National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-04-29
WORKINGMEN'S ASSEMBLY.
A Meeting Devoted to Discussing
Murch, of Maine.
He is Charged with "Going Back" on Work.
ingmen because He Ignored an Invita-
ton to Address the Tailors Mass
NIecting-A Series of Resolu-
lutions Directed Against
Him, But Laid over.

Tho Workngmen and Congressman Murch.
Tho Workngmen's Assembly met last even
ing, Captain +. b. Robinson in the chair and
Mr.. f. l.. Barker secretary. After transacting
routine business, reports of committees were
called for. Mr.. John p. Hamilton, of the mass
meeting committee, said he desired to call tho
attention of the Assembly to the manner in
which Hon. Thompson II. Murch, of the fifth
district of Maine, had treated y request to APP
pear before and address mass meeting of
workingmen held in this city last Tuesday
evening. The speaker, in company with other
members of the Assembly, called at Mr.. Murch's
rooms and invited him TO mako short speech
before the meeting. Mr.. Murch asked how
long IL would he in session, and upon being told
ten o'clock, said lie would certainly attend
some time during the evening but II might be
late, as he had some committee work to look
after Instead of keeping his word he not
only failed to put in an appearance, but was
not polite enough to send note of apology for
his absence. When Mr.. Murch first came to
Washington he had made great many profess
sons of friendship toward tho workingnen,
but his recent action showed that "a little brief
authority has turned his head" and he had
forgotten his friends who sent him to Wash
ington.
Mr.. L. L. Barker said Mr.. Murch had "snub-
bed" the Assembly by refusing to appear before
q meeting given under their auspices. Only u
few weeks ago he had addressed the Assembly
in its meeting-room, pledging himself to help
every measure for tho benefit of workingmen.
And now, the first chance he had of making
his professions of practical benefit, he insulted
'the very men who gave him his honors." In
view of his action lie would offer the following
preamble and resolutions
tIn no, pn,Nrn ,iat irn
in Congress from the fifth district of Maine, claims
| to represent the interest of the workingman and
by his own assertion claims that he Is not politi-
clan and did not come to Congress us such, but for
| the good Of workingmen; and
| Whereas he did promise to address a meeting
upon Thursday evening April p, holden under the
auspices of this Assembly, and did fail
to put in an Appearance. and did
reasons for hi, absence, and believing that, not
wthstanding his assertions that he is no politician,
we are afraid that he has learned the ways that
are dark and the tricks that are vain of politics:
| BE Il resolved, That Mr.. Murch has our unquali-
fed disapproval of his action toward this Assembly
In falling to put In all appearance ut the mass meet
ing upon the 22a, or falling to make some reasona-
BILE excuse.
BE Hyarther resolved, That we inform the constit
| uents of Mr.. Murch OF the way he has treated the
workingmen of this District, to the end that they
may In the future select men who will not forget to
represent the Interests of labor at oil times III any
| place within power.
DIR. Alfred Thomas, the next speaker, said
he was glad this subject had come up. 1t had
been reported that the name of Mr.. Murch was
used without his knowledge, but rs the chair
man of the mass-meeting committee bore testi-
mony to the fact that Mr.. Murch had been in
voted by n communication to be present and
had replied verbally, in tho presence of sew
cral members of the Assembly, that he would
attend, the pledge of ignorance of the matter
was dismissed. lie thought Mr.. Murch would
have come if the meeting had been held in q
theatre, before a large audience.
an (tpfn n.
Thomas) said "Mr. Murch asked me how large
the meeting would be- and If it would be held
Mt our usual hall. | replied No; but that
Franklin Hall, capable of accommodating 900
people, had been selected. He then positively
promised to attend"
DIR. Thomas resuming, said Mr.. Murch had
showed disposition not TO comply with the
promises he made upon his arrival in WASH
ington. 1t was fact that he had not kept %
single promise. The resolutions were we'll
timed and showed that the Assembly could not
be trihed with If the course chosen by Mr..
Murch was indicative of the line Of action to
be pursued by the mushroom calling itself the
National party the sooner the workingmen
were informed of the fact the better. 1t was
the duty of Mr.. Murch, as Il gentleman, to send
a note regretting his inability to be present at
the meeting. 1t was clearly evident by this
time that Mr.. Thompson Ii. Murch was not Il
} real friend of real wOrkingmen.
Mr.. Barker said Mr.. Murch had been elected
on Labor-Greenback ticket, and not by
Democrats or Republicans. He was the only
labor representative in Congress to-day, as he
was sent by their votes. He had said before
tho Assembly that he was with and for the
} workingmen in every measure that could ben
eft them. Now the first chance that offers he
shirks, and proves that he is not as good as the
average politician. Many other members
Messrs. Cox, Randall, &c, when invited, send
apologies, but Mr.. Murch does not The fact
, of his going back on the workingmen would
seem to show that he thinks he is as high as
he can get, and cares not for those who put
, him there. If he goes back on the working.
men of the District he would go back GU his
constituents, and no dependence could be
placed upon him in the future. If working.
men cannot depend upon men elected by them
selves, who should they rely on?
) Mr.. Mcdonald said it was not because Mr.
Murch declined to come to the mass.meetng
D that the wOrkngmen felt aggrieyed, but be
Q cause he would not send n note.
Mr.. +. q. Campbell and others spoke in favor
of the resolutions
+ A vote was about being taken when dis
0 pute arose between Captain Robinson and Mr.
Barker regarding the right of the latter Il
take the floor again in support of his resolu
+ tions, which resulted in the Captain rendering
, his resignation as president of the Assembly
and leaving the hall.
Dr. A. ii. Thomas was unanimously chosen
president pro tent, ana business was declared
in order
Mr.. Hamilton moved that any farther con
sideratiOn of the resolutions be postponed nm
. til the next meeting Of the Assembly. ThiI
was agreed to, and the Assembly then wen
into executive session.
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2 MAN BROS, CORNER OF SEVENTH AND
1 STREETS.
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