National Republican., 1878-10-22
THE woRKINGMENs ASSEMBLY.
An Address to workingmen-Democr
Parsimony Denounced.

An Address to workingmen-Democr
Parsimony Denounced.
The weekly meeting of the National Work
ingmen's Assembly was held at Beck's Hall last
evening, J. II. Ralston in the chair, and John
Christian secretary. The committee on en-
tertainments reported that Mr.. J. II. Ralston
would deliver lecture for the benefit Of tho
Assembly next Friday evening.
Mr.. Bell, from the committee appointed to
prepare an address to the workingmen of tho
United States, submitted the following report,
which was read and adopted
AN ADDRESS To woRKINGMEN:
To members Of ta,iss unions and tcorkmgmen gen.
BRETHREN: The National workingmens Assem-.
bly, Of the District Of Columbia, an organization
composed OF delegates from trades unions within
its jurisdiction, and having for It's object the better
ing Of tho condition Of the labOring classes, would
ask you, in view Of the approaching Congressional
elections, to fairly consider the following PROPOSE
tions, aud give your suflmges only to such candi.
dates, irrespective Of party will pledge them
selves to thSS principles herein contained:
firt-BelleNing that tile rigid enforcement OF the
eight'huur law on oil Government work Will, In
time, cnuse its adoption generally 10y the private
establishments Of the country thus giving employ.
ment To large numbers Of men who are now idle,
We nsk you 70 vote for no man who will not pledge
his vote and influence IN such nn amendment o.
the present law ns will forever prevent heads Of Ne
rarimemts and uihgr executive Officers OF the GOV
enmcnt from evGdiug its provisions and giving II
lheit own construction. as they have been in the
habit Of doing ia the past.
/, sccun / -N6olition Of the contract system on ali
Government work Believing that II Is not the
province Of Government to Culcr into business
competition with any Of IT, citizens, competent !.
srcCtors should he appointed on NIL public works,
aud at least ~ high a rn,e paid for all kinds Of
labor ns Ob,ainci in any portion OF the country.
Ibifl-Ihe p0s.uge OF a law o. empower the
government 10 grant assistance - settlers ON the
public lands; in order to enable the masses Of un.
employed who now crowd the cities Of the country
subslsting mainly on charity, 10 become scll'sup.
porting producers, thereby adding TO the wealth Of
Fourth-Bclicvlng that the battalion of petit
fnggCrs who now occupy seats In the House Of Hep
rcscniatives should be diminished and not III
creased, wOrkingmen should exert themselves to
secure the election Of men more closely cOnncCied
country.
FiNh-Abolltion OF the national bank monopoly,
and the Issuing directly by the Government of cur.
rency in such quantities as sthe:5lsncss the coun.
try may demand.
sixli-wc licnouncc as false economy and un.
democratic the Gilemr, Al the last session Of Con.
gress 10 reduce the salaries Of clerks, messengers
mechanics, and labnrcis, IN the employ Uf the
| Government, while those OF the higher GRADES OF
officials. and members ut Congress themselves, rc'
| BAinel untouched.
| sCvuuth--Me dCn0utb the spiIit Of onmlty tn
trade unions CylncCd by tho lym"crltiC CuUgres
| s.UuHl Committee. and particularly it, chairman,
| Joseph = C. Blackburn, OF Kentucky in giving rs
campaign printing 10 an establishment paying far
less than the rates prevailing In this city, whose
| presiding, or rather evil genius onc SIson Hutch
| inN, Of 81 Louis. No. Is one Uf the most unCOm'
| promising enemies Of labor organizations and thC
| rights OF wUrkingmcn IN the United states NC
true isbUTcr should vote for any candidate who in
| doses that act
Eighih-ihe National worklnsInen's Assembly Il
not ~ any sense connected with or attached to any
| political party, and oppose only those public mrl
| VINO have shown themselves the tools Of that mpi
ly.gruwing faction, not CUHhuvd 10 Cithvrpa who
are striving 10 make the rich richer and the pool
poorer
An ofwhIcl I, respectfully submitted, s. H. Bell
| y. J. PlaSs, John +. ClGrksUn.
Under the call Of unions, the various dele.
gates present stated that their several orGani
latious were in u Aourishing condition. After
tRnsactng some unlmpOrtant business, the
Assembly went into executive session.
| ATTENTION Is called to mems hand-stitched
| calf Gaiters-S3.50 to Sat the great Boston