National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-08-19
THE woRkINGMEv,s assembly.
still Discussing the business Affairs of "Thc
Republican"

Republican"
Tho regular meeting of tho Workingmens
Assembly was held last evening J. p Hamil-
ton in the char and j. J. Murray secretary.
Mr.. Spier stated that the committee on tho
Fall River (Alas,.) strikers had collected
handsome sum for the relief of the strikers,
which would be forwarded to them in few
days.
On motion Of Mr.. Mcdonald, q committee of
five to be chosen from the various unions
was authorized TO be appointed to
draw up report relative to labor statistics in
the District TO DO submitted to the Congress
sional Committee on Depression of Labor"
Mr. Mcdonald called attention to an editorial
in THE REPUBLICAN, in which the Assembly
was threatened with being hauled up before
the Grand Jury. He said that no law of con-
spira cy could be enforced against workingmcn
on the sayso of rat papers The proprietors
of THE REPUBLICAN had claimed the privi-
lege of being allowed to attend to their own
business in their own way, but refused to nj.
low the workingmen the same right Tho
speaker knew that within the past two weeks
the editor of THE REPUBLICAN had worked
against several members of the Assembly,
aud If lie was not careful he would
get little taste of intimidation. For himself
the speaker defed the power Of tho editor of
THE REPUBLIcAN, and would work against its
interest whenever he felt disposed. He knew
of 300 subscribers to the paper who intended
to stop taking it the LIST of September, unless
the rats" were driven ont. Mr.. Boron said
his only objection to the course of THE REpUB.
LTcAN owners was that in their reduction of
wages they struck ut the labOrmg classes, and
did not reduce their other employees. 1t
showed disposition on their part to strike at
the workiugmen, and this was just cause for
resistance on the part of the Assembly.
Mr.. Barker said he had no sympathy with
rafting" but It was evidently not known to
the Assembly that the owners of THE REPUB-
LICAN had reduced all their employees except
two, who were engaged Mt n yearly salary.
The trouble in this whole matter was that tho
Typographical Union refused to accept II COM
promise offered them. Mr.. Clapp had acted
throughout in n straightforward manner, and
all the blame for rafting THE REPUBLICAN
office should lay at the doors of tho.Iypograph-
ical Union.
This declaration brought tho Typographical
Union delegates to the Assembly to their feet,
and Messrs. Hamilton, Bell, Phillips and Pat
terson made short addresses, in which they
claimed that their union resisted an infringe
ment upon its rights and refused to compro-
misc because it made n reduction In the sc lie
| of prices. They also asserted that Mr. Barker
had defended The REPUBLICAN on account Gifts
p Olitics being the same as his own.
Mr.. Campbell next addressed the Assembly
and stated that he was opposed to personal
| attacks of any nature, but that if Mr.. Clapp
had in part taken any action antagonistic to
| the woritingman he certainly was open to their
| dcnunciation. "NOw if were in Mr.. Clapp's
place." continued the speaker, l should never
I have been party to any movement crushing
| the workngnan." He added that he had rot
| sufficiently studied up the question to enter
| into an extended discussion, nor was lie pre-
pared to make any accusations against Mr.
Clapp, but that he meant to look deeper into
the question, and if lie found that he was
guilty Of any act that was aimed at the
workingman lie would not hesitate to denounce
him any more than any other man.
| He finished his remarks by stating that the
time had come when the workingman would
rise in his majesty like slumbcrng giant
and crush his oppressors. Mr.. Spicr said he
was opposed to personal attacks, but believed
in work In the editorial referred to, Mr..
Clapp had assumed the position, which was be-
coming prevalent in this country, that
Unionism meant conspiracy. As he had de-
cared himself us an opponent of the working
men ii was their duty to fight him, no matter
what the result might be- He had PROPOSE
ton to submit which he would withhold until
secret session. At the conclusion of his re-
marks the Assembly resolved itself into secret
| session.