The Labor enquirer., 1886-05-01
The Plucky Seotehman of the
Social Democratic
Federation.
A ROusing Speech Delivered to
the Unemployed of
Glasgow.
A Resolution That Arraigns the True
Culprits for the Miserfes Of
Great Britain.

The Glasgow CScotland) Herald gives
lengthy report of meeting of the un-
employed held in that city, at which the
following resolution was introduced and
adopted. There were $4,000 present at
the meeting:
Re .olved, That this meeting of en-
pIoyed and unemployed workers of Glas-
Cow exp, ess its strong indignation at the
delay of the government in not starting
public works hear, hear at fair rates Of
wages, and the delay in dealing with the
great and increa ing distress Of the
wealth producing clas in every part of
Great Britain; and this meeting declares
that the criminal tasks at starvation
wages let to the unemployed by the local
authorities are an insult to them and
their families, (hear, hear J, and demands
that the government should lmmedl-
ately adopt the proposals of the Social
Democratic Federation for the Organiza'
ton of the unemployed labor, as we'll as
that they should at once bring forward
measure for the compulsory reduction
of the hours of labor in all shops, facto-
ries, workshops, and government estab-
lishments to eight hours or less per day,
hear, hear, that tbs meeting. though
convinced of the present need for in
stant government action on behalf OF
the working people who have been re-
duced to poverty and starvation owing
to the robbery oftheir labor by capital
SITS and landlords, fully recognizes that
no permanent good can result to the
working classes until the workers tlem-
selves are sufficiently or anized to effect
the overthrow of the present system OF
economical and social oppressi on, hear,
hear, by taking into their uwn hands as
an educated democracy the land, with
all the machinery of prOductlon and
distribution and exchange, to be used
for the benefit of the entire labor COM
munity. and that we call upon the work
ing classes throughout the country to or
ganize themselves that thew may the
more speedily bring about this desirable
end. (Cheers)
Pending the vots upon the resolution,
several stirring speeches we're made, but
The ENQUIRkR has not room for them.
Following, however, is the speech of
Mr.. Burns, word Tor word as it was re-
ported in the Herald, capitallstic and
middle-class journal:
Mr.. Burns, who was received with
loud applause, supported the resolution.
He said that as the son Of an Ayrshire
man he was only to pleased to come to
Glasgow To speak to the employed and
the unemployed artisans ss to the N cans
BY which they could make life worth
living in the near future to the thousands
who, through no fault Of their own,
were herded in our slums and lanes.
CApplause.) They knew that he was in
dicted for maIiciousY melting Her
Majesty's liege subjects to rebel. If by
asking his fellow-workmen of London to
demand the full value of what they Gre
ated by their own labor-if by asking
them that the robbers who took from
the workers their unpaid labor should
have to give up their rlghts-lf by doing
so he was preaching revolution, then