The Evening critic., 1882-04-27
THE WoRKINGMEN.
Their Mass-Meetipg last Night-An
Enthusiastic Assembly Mt Abner's
Hall Eloquent Speeches. sound
Arguments and Appropriate Reso.

Hall Eloquent Speeches. sound
Arguments and Appropriate Reso.
Iutions.
In spite Of the terrible weather last night
and tho pouring rain tho workingmen, un.
daunted by the storm, assembled In large
numbers at the mass-meetlng held at Abner's
Hall and filled that auditorium to tho extent
of its capacity.
Webors band was In attendance and IRON
the gallery furnished music that added greatly
to the attractions Of tho programme.
Mr.. q. Edmonston, OF tho Carpenters Union
and president Of the Federation of Labor,
called the meeting TO order and read tho fol-
lowing
List of Officers:
Chairman, Thomas Galloway; secretaries,
Mcssre. Schneider and Clarldgc; vice presl-
dents, John It. Suter, of the Carpenters Union;
John j. Joyce, OF tho Brlckayers' Union;
William pullen, Of the Plasterers' Union; N. j.
Plass, Of tho Plumbers Union; Mr.. Denham,
OF the Painters Union; George strobel, of the
Timers Union II. Campbell, OF the Granite
Cutters Union; John Culverwell of the Paper
hangers Union; William II. Sweeney, of the
Typographical Union; William Welsh, of the
PAYERS Union; Alexander Lawson, of the
Turner's and Scroll Sawyers' Union; and John
N. Woodneld, of the Galvanized Iron Cornlce
Workers Union, who were unanimously
Mr. Edmonston then introduced
MIR. Thomas Galloway.
Mr.. Galloway delivered brief and elonuent
address, settling forth the purpose OF the meet.
ing and the necessities of tho workingmen
He denounced the action OF the President in
vetoing the Chinese bill, and forcibly reviewed
the wants Of the worklngmen and tholt rome
dies. He introduced the following resolutions,
which were unanimously adopted:
Resolutions.
Whereas the working classes Of our country
having become discouraged at tho continued
y. npfarmtnaI 70
unite, and with a fixed unity of purpose use
all lawful means to protect the wealth pro-
ducers from the selfish greed of the wealth
grabbers whose unparalleled success has
generated thirst for power that Will eventu-
ally work out the same results In this as In
other countries, to wit: The complete enslave-
ment OF the masses to n privileged few that re.
spect no law, human or divine, that abridges
their Righteousness; therefore
BE N 5esoirod, First-That we assert that
mans first duty Is to his Creator; his second
duty Is to his family and kindred-to protect
them from Injustice and to add to their hap
piness by every proper means at his COM
mand.
second-we acknowledge common brother
hood OF labor from Maine to Texas and from
the Atlantic to the Pacific, and will defend
those OF our own household against the bar
barian hordes that seek to build up the wealth
or Asia at the expense of civilized America
Thlrd-Ihe enforcement OF the eight-hour
law Is matter of interest to all workingmen
In or out OF Government employment, and Is
one of the duties of the Chief Executive laid
down In the Constitution he has sworn to pro-
tect and defend.
Fourth-That the Indifference of the work.
ing classes TO the work of reform amounts to
criminal negligence in view OF the steady en-
croachment OF centralized capital, that aims
TO make the rich richer and the poor poorer.
Fifth-We call on all who claim the dignity
OF manhood to organize to uphold the rights of
man, 10 make honest industry the road to in.
dependence, and poverty the reward of idle.
ness.
Mr.. p. j. Mcclure
was introduced, and said that he desired to
attract tho attention OF the workingmen to
their own needs and wants and the means of
satisfying them. Tho great labor movement,
ne said, was not to be helped by bloodshed,
but II was by reasoning. Labor, he said, pro,
duced all capital, and therefore
The Capital Belonged TO the Labor.
ers,
and they should have 1t, and 1t was the duty
OF all workingmen to see that they got It, The
movement now In its infancy and destined
TO revolutionize the age, did not exclude any
one who earned his bread by the sweat of his
brow. 1t does not exclude either the mental
or physical workers, but II is intended to pre-.
vent the existence OF n class Of people who live
IN luxury ana are supported by the poorer and
dnanr dns1rio1s classes The speaker spoke elo
labor and convictlabor. OF chlld-labor he
said that 1t was snatching the children In
nearly every State from the schoolhouse and
forcing them into the factory or the mine,
running their morals, their health and their
intellectual development
Of the Convict System.
he said that it was one of the greatest evils
now existing, and as at present organized was
great curse to the workingmen, as the work
OF the convict could always be offered for a
ii much lower price than the legitimate work OF
market was always disastrous
The speaker then reviewed the many argu.
ments In favor OF reducing the number of
hours OF labor, and the many evils of the ten
and twelve hour systems Whenever work
1ngmen appeal to the public for justice they
are told that they are a rabble-that they aro
NOT lit TO rule. If this he I'M
would seem that, in the name of Justice, they
should be given more leisure time to improve
themselves. Whom workingmen apply for
shorter Hours of Labor and Longer
Hours of Rest
they are told that If they had the
time they would only waste 1t in
saloons and rum-mills. This assertion can
scarcely be sustained, when by Investigation
we end that in the places where the eight-hour
law has been enforced the amount OF drunken.
ness has decreased instead of increased. The
way TO reduce intemperance among the work
Ing classes was to reduce tho physical strains
or oyerwork put upon them, and which COM
PEELED them to seek the aid of stimulants. For
fourteen years the Iron Moulders' Union have
been waiting at the doors OF Congress, and
begged II to give. them the privileges which
were granted to numerous monopolies, and
Turned Deaf Ear TO Their En-
treaties.
"We are here tonight, said the orator,
ITO discuss questions which are not discussed
IN congress-, ana never VIII be until we have
less lawyers and bankers and more laboring
men In the two Houses. Discomfort is ono OF
Inc greatest motor powers, and Is the leader
OF progress. Discomfort led 10 the American
Revolution OF 1776. Discomfort led to every
great movement, and the workingmen, IL dis
contented with their situations, could work
their own liberation. Content and satIsfac-
tion led to slavery, and while the workmen
continue contented and Inactive, their mental
positions Will not be improved.
In treating of the efforts OF the Irish poo.
pie TO secure freedom, the speaker said that
the practice there known as Doycotting hal
given this country an important example that
was becoming power In this country; that
II had taught the people hore TO know that
The Way TO Overthrow Their Enc.
mics and Tyrants
was to let them severely alone; TO refuse to
purchase tho newspaper which refused 20 pay
living wages 10 Its compositors; to refuse 10
patronize tho tailor who dealt iu conylct-made
clothing. The work OF the various trades
unions was carefully reviewed. and the obll.
cations OF lab0ring mon TO Join the unions
and the benefits which they receive from the
unions were reviewed.
In speaking OF the evils OF the system of
low wages and long hours, Mr.. Galloway said
that the Impetus which these abuses were Civ
Ing to crime and destitution could not be OK
aggerated Low wages kept the young men In
poverty and made matrimOny impossible, and
In many cases turned them 10 criminal prac-
had