Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-08-01
kearney. the Agttater.
EVENTS IN THE LIFE or THE CHIEF OF THE
LABOR PARTY.

L.
From the Boston Journal
Briefly, he is an Irishman become an Ameri-
can citizen; draymsn turned agitator
speaking In detail, il may be said that he was
February, 1S41. His father, Michael Kearney
was an Irish laborer, and died when Dennis
Was 9ut eleVen years OF age. The family con-
sisted 81 OF seven sons jeremiah, now aged thir-
,y-1our, who follows the sea and is supposed 10
De on the coast of Africa; Dennis, aged thirty
one; fatriek, aged thirty, resident of this
cry ana a blacksmith by trade; Michael, also
resident OF this city and tailor: Daniel
aged twenty-six, who is in San Francisco with
ms brother and takes charge of his business
d. dfayman during his visit east; Timothy F..
aged tWenty-three, who accompanies Dennis
on his eastern tour, and William the Youngest
aged twenty one, has joined the Society of the
christian Brothers in San Francisco and pro
poses to devote his life TO the service of the
church as Christian teacher. Dennis Kaar-
ney began life as pOstb0y in his native vii
iage at the early age of six years, carry
my tne mali In the early morning TO and from
an adjoining town and attending school after
his labor was performed. His fatheI 5 death
when he was but eleven years old, compelled
MN TO leave home III order 10 obtain employ
nent ana help TO support the family. He first
shipped as cabin boy in vessel sailing from
Cork to Liverpool and later went on voyages
faithful as sailor before the mast that at the
remarkably early age of fourteen years, he
rose 10 DE mate OF a clipper Ship and at nine
teen was captain in charge OF one of the
largest vessels in the foreign trade Ever
since lis first experience as a cabin boy he has
sailed under the American flag He has sailed
III the ships Bounding Billow, Fincney and
James CheSley, IN and out of the ports of New
York, Boston, Baltimore and San Francisco
On the 4th Of October 1853 he reached San
francisco on the Shooting Star and after
that followed the sea three or four years. He
remained TWO years as first officer of the
Shooting Star. He then went as second officer
on the steamer Active, between San Fran
cisco and Victoria. Afterwards he became
foreman on the wharf, and about five years
ago went into the draying business. paving
$3,NUto the man whom he bought out. Dur
ing the years that he followed the sea and
slice, he has supported his mother. bringing
ner from the old country to this CITY where
she has comfortable little home with two of
her sons near the Brighton station. on the EOS
ton and Albany railroad. He also assisted in
bringing his brothers to this country. and has
helped them to obtain employment, SO thai
they are all doing well. A little more than a
year ago he first appeared before the people
OF San Francisco as an agitator. In the spring
OF ~, the draymen of the city held meeting
TO take measures for the overthrow of what
they regarded az a monopoly in the govern
ment teaming. kearney was made member
nt committee to wait upon Senator Sargent
BAT that gen lie an a Ting, as il is said treat
ed The committee cavallerly, the IN litter was
carried before the regular authorities in the
fall. when kearney took leading part At
this time he called meeting in a hail. which
was held on the 18th of September, and those
who composed 1t passed resolutions calling
upOn.the wOrkingmen TO sever their connec-
tlouS Win the old parties and unite in their
own interest. Reforms were called for in the
following language, which may be taken as
indicating the OStenSible purposes of the party:
l. The abolition of all assessments on candi-
dates for office, the people to own the offices
not the incumbentS.
2: Holding state and municipal officers to a
strict accountability for all their official acts
3. The establishment by the state of bureau
of labor and statistics.
4. The immediate reduction and periodical
regulation thereafter of the hours of labor.
5. The creation by the state legislature of a
convention of labor, with headquarters in San
Francisco.
The following Sunday the first of the series
of meetings on the sand lot" so-called was
hefd. Only about 800 men attended, but the fol
lowing Sunday there were l,OOO and the mum
bers increased from week to week until at
times from l2,0O0 to 1900 would be present at
once. The speakers used strong language, and
though kearney and others were arrested
again and again, and released on bail their
speech became only more emphatic. Then
came trial and acquittal on the charge OF in
citing riot, and those troubles over internal
dlSSenSlons arose, which, however, were quell-
ed by kearney, who was soon elected perma
Qent president of the WOrkinpman'S Marty