National Republican., 1878-07-31

tractors, who are Wiling TO pay liberal wages ]:
| BE Il rssolted. That the National workingmens
Assembly, composed Of representatives from al! the
trades In the city, denounce the manner in which
more attention TO responsible contractors than to
| the lowest bid, for in doing so he not only does
Justice TO the workmcn, but does away with class
Of men who are neither responsible nor willing to
pay honest wages.
Rosolrtd That while We are opposed 70 violence
! sustain In any fair ani honorable way, the work
men who held out aud demanded fair days pay
for their services in the recent trouble at the new
| Bureau Of Printing building.
ResOirod That the only way the workingmen
will ever obtain their rights T. by united 'front.'
peal To them 10 cut loose from unknown and IT.
responsible leaders, as such only tend to iigure ~.
,end ;i Of doing soSd and hold ,hsir s msS.,hgs III
ResOItd That the action OF the authorities III ar
resting aud depriylng citizens OF the liberties &C,
corded them under the first amendmcnt 9i tne
dennstion.
Mr.. Chase asked what right the Assembly
had to legislate for rioters. At n previous meet.
lug Of the Assembly letter from a man named
Cohen had not been permitted to be read, and
| now IL was proposed to legislato for his gang.
| Mr.. Hamilton said It was the duty of true
workingmeu to help their suffering brethren.
| IL WAS but right that the Assembly should or
| Ranze bodies Of men who seemed to be unable
to help themselves. A good many true men
were endeavoring to secure fair days wages
| for days work.
Mr.. Barker said that the Assembly had
never ignored the claims Of true workingmen.
A short time ago several men claiming to be-
| long to q labor organization had applied for
admission into the Assembly. Their crcden-
tials had been refused because they had no Or
ganiLation.
Tho president called Mr.. Hamilton to the
| chair, aud was recognized rs entitled to the
| Unnr Hn said titis Nra "a I'm, mi, ,,aptinu
',' the Assembly would be required to show
| that they meant business. Ii Is proposed to
have men work for paupcr's wages. Last win
ter whcn the Labor Exchange w,s started the
Assembly opposed II, because it was paying
small wages. So with the present trouble.
Men are being required to work for much
| less than living wages, and II bchoovci the
Assembly to cndeavor to stop 1t. A systematic
scale OF prices should be agreed upon. The
| opposition to the admission of certain gang
accredited by mere street element. wins
| unanimous by the members of the Assembly.
The committee OF organization was authorized
at u recent meeting to gather the laboring
men together aud form them into unions The
proper way TO organize men was to bring
them into halls aud not harangue them upon
street corners. WOrkingmcn should be taught
a proper observance Of law and order was the
proper way TO work out their interests. II is
not men who will incite violence that can
accomplish amy good for the laborcr. The
press Of this District uphods the workman in
all legal efforts to get his rights, but dsCounte-
namces mob violence. There are men In this
community who will work for small wages,
but II is not proper to attempt to drive them
away. All good citizens will help the work.
ingmen in their legal fight; but when yio.
lcncc is attempted the arm of the law must be
invoked. The power of public opinion is bet.
ter than rocks cast from the hand at the hcNts
Of policemen Or mcu ut work.
Mr. Mcan% said the resolutions did not go
far enough. Every public officer should lie
arraigned who voted to sub-let contracts to pet
cont rlctors, ~ the dctrimCat.of the wOrkmcn
of the District. Mr. Hill sub.lct, but Mr. Mul.
lett did not For many years the latter paid
the highest wages, aud did not trucklc to con-
tractors. Out of the uprising of Saturday and
Monday Mr.. Hill should he urra gned.
Mr.. Hamilton said the Supervising Archi-
tect was ut fault IN this matter for allowing
irresponsible parties to take the contract.
There are plenty OF contractors who would
pay good wages.
Mr.. Hall read statement showing the
figures pad for excavating. and claimed that
in order to pay 81 pr day the price per yard
would have to be A.! csuts instead of II! cents,
the figures u2on Mr.. Hill is alleged to have
which awarded the contract to Mr. Husscy.
Mr.. Armstrong stated that when he offered
the resolution appopriating 50 for the pur'
| pose OF organizing llt iNbulNis
supposed that the committee would have gone
to work Had the committee done its duty
this special meeting would not have been ncces'
sary IN order to lcgslatc upon the actions Of n
body Of men called rioters.
Mr. Barker stated that the committee had
met, hut owing to lack Of time had not been
able to eject the organization required, aud
which, 1t was stated, would have prevented
, the recent riot.
! Mr.. Armstrong rcsuming proceeded to ar
I 4 the committee, when he was called tC
, order by the president. The speaker pro
, ceedcd To speak regarding the resolutions, dur
ing which he said that, MS the authorities had
arrested Cohen, II would not he long before
4 they came down on the Asscisbly When til,
i Government gives out q bid knowing tha. thu
q prices paid are not just 1t is not worthy 0
!, being called a:gOvrrnmcnt. When IN trouble
II short time ago Wall street aud other mOnopO
lies did not help uphold the Government, bu
the farmers and labIrtrs dill. lie hoped tha
] the resolutions read would he amended in orde
= to ccnsura the authorities for arresting Cohen
Mcssrs. Robinson, l!nldenan, Spicr, am
: Others made strong addresses In favor OF tn
: resolutions. which were unanimously adopted
= after which the Assembly adjourned.
I Among those prcscnt during the meeting
" was Cohen, the aritatOr. lie appeared to b
: Ia good spirits, and made himself rather con
y spicuOus by his actions, running about tn
u hall aud whispering to each delegate h
II thought iavor,hly disposed toward him.