The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-02-12
DEmAcoeUEs spRRADrrG NETS.
A Transparent Trick of Old Democratic
Wire Puiiers-How They Love tho
WDrkingmcn Just Before Election.

Wire PuiIers-How They Love she
WSrkingmcn Just Before Election.
meeting of so-called independents, to
set on foot citizens movement In the coming
municipal election, was held at 2574 Middle
street last evening. About fifteen were in at
tendance at 7.30, but more came In as the min
utes passed by. At 815, when the chairman
raped for trder, perhaps forty people were
present. Among those who were there We no.
tced Hon. M. P. Frank, Hon. Geo. Walker,
G. f. SWEET, JOSIAH G. Ward, Sylvanus Har-
mon, Philip Downing, William Hayes. Rob-
ert Jewett, ex-Alderman Hassett, Charles Fl
Stanwood. A. d, Bean. David Dr,nkwater,
Elliott King aud William A. Chase. Mr.. Jo-
siah Ward called the meeting to order and
Hon. M. P. Frank was chosen chairman, ard
Mr.. Drinkwater secretary. The latter gentle
man declining, Mr. Robert Jewett was after
wards chosen. On assuming the chair Mr.
Frank said he had come in Intending to be only
spectator. but was ready to do anything in
his power TO advance the interests OF the city.
The first speaker to touch upon the object of
tie meeting was Mr.. Sylyanus Harmon. He
said the meeting was held In the interests of
mechanics and laboriDg men; for the citizens
who should say without regard to rings who
should rule. 1t rested with the mechanics to
say who should be the officers. 1t was their
duty to rise and be at the polls, and beat the
Casco Bank and the ether monopolies in the
city. For twenty years the corporations had
beaten the poor men OF the city, and all that
time the rich had been growing richer, and the
poor poorer. 1t is the business OF the laboriDg
man to crush the leaders who are responsible
for such q state of things.
Ex-Msyor Walker made few remarks after
Mr.. Harmon finished. He said he was present
to SEQ what was &c ing On, and so join in any
movement which would advance thu Interests
OF the city and give us citizens rule irrespec.
tive of party. The trouble was that too few
voted; that one man controlled many; the
many were subject to the dictation, threats or
influence of the ons; all should be independ-
eat. and especially the mechanics and laboring
classes, as they were the ones imposed upon By
ring rule. The power of the working man
should be felt during the campaign and at the
polls: they should not be imposed upon as in
times past, bat assert their rights when asser-
tion of them would avail. The means used to
carry party measures are wrong, radically
wrong; they are employed TO carry on ring,
not party. The national banks, the railroad
corporations, the large corporations of every
kiud are allied against the people. The pres-
dents OF the national banks are mostly Of one
p'rty. Just before an election they 60 to
those needing fnancial assistance and tell
them their paper will not be rene wed unless
the party OF the bank prevails. So our govern
ment witnesses the constant rule of the few,
aud it Is almost impossible to change the cur
IA
d. zen men carry the President of the United
States in their breeches pocket" The nations
al treasury initiates and contracts the currency
to SUIT its own ends. We must begin to change
this; set back fire aud move on. Ii this was
the purpose of the meeting he was ia sympathy
with it,
Mr.. Frank then made brief speech He
said that when we see corporations reducing
the pay OF laborers, and yet retaining the sala-
res OF The high officers, grinding their profits
out OF the laboring class, no felt it in his sonl
10 Call upon the men who can change this
thing aud set this matter to rights. II the la
Dsrer Will but put in serious aud effective
work, these ring men will pause aud listen
! and ask what is wanted. He believed in the
| rights of the mechanics OF Portland, that their
voice should be potent one, that monopoly
should De overthrown everywhere. Mr.. Syl-
vsnns Harmon again spoke. He said he voted
Tor Deering last year and for that vote they
would hang him, hang him because he aided
| in electiDg man who works for the interest
| OF the CITY. Mr.. G. j. Chapman says himself,
Il will furnish the money to run this .lec-
tioD, Mr., j. w. Deering says, III they want
me let them elect me-" Here ia the differ
ence in the two men: Mr.. DeeriDg had done
what was right, had reduced the taxation, but
the ring does not want him because he was
not its tool. At Blddeford they could cut
down the wages OF operatives and yet pay the
stockholders in the mills from 10 to Is per
cent. on their Investment.
A ger tleman III the rear OF the room asked
what the mayor of Portland had TO do with the
Bddeford mills.
the question was evidently troublesome
one, and the answer that ''it was in principle
the same," seemed ambiguous enough to sat
! isfy the audience. s
Elliot King made short speech, urging the
mechanics 10 combine against the bosses and
rDg-ruiers, aud show the power Of the large
majority OF the sovereign voters of the city.
Mr.. David Drlnkwster said thata few years
| ago small number of men used to assemble
what do You propose Is do? He s told I .hem
We are going to upset the Republican party ia
| this state. They fought all the bank presi-
dents aud directors, aud finally licked Jim
Blaine out Of the state and he could never be
President. He met Mr., Reed short time
since and corDered him IN discussion and the
Congressman finally admitted that he needed
to give more attention TO the matter A few
could do q great oeai. a. .a ss ~
| Mr.. William A. Chase spoke next and said
IN bis opinion one party was as bad as the 9TH
er, but he had one fault to find with mechan-
les; they would sell their votes for q dollar or a
glass OF beer A man who would sail his vote
would sell his country. A vote for ricn man
Was vote for poor house. q
Mr.. Ruby followed in q speech identifying
himself with the laboring man aud the op-
| pressed. He hated monopoly aud ring rule
| everywhere, and believed the working-man
| should have voice in the government
| Ex-Aderman Hassett was called upon and
| said he disagreed with much he had heard Ha
| believed ia working inside the party and net
| IN lots of talk which resulted In voting for men
| hostile to The interest OF the laborer
Mr.. U. X SWEET was the last speaker of the
| evening. He said he had moi been able to dis
Cover yet the aDi,nus of the meeting or the
| purpose for which it had been called. II it was
| To be run as a side-show for j. W. Deering on
the one hand, Or for any Republican candidate
on the other, he was not ready to assist; il IL
was an independent movement he stoods ready
to aid. SO far as he understood what had been
said, the sentiments advanced this evening
were embraced la the principles the Democrat
&c party had promulgated for the last twenty
years. He had as soon vote Cor Chapman, who
was whole Republican as for Deering who
was half one. This talk would not suit the
majority OF those present, but he visited his
position to be understood.
Mr.. Robert Je v EFT spoke briefly and then
the following motion was made by MIR. Har.
mon and seconded. Voted: to adjourn from
night t. night until Saturday night; then to
organize a society OF laboring men and me-
chanics to advocate the greatest good OF the
greatest number. The motion was adopted and