National Republican., 1878-08-21
WORKINGMEN'S WAGES.
The Assembly Devotes Another
Evening to Rats"
An Address to tho Business Men Of Washing
ton-Mr. Robinson's Record rs n Work
ingman's Friend-A Few Figures
Con cernipg Printers Wages.
workinrmou'. Assembly.

by the officers of the Assembly
IT, Hs BrsinSs, No, 9fUc Di,irfT Of C'Urh'I:
We the representatives, Of the workinglncn uf the
nstric! Of Columbia IN convention assembled fee,
II 10 be duty TO call your et'riiun to the fact
that It's 0rganzati"n j. to rrctcC the vsrlu, trade"
in their legitimate business ud s,curc for their
services a rcmuncratire c"Rri for thCit lGbof, |
which we know would prov" beneficial To- tie hus |
iuess Interests Of the District 10y giving activity 70
trade In putting into active circulation larger
amount ofthc circulating ncllum among our own ,
citizens; and We sincerely lrlicvc that thOse Who
are struggling TO reduce labor below living |
standard are enemies 10 tn, human race Hs we'll ".
To the business community and should not hc nat. |
rOnICd by those whose interests closely allied
with the great industrial element Of the country.
1t is sCli.cvdent proposition In political economy
that money is only circulating medium Crratch
for the convenience Of trade and rs rcIrcsenta.
the few. It Is evidently detrimental TO trRdc hr.
cause Il takes from the wnrkingnan the means Of
supporting his family. NJ class Ofuur fellow citizens
are more interested pecuniarily IL the triumph Of
the principles Ofthe wOrkngmCn than the property
hodcr. Why 50! Because they own real estate and
require renumcratiVe rents, aud IL the working
man is reduced by the capitalist below living
standard how is II possible for him to pay his rent
Now every sensible man knows that the property.
holder Is nOtthe tax payer unless his property idle.
Every tenement he rents he Assesses the taxes upon
the tenant, and leaves himself a margin Of 10 rcr
and abDring man Is reduced To that degraded posi-
{, by Political mountebanks md ChOll uans. who
come aTnDny Us with that ayowed purpose, Il will
be Ofno use tp build houses or for men OF small capt
tai TO commence mcrrhandisinr because It will he
impossible 70 find tenants aud purchasers.
We are determined Lot 10 purchase anything
from those engaged IN business who pa.rOni3c
any enterprise the object OF which Is to degrade
the workingman by reduction of hi wages below
the legitimate standard OF fair and decent :lvng
and the Introduction of body Of men, known us
rats, who have no Interest in the welfare Of
this community. such men have no claims upon
you for support and should be made to understand
| that YOU know your own Interests too well to re-
quirr hiCtatiOn from them.
The majority Of the Assembly consists Of some of
the Oldest of our elite aud Of those u the manner
| born whose feelings aud interest are lentihca
with every material interest which affects the we'll
hringnf beautiful city. ltist late In thcay for
political adventurous To undertake to alicnnte thu nf
irctiOns OF the citiZus uf fWashlHgtoufrOm truth AMI
justice. The history nf our city from tic time the
| Grvcrnment was removed from the city Of phlla-
| delphia is the pride Of our people. Our oldest
Inhabitants talk nbOut the progress OF the city WIN
| infinite delight and pleasure. Under the mulhCl'~
pal government, such men as Joseph Galcs; VIII
| liam Winston SeatOn, Roger e. Wrightmiu. Peter
| Force, aud John T. Towers, all Of whom were
| practical printers, were elected to the mRyUrRlty,
| and under their administration the Interests of
| the wOrkingmGn were guarded with j,a.ous eye.
The Nd'OHdi IHtthiysHrsr under thC management
| of Gales Il SCatOn, was Il model Of journalism and
1t Is truly mOrtylng to those who cherish respect
| for their memory 70 see the name Of the .NT'intTi
iHiciigcnccr at the tail end Of the Sunday Hrrh to
give ii character aud dignity, when It has neither
TO attract tho attention OF the business men Of the
| city. Whoever heard Of rats" being employed
| by GALES y scatOn, Peter Force. Roger G. Weight.
man Bair 1. RiNCs, Thomas Richie, jacob Gi Icon,
Ih9mas J.. .Mc&enmy, John u. Cplvin, aud lomntl'hn
! Elliylt2 40 one. There wa, no difficulty what.
| ever existing at any time between them aud their
| employees; but there existed mutual respect and
! confidence, which gave character and standing tV
the profession
The dr,t Scmntor from the state of Michigan was
John NOrvcll, who served his time with Andrew
| Way. In this city, aud. CDntCmpDranCOus vita him.
simon Cameron, Of Pennsylvania and Luther sCv'
ciancn' Of Maine, were jonrncymen printers In the
Office OF the StiipHm IHisyipCHccr.
