New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-29

have inspired some uneasiness and discomfort
among even the better class of labOrers and work.
ingmen.
The demonstration thus far has no serious charac-
ter. The laboring organizations have not been
drawn into it, and the leaders and meters of the
discomfort have generally disOwned the whole pro-
ceeding. The gangs of rioters were simply conf
posed of cOwardly loafers. who outnumbered the
unprotected aborers hundred to one, on Friday,
and made vigorous onslaught with brickbats and
clubs, but who. inithe presence of men who were
prepared to receive them, showed little disposi-
ton to light rs they would have done to work.
The chief agitator in Washington at the present
time is one Isaac Cohen, Prussian Jew of unbe-
coming appearance and with little to boast of in
the way of intelligence This fellow has been hold
ing series of meetings in the open air at the corner
of Seventh-st. and Pennsyivana-ave at which he
has treated his auditors with the most incendiary
speeches which his small wit would enable him TO
evolve. His particular antipathy is toward the
newspapers, which he believes do him scant justice;
but he follows the example of some of those who
occupy seats in Congress- and launches out into an
occasional TRADE against the banks and capitalists.
COHEN ARRESTED.
On Saturday morning Major Morgan, the Chief of
Police, sent for Cohen to to headquarters, and
he came in about 10 o'clock. The Major questioned
formed him of the reports he had heard about his
incendiary language. Cohen denied that there had
been any ncendiary remarks tho night before, and
said the object simply to adopt resolutions set
ting forth the grievances Of the wOrkingmen. Major
Morgan Informed Cohen that he would not be per-
mitted to hold meeting Saturday night and that
no meeting would be permitted ON Monday unless it
should be under the control of responsible citizens
Notwithstanding this prohibition, Cohen made his
appearance about o'clock last night at the usual
place, where large crowd had assembled He
mounted box to speak He was Immediately
arrested and carried to police headquarters, fol-
lowed by numerous. but not very noisy or danger
mob, and has since remained under arrest.
Three or four Others, who have been prominent in
the demonstration, have also been taken by the
police and will probably be brought to trial tomor-
row.
Opinions differ widely concerning the justice of
the action of the Government and the contractors
which is alleged as the cause of this outbreak, and
some men who ought to know better are loud IN
their condemnation of it. The act making provision
for building for the Engraving and Printing Bureau
requires that the work be let to the lowest reSp0n-
sible bidder and the action of the contractors in
curing abOrers in the open market at the lowest price
for which they could be hired is in accordance with
law as old as history. The rights of both employ
and employed are involved, and IN the exercise OF
these rights they Will be protected by the au-
thorties. There is nevertheless much room for tho
exercise Of sympathy for the honest laborers who
are unable TO get work which will pay them more
than from 20 cents to 81 day and with the unreal
sonng this sympathy is coupled with curses for the
arce of the contractors who accept services at such
prices.
PREPARATIONS FOR TO-DAY.
To-day the disaffected spirits have put out call
for grand mass-meeting to be held in front of the
City Hall tomorrow night at which they say
$4,000 workingmen will be present. The leaders of
the labor movement in Baltimore have been invited
and il is said have signlfed their intention TO be
present. set Of resolutions demanding" all
sorts of things has been drawn up and IL is asserted
by Cohen and Speer the latter of Cohen's lieu
tenants) that speeches will be made that will wake
up the laboTers and let tho authorities know that
they mean business now"
The authorities are determined, however that the
meeting shall not be held. Major Morgan said
this evening that it has been decided to keep Cohen
and other leaders of the movement secluded.
and that charges of sedtion resisting the author-
ties and vagrancy Will be preferred against them
tomorrow. There is evidence enough, he added,
on hand to make tire conviction of these men GER
tain. special meeting of the Workingmens As
sembly, the regular trades-uniOn organization,
which has heretofore been in opposition to Cohen,
will he held on Tuesday evening to consider the
questions of contract work by Government
and tho suppression of Cohen's gang. II
is known that a largo minority of the
ganization is unalterably opposed to the
tramp gang" as the Cohen faction is called
Mdniaht-The preparations for stamping out any
possible riotous demonstration tomorrow seem
ridiculously out of proportion to the apparent dan
ger but the error, if 1t be one, is on the side OF
safety and it may be cheaper In the end to make
show of force which may not be called into action
than by paucity of numbers and equipment to en-
courage the disafected to another outbreak. Aftor
dark this evening Springfield breach-loading rifles
with bayonets brought up from the arsenal yester-
day, were distributed among the several station
houses and orders issued for the full force OF
police to report for duty in the morning.
Arrangements have been made by which the full
force of marines at the Navy Yard can be summoned
at moments warning; and two or three Calling
guns are said TO be in readiness for use in the re-
mote contingency of necessity for them. An
organization of the clerks in the Treasury Depart
men is said to have been made to act in connection
with the already large force of armed guards that
are employed to protect the building and Us con-
tents The probability is that IN view OF all these a
extraordinary preparations no further trouble Will
occur.