Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-17
A Workfngmen,s Mass-Meeting,


ADDRESSES FROM PROMINENT LEADERS IN
FAVOR OF ORGANIZATION-THE GATHERING AT
WILLARD'S HALL LAST EVENING
A mass-meeting of workingmen, under the
auspices Of the carpenters union, was held last
evening at Wizards hall. Mr.. Gabriel Edmon-
ston presiding The prime object of the meet
ing was to hear an address by Mr.. P. J. Mcguire,
of st. Louis, secretary of the National Brother
mood OF America Mr. Mcguire, who is young
man, and very fOrcible speaker, made an ear
nest address. urging organization as the means
OF lettering the condition of the wOrkingmen.
HE was frequently applauded. Mechanics, he
said, mustrecOgniZe the fact that to-day there
were two distinct classes in society," and il there
was any middle class it was being rapidly ex-
tlnguished by wealthy corporations He said
trades unions when they have applied to Con-
gress for privileges, have been scornfufly re-
fused, while millions of acres Of lands were
voted away to corporations. The laboring men
Claim the right to organize; all other interests
were organized. 1t was good for them,
It It, would be good for the workingmen.
They must save themselves from the pressing
competition that was degrading them. Many
men imagined that trades-uniOns desired blood
shed and disorder; they did not; they desired to
accomplish what they could by peaceable and
orderly measures: the carpenters of this country
are showing life and interest in trades-u union.
Since the Chicago carpenters convention they
had received many new unions in their fold;
they desired to lift the prices Of labor in differ
ent cities to uniform scale. When they had
got the power in their brotherhood they pro-
posed that each local union should hold 10 per
cent OF its income, to be used resistance
fund. in any city where the union might be in
troubles men en- strike should be paid SO
week each until the differences should be ad-
justed. With the aid of the treasures of all the
local unions they would be able to carry on a
strike much more effectively than if the sole
financial dependence was on the local union.
They proposed, Also to assist one another in
obtaining employment. Each union established
has an employment bureau. The local unions
in most cities have, also, beneficial features
The money power he held had taken the place
OF the slave power in this country. The pro-
ducts of labor belonged to those who created
them. He made distinction between fair and
unfair employers, but the fair employers, he
said, were being fast wiped out of industrial ex-
lstence AS workingmen they desired to get
rid OF the professional politician. Congress had
refused to enforce the eght-hour law that it
passed in 1868. He appealed to them as car
penters, in conclusion, to joining the union of
this city in behalf of their own interests. They
mad no color line, and no line of nationality to
draw. Their labor was all they had to sell, and
they should sell it to the best advantage they
could.
Now, that the workinemen desired to strike
back at organized capital, they found that
in Pennsylvania and other states they had
damnable cOnspracies to throw them into
prison.
HON. GILBERT G. DE LA MATYR
of Indiana was then introduced He endorsed
what he called the practical sentiments, and
said he rejoiced at what he had heard as facts
in reference to organization. He thought the
world was entering upon a grand revolution.
which looked towards the equitable distri-
button of the product of the worlds
toll They had reached point at which
all should enjoy the advantages Of
education and culture. to put a stop to the
Capitalization of power and wealth the people
were beginning to use. He hoped the day was
not far distant, when the masses, organized,
would secure their rights The intercourse be-
tween Europe and America was so intimate.
that either the society In Europe must be lifted
up. or that in this country must be sunk to their
level. The question was. shall this nation lift
the world up, or shall the world drag US down.
MR.. H. MARTIN WILLIAMS,
OF Missouri, the next speaker, remarked that
this was the first time in his life that he had ever
addressed an audience of his countrymen who
were not his fellow citizens. He declared it
blot on the escutcheon Of our countrymen, that
from $50, GOO to 10000 people were deprived of
the ballot. He said they ought not to rest
until they secured the suffrage He said he was
proud to say that the state Of Missouri sent to
this Congress four men. who were not the at
tOrneys or agents of tax-eating corporations
He did not believe any man in this country ever
made 81 ,OOO, 600 honestly. The great problem for
the liberty loving men to solve was how to
emancipate themseIvesfrom the thraldom placed
upon them by corporations He pledged himself
that next year there would come from the west
~ or ~ men who were not controlled by any of
these organizations of m0nopOsts and land
grabbers.
HON. CHARLES N. BRUMM,
OF Pennsylvania, was then introduced. He said
that in his District in 1878. there was an organ
ization of workingmen by whose efforts he was
elected to Congress. though counted out. Last
year he tried it again and laid his opponent out
He said there was no district where the work
lngmen did not have majority, yet why did
they not elect their men? Simply because they
did not ape after their masters. in the matter of
organization in union and in strength They
should fight their enemy with the same
weapon that they fought with. The
Speaking Of the workingmen Of his District he
said the system in vogue in the coal mines
had SO reduced the men that they had
lost their individuality and their manner
HON. IRA s. HAZELTINE,
of Iowa, was then called from the audience to
speak, and spoke briefly. He said he had always
advocated the equal rights Of all men. In his
adopted state he had been one of the earliest
fabOrers in the organization of oranges They
had common interest with the mechanic. The
representatives of the oranges were here to de-
mand interstate legislation that would enable
them to ship their grain without surrendering
all the profits to New York millionaires
Mr.. JOSEPH HARRIS (COLORED)
the financial secretary Of the Hod-carriers'
Union, was then introduced, and spoke briefly.
remarking that there was too much strife be-
tween workingmen. Hon. Thompson H. Murch.
of Maine, who was present in the early part of
the evening, being obliged to leave, the chair
man made excuses for him.
In reply to some remarks by Mr.. Harris the
chairman stated that the Carpenters union here
had never drawn a color line, and that no col
Ored carpenter had ever yet applied for admis-
sion to the union. After a vote of thanks to
the speakers was passed, the meeting was adj
jOurned.
Death Of Marshall Brown.
Mr.. Marshall Brown, one of our Oldest and
most respected citizens, died last evening about
o'clock at his residence corner of 18th and |
streets, in the 65th year of his age. Mr.. Brown
was a son Of the late Jesse Brown who for
many years was the proprietor of the "Indian
Queen Hotel, - on Pennsylvania avenue between
9th and 18th streets. When he died his sons.
hon onH A InI 30