These historical "reminiscences call 10 ones
mind the honor Of the past, when journalism was
In the hands Of gentlemen of education and learn
ng, whose m!nGs SCARED aUft In the field OF letters
for some beautiful thought aud who ncvcr, de;
scCndcd to the low billingsgutc Of "Combs,"
thereby ntImatng that hu is an adept IN their use.
One would suppose that StilsDn lIutchus' H.nd
was entirely abs ,rhed upon the subject Of vcrnn.
Rats are classcd In that category, and would be
well for him To apply the comb 10 his own car.
cass ifhe, like the old woman in the play" thinks
itching Il too great luxury for Workingncn 10 en-
joy the felicity of scratching. This Is the classic
idea Of lIutchins aud Burrit who will,
"whcn khcy die, leave lofty names,
As lights and landmarks,
Upon the ellis Of fame"
WM. H. CRASsTON,
vicc-rrcsdcnt presiding
L. /. BARKER, Secretary Pro. TEN.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Barker. that
5000 copies Of the address be printed for cir
culation, was agreed to-
Mr.. J. p. Hamilton, Of the
MASs-MEETISG
committee, submitted report recommending
that instead of holding Opcn-air mass meet ings
their meetings bo held in public halls, at least
for the present The report further states
that several new unions arc being formed
which could better be fostGrcd in meetings OF
this kind The report was adopted
! Mr.. Armstrong, from the committee ap.
Pointed to wait on the Secretary Of the Intc-
rior, stated that letter had been written to
Mr.. Schun asking him to appoint time
when he would receive the committee.
No answer had been returned as vet, and
the instructions OF the Assembly in the matter
were asked
Mr.. Spicr moved that the committee be in.
structcd to wait on Secretary SChurZ, and not
to write any more lcttOrs. Carried.
The secretary read a communication from
all anonymous correspondent, in which he ad
vised the wprkingmun not to read rat" papers
and to persuade their friends not to patronizC
such sheets.
No action was taken by the Assembly, as the
, writer did not sign his nome to the document.
Mr.. Plass sent to the secretarys table and
had read an editorial from the Sunday SIM
which took up the cudgel in behalf of til,
wOrkingmeu, and proceeded to 80 for the Sun
dan HfrHH and Post in lively manner.
vote OF thanks was rendered the proprietor o
the paper for his action in the matter.
Mr. ROBINSON MAKES Personal EXPLANA
TON.
Mr. Robinson asked leave to make n per
sUnal explanation regarding statement in tn,
SIWdiy UrTuH, in which IL was asked what th'
3 speaker had done FOX the benefit of tho work
+, ingmau? Mr. Robinson then gave an accOun
g. of an attempt made by Major Nolan, supcrin
tendent Of public buildings and grounds, #
reduce til, wages Of stone cutters employed OF
5 the Capitol, Treasury, aud Post. .Oilice build
e iugs In 1888. Tho wOrkmen struck, unl
l headed by Captain Robinson, marched 10 tn
, White House, where an interview was granite,
, them by President Jackson. After hearing
J. their statement, ~ sent for Major Nolan, arC
( told him when 10 wanted to econOmize TO b.
, gin with himself The speaker stated that b
=, lad always been worker for the interests .
tho workingmon and asked his hearers +
point to Il single act by Captain Buritt II
which kc had conferred benefits upon printer
0 or any other mechanics.
WAGE, EARNED BY PRINTERS.
Mr. Armstrong also asked permission t
make a statement in reply to paragrap
in the HerGd. which was granted, He the
read the following statement:
will take the average wages received At his ow
# Is utterly imP-s ss!DI0 for printer 10 earn thu
- amount
The price of composition. as regulated by tn
c Union, is fity cents per 1900 en-, (vmiy liYin
wages An average printer can SGT but 1910 ell
per hour which in ten hours work would amOuI
To tA. Time Of distribution taking down type pr,
viOusly set and putting IN the proper boxes in tn
ll case has got 10 be deducted from that amour