Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-08-26
In COUNCIL.
A Big Meeting OF the Trades Unions on
the Bluff Last Night-SeTeraI
Speeches Delivered.
A Vigorous Kick Against the Capitalists
The WOrkingmen Resolve TO
Stick Together.

| thusisstic one. Long before the time for
/ speaking there wac large gathering around
l the platform. Shortly after s o'clock the
| various members of the United Trades Union
| began to arrive with torches. There were
| fully 1000 of them. They formed at Second
| aud Madison and marched very decorously
to the place OF meeting, headed by Mr.. Her
man Waite, Mr.. Hook, Mr.. Richard Hatha-
| way and others. Several of these gentle
men walked ride by side with colored
| men, TO show that the color line
was nowhere drawn. Between 5000 and
| 1000 men must have been in the crowd
on the bluff, aud it was noticed that the
utmost good order and seriousness prevailed.
Every speaker was listened 10 aItentively
and respectfully. Everybody was surprised
| at the numbers and enthusiasm of the work
ingmen. The movement is certainly an
extensive one, and should it GO into politics
Ii will be power. The speakers last night
differed in their utterances somewhat on the
Question OF participating IN politics, one
advising against allowing politicians TO share
IN their counsels and distort them from a
trades union into political factor; while
smother frankly advocated choosing their
men for office with j view TO securing certain
legislation desired. The meeting was called
more to cement the union of the various
trades than for any other purpose.
MR.. HERMAN WAITE,
tine president, arose and spoke substantially
FELLOW LABoRINaMEN-I am glad from
the bottom OF my heart that there are so
many here tonight, showing that your hearts
are in the cause. The speaker alluded to
card published in the Avalanche, signed
Rambler" which he treated very severely
Rambler" says that "thou shalt work ak
days and the seventh thou shalt rest" Did
he a ,srlxf - Il
shonid work 20 a. 70 take the bread out OF
another's MOUTH Rambler" accuses our
champion, Mr.. Hook, of wanting 10 boycott
de don't know what the word means. We
don't intend 10 work up any disorderly
feeling. We are organizers and not disor-
ganizers. 1t ia said this is a movement
against the merchants. Let me ask you,
have not the merch ants their unions? l. not
bank union? Is not your Cotton Ex-
change union? Is not the Stock Associa-
lion gambling affair? Scripture cannot be
quoted against US. We are awakening such
men as Henry A. Montgomery, J. I. Farga-
son and others TO realization of our
strength. Now We have dropped the color
line. We welcome white and black, and
am again willing to walk through the streets
hand in hand with a colored man. The
colored mans hand and then drop
it when he has gotten his vote.
II is no use to go at this matter bull-hesded.
You let one of the compress associations
withdraw from the unions and you will see
how quickly we will crush them out Yes
tsrdsy afternoon We sent a man out with
copies of the Memphis Mercury, and by
chance be dropped into the Milburn Iron
works. He was told to get out. They wanted
to arrest him. He asked them what for?
He hadn't been disorderly or stolen any
thing, he merely wanted to see some of the
men. But he was put out. There are sew
eral men at the ironworks who want to Join
a union, but are afraid to. Money keeps
them back.
MR.. o. W. VAUGHAN,
the bricklayer, was the next to speak. He
said he added his mite little as it was TO
the rest. Trades unions were established
10 any years ago in Eugland to afford relief
and aid to the workingmen, and to relieve
fhem from the tyranny OF their employers
He sketched some OF the prominent strikes
carried out successfully in England. He said |
the American trades unions were first copied |
after the English, but the trades unions |
now all classes of workingmen, |
of color or condition. He |
stated the. various purposes of the
nnion Of laborers. The principle aim was
to protect the laborer from being robbed by |
his employer. He said the unions proposed |
10 secure such legislation as would prevent |
children from working in factories. Some
people might say it was class legislation, but |
il was legislation 10 favor of a class that had |
never been favored in this way. All ag-
sressions of capital, all monopolies were
legal and regular, but morally they were
wrong. He asked all the men to rally to
sustain this view, and glorious victory
would await them.
MR.. MOONEY
was the next speaker. He said: l did not
come here to make a speech, but when
see such crowd as this 1 feel that l
ought TO say something. What you are
ioing here tonight they are doing all over
he country from Maine to Georgia. A
great many people think that unionism is
communism, but it is not. The object of
he trades unions is self protection. We are
rot organized to intimidste our employers,
tut TO see that the workingmen get enough
wages TO keep them from starvatioa. We
intend to have our representatives, in spite
# athousand Montgomerys.
BREAK DowN.
In the midst of his speech the platform
ave way, precipitating a great many to the
round. Some loose wood caught fire and
considerable confusion resulted for awhile.
Quiet was partially restored and the speak
ng resumed. The APPEAL reporter was COM
elled to desist from taking further notes,
aving no place to write. Speeches were
lade by Mr. Hook, Mr.. Wheless aud others.
he meeting adjourned in good order.