The Labor enquirer., 1885-12-05
The sund.y-oio.ins Meeting.

tracted larger gathering in this city
than that which assembled at the opera
house on last Sunday evening. an an
nouncement having been made that the
pastors, in conjunction with the Clerks
assembly, desired to bring the Sunday
closing movement before the public.
Long before the hour announced for the
meeting crowds of people filled the yes
tibule and approaches, but owing to
some tardiness in opening the doors a
number of people went away. In fifteen
minutes after the doors had been thrown
open every seat in the house was filled
and it was impossible to even obtain
standing room.
General A. J. Sampson had been
chosen as chairman of the evening, and
in some very neat and pertinent remarks
explained the objects of the meeting and
the ends sought to be obtained. He
then announced as the first speaker of
the evening the Hon. 1 E. Barnum.
Mr.. Barnum commenced his address
by stating that he understood that this
movement was in the interests of hu-
manity, and any such movement would
always have his sympathy and support.
The speaker then stated that this day
of rest which was demanded was not
only in obedience to the laws of God but
of nature. The man VINO rests from his
labors one day in the week comes back
with renewed strength to his employer.
. Mr.. Sampson then introduced the first
officer in the Clerks assembly, Mr.. D.
NJ. Leahy.
After the applause had subsidized Mr..
Leahy, prefaced his remarks bv stating
that this was the largest audience which
he had ever the privilege of addressing,
and craved indulgence for any short
coming resulting from natural timidity.
In good sound logic and forcible reason
ing the speaker presented the grievances
of the clerks of this city, and combat
ted the argument which has often been
raised, that the clerks work no harder
or longers hours than their employers.
1t is optional with the employers
whether they remain in their stores. it
is imperative with the clerks that they
remain a stipulated number of hours
These hours are from ocloc OK in the
morning until 9 O'Clock at night, with
tile variation of working till II o'clock
on Saturday nights.
Mr.. Leahy continued his remarks
Ladies and gentlemen in the majority
o. the stores of this city clerk is al
lowed but forty minutes for his supper !;
should he live at any distance from the
point at which he is employed it is OBJ
vlous that his time and attention to his
family must necessarily be limited
Should he be so fortunate as to possess
children, he cannot spare the time to
lavish on them those endearments
which the laws of nature demand; he
must repeI them with an unsatisfactory
caress which eventually leads to an es-
arrangement from his family, and his
wife becomes to him but as the person
who cooks his meals and takes care OF
bis children" The speaker closed with
sn appeal to the audience to assist the
clerks of this city in obtaining one days
rest in seven by refraining from making
any purchases on day which was gen.
erallv accepted as being the proper day
for rest,
The ouartette favored the audience
with the song God is Spirit" and on
its conclusion the Rev. Bayard Craig was
introduced.
His address, with the emphasized
,'Mr. President, Men and Women" was
received with storms of applause, which
was repeated on making the following
-emark: "This country is capable of
sustaining population of 6O0,OOO,OOO and
there must be something radically wrong
when the working part Of one-tenth
that population, or 100000 people, find
such hard time in getting along. A
man is something more than an auto
matte shovel; he is an animal capable
of doing so much work" The speaker
during his discourse stated in very plain
terms, supported by arguments, the
present condition of the workingman
and ended with this plea "lt only
needs an agreement in law to right the
abuse"
A collection was taken up to defray
the expenses of the meeting, which was
responded to very literally; the receipts
being iutrusted to the NJ. ". of the
Clerks assembly.
After a solo by Mrs. Fairweather, the
Hon. T. Nj. Patterson was introduced
and produced some strong arguments IN
favor of closing the stores and Other
places of business on Sunday, and endec
by reading the following resolutions;
Whereas, 1t has been proved by Ions
experience that every man needs for MI
highest physical, INTEL ectusl and mora
DEVELOPMENT a rest from the genera
routine Of life; and as in our:civili zatlo1
one day in seven has become established
for such purpose, and
Whereas, The intense activity de
mapded by the development Of this new
country makes such rest the more i'm