Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-11
CITY AND DISTRICT.
TRANSPARENCIES AND SPEECHES.
The Demonstration by the working.
mems Organizations Last Night.

Tne demonstration by the working.
mems Organizations Last Night.
ToRcH-LIaHr PROCESSION AND MASS
MEETING AT THE NATIONAL RIFLES
MISREPRESENTATION ON LABOR SUBJECTS.
The workingmen's organizations in the Dis
trfct joined last night in a torchight procession
ana subsequently held q mass meeting at the
Fational Rifles armory. The demonstration
whicn was made at this time on account of the
meeting here Of the Federation Of Labor unions
was very creditable and interesting. To some
extent, the wind intcrfered with the transpar-
ences.
The Procession.
Inc line was formed in front of the court
house, under the marshalship of Mr. John Fail
lon, OF the tailors' assembly, and about ia
O'Clock proceeded over the following route to
meeting was held: Down AZ, street to Pennsyl-
yan1a avenue, to 9th street, to 10Th street, to
pennsyiyania avenue, to 10th street, to street,
10 the nan. The line was headed by Pistorios
band and the Federation of Trades, numbering
about 100 delegates and bearing handsome
banner. Then came the timers assembly,
2O7O, with many transparencies, mostly in:
scribed with the names of bOycotted firms or
employers: then the carriage-makers' assembly
about 900 men in line, headed by Donchs band
and several transparencies; the bOokbinderss
union, with over 500 men; the painters Assem-
section OF the marine band. Carpenters assem-
bly,, with nearly 500 in line, headed by the Sd,
artillery re on band; Tailors, assembly No 2s7o,
with about 100 men. East Washington assem-
BY No. 4O26, beaded by field music, with over.
Georgetown, with 40 men in line.
THE TRANsPARENCrEs
The features of the parade were the inscrip-
lions upon the transparencies and generally
the notices met with the approval of the dense
crowds who filled the streets and avenues.
Among the notable inscriptions were the fol-
lowing: Equal pay and equal work for both
as a last resort only" "The boycott the work.
mans nhr we2poa We will use it when necessary
help us MOTE the n e5a tn nS who
f1anked by figures of a well dressed man and
seedy one) "EducatiOn, organization and
the ballot the only effective means to right the
wrongs OF labor" governmental cooperation
In railroads, telegraphs and Mines" "No con-
yict or contract labor on public works. "Eight
work for ALL Arbitration all the time" ..Fair
days wages, fair days work" "More legisla-
ton for labor" THE bondholders' dollareIO5
(greenback). The workingman's doIlar-SO
cents (silver.)" "Our friends wen support
organized labor is the bulwark OF the repub-
lie. 'Graduated income tax" "In union there
voice must be heard and needed "More leg
the hg%
facturers." ..Laboring men have rights as we'll
as corporatio9ns." The injury OF one is the
concern OF all. Equal laws for capital and
labor ARBITRATION in all cases; Strikes as
the last resort recommended" "Oniy legal
tender money" Government cooperation in
railroads, telegraphs and mines" "Convict
Labor hardens our children's hearts to crime
No more convict labor;
Many OF the transparencies borne by some of
names OF persons against whom bOycotts have
been declared.
The Mass Meeting.
The large hall OF the National Rifles armOry
was not capable of accommodating the throngs
that pressed for admission, and large number
were compelled to leave without being able to
get inside the hall. The audience was not only
large one, but representative of the intelli-
gence of the working classes of the city, The
addresses were logical and clear presentations
Ofthe topics which interest the working classes.
The speakers from abroad spoke OF the cOndi-
ton and the hopes and aims of the working
men whom they represented, and those from
the District reviewed the progress that had
been made and the victories which had been
acnieVed. ORGANIZATION, complete and thor
charge some times heard that labor OrganiZsi-
tions were communistic and revolutionary was
repelled with Indignation, and the assertion
that the wOrkingmen were American citizens,
loyal TO the flag, Obedient to the law, aud con-
servative OF the public peace, was made by all
Endorsement OF the audience. After selections
from the band, Mr.. Thomas $. Denham, from
nne To ore on ana ef
Oyster, as chairman, and j. +. Billlngsby, secre-
tary.
MR. OYSTERS ADDRESS.
Mr. Oyster, In taking the chair, made brief
speech, in which he said that the Federation of
Labor of this District, OF which he was presi-
dent, was composed of fifteen organized trades,
representing directly $4,000 WOrkingmen, and
indirectly twenty or twenty-five Thousand peo-
pie. Owing to the presence here Of the dele
gates attending the congress OF labor, now in
session in this city, there was represented in
this meeting some 300, 600 workingmen in ali
parts OF the country. aud they had the sympa-
thy and moral support OF several millions more
He said that labor organizations had been de-
nOunced from the bench in this city by a gen.
teman who supposed that he knew all about
them. ''The time Will come" he said from the
bench, "when the people Of this country will
employ their labor without the Intervention of
unions are agreat nuisance, and the sooner that
we get rid OF them the better" These remarks,
which Mr.. Oyster read from O newspaper slip,
were greeted by the audience with misses and
cries vi Judge Snell!' 1t Is true, continued the
speaker, that this judge afterwards amended or
ingmen OF the District over the heads OF the Chi
cago wOrkingmen, who had passed some reso-
lulions which seemed to strike his fancy; but
his reflections are remembered. A great many
people have the impression gained In just such
q way that the wOrkingmen are communists
and opposed to all law. On the contrary, it is
men that they should accomplish their pur-
poses by peaceful means and in accordance with
law. The genuine labor unionist does not be-
lieve that all property is robbery or any such
nonsense.
MR.. SAMUEL GoMPERs' ADDRESS.
The next speaker was Mr.. Samuel Gompers,
of New York city, representing the Interna-
tional Cigar Makers union, who said that all
charges that the labor unions were opposed to
law and composed OF viOators of law found an
eftectual answer In just such meetingas this,
where an assemblage of intelligent, thoughtful
men came together to consider questions of inn
portance to themselves. The speaker then re-
ierred to the eight-hour movement and said
that the condition of labor throughout the world
evinced the fact that the longer the hours OF la
Dor the less pay was received. When q man
worked fourteen and sixteen hours q day he
was incapable Of DEFENDING his rights. He was
too tired to read, and besides he had no time,
and consequently his mental faculties remain
undevelOped, and he became q mere machine.
Fewer hours OF labor, If wages were less, would
result in great advantage to the working classes.
In referring to the recent Chinese labor trou.
bles in the west, the speaker said that while not
commencing the methods adopted by the work.
ingmen out there against the Chinese, yet all
the blame shOuld not fall upon them. He
thought that the persons who violated the law
in bringing the Chinese into this country should
share In the penalties Of the recent outbreak.
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