National Republican., 1878-10-08
THE WORKING NEWS ASSEMBLY.

An Appeal from tho workingmen of Now
Orleans.
The workingmen's Assembly met at Beck's
Hall last evening, with Mr.. J. II. Ralston In the
chair and John T. Christian as secretary. Mr..
N. J. Plass, from tho committee on orSaniza-
tion, reported progress.
Mr. Hamilton stated tha. arrangements had
been made to hold q mass meeting of navy.
yard employees at Odd Fellows Hall, Navy.
Yard. next Friday evening.
woRRISGMEN AND THE YELLOW FEVER.
Mr.. Hamilton presented the following COM
munication from tho Young Mons Mechanic
Labor Aid Association Of New Orleans, ad-
dressed to DR.. Alfred Thomas ex-president Of
the Assembly:
DEAR SIR: The workingmen Of New Orleans dc.
sire to explain, 70 you the call which they make
Generous contributions have hccn sent here from
the North fos the bencht Of sufferers from tho cpl
| iemic These have gone largely To tho Howard
Association, which confines Us charity b. finding
physicians, nurses and medicine for the sick. The
rations furnished by the General GoyOrnment were
| Of War TO actual yellow fever sufferers"
The contributions sent the Peabody Subsistence
Association have been very generally limited IN the
same way. Such as were not 80 limited have been
applied TO the relief Of the city police teachers,
public employees, and public institutions ordinarily
maintained by public taxation. Consequently
nothing or Gt least very little has been len for the
| relcfOt the many thousands Of wOrkingmcn thrown
| ont of employment as direct consequence Of the
presence OF an epidemic IN New Orleans, or for the
| families of such.
II Is estimated that 1900 persons being labOrers
or the families Of lnbOring Ilcn are now suffering
here to greater or less extent from want Of fppd
| Many thousands OF these aIc totally dependent
upon sources Of private charity, fast becoming cx'
| haustcdTh city authorities and the Peabody As.
/ soCiaiOn refuse to aid US from the generous con.
| trbutOns made TO them for general relief and we
ure compelled ~ appeal to our brother workers OF
| the North and West for aid 10 ward of the pRng,
Of actual hunger. The need increases daily, and
must continue TO do 50 until hard frost reopens the
| avenues of trade aud commerce.
| The great majority Of the class whom we repre-
sent have not hal the yellow fever either In thei
persons or family ye, they are as directly sufferer
here deprived them 0f the means and opportunity
of making their daily bread by daily, honest labor
Your aid should be prompt: Contributions for
kind, will certainly reach the hungry poor of New
orleans aud no others.
fSigIlcd by NJ. Bowen. president Samuel Keen
YcG.pTCSldrnt; John klelIa, corresponding scCre
tary J. q. Wchscr, secretary; John Elderman
| treasurer.
Mr.. Hamilton suggested that subscription
: paper be prepared and circulated. He pro
posed also that the secretary be instructed t.
communicate with Governor Shepherd ant
call his attention to the subject matter of til
communication.
Mr.. S. II. Bell spoke Of the fact that immens
sums of money had been sent South for the re
lief of yellow fever sufferers, and thought
strange that tho workingmen had recoive'
. none Of the benefits.
, Mr.. Hamilton moved that the president b
instructed to communicate the facts containe
In the circular to Governor Shepherd and til
roler commission. This motion was carried.
The Assembly then went into executive SO.
sion.