aud II So make hereby application for
such permit.
This was indorscd as follows: Respectfully
referred TO tho Major and Superintendent of
tho Police of the District OF Columbia, who
will pernit the meeting upon condition that
nothing shall be done to lead to disorder, AMI
that the meeting itself shall bo orderly aud
quiet and without OfcnsD to the ncighbor-
hood" About eight o'clock Cohen aud be-
tween two or three hundred of his followers
assembled at the man poriico Of the City Hall.
For time the proceedings were interrupted
by the rain. After tho frst shower ceased
Cohen called it to order, and read an ox-
tract from what he called the bylaws of
the Workingmcn's Relief Association, which
authorized the presiding officer to direct tho
marshal. and members Of the association to
take hold Of any person who was disorderly
or uttered incendiary language and hand him
over to the police. lie stated that the object
beforc them was TO get employment
at fair wages Hc claimed that the
fact that laboring men Oh the Bureau
Of Engraving aud Printing building were now
getting 81 - per day was due to bis efforts,
and he related an interview with Contractor
lIussey in which the latter said that he could
afford to pay Sl.JO per day under his contract,
and conf planned that he was being singled out
for attack by the workingmen. Cohen also
paid his respects to the pre- S. and said that be
did not blame the police for his recent troubles,
but tho press, which had misrcpresented him.
A series of resolutions were adopted, In
which those present pledged themselves not to
work for less than $50 day. The resOlu
tions also set forth that no contractor should
DO allowed to pay less than $50 per day fol
eight hours a day; that the contracts to be
| given out should be given out at once, so as ia
relieve destitution Immediately; that District
laborers should be preferred IN giving out
work; that all good citizens should aid in
bringing to justice police officers who unneccs.
| sarily fired upon unannCd, innocent, and
| orderly citizens; that the salaries Of persons
in Government employ receiving less than
u 900 year should not be affected by reduc'
tons that inlpponting women to positions
| IN the Departments only widows of Union So.
diCrS should be selected that married men
should be preferred 10 single, &c. There were
| several other speakers, and the meeting was
finally suddenly broken up by the rain. The
| police were present in force, and tho meeting
was orderly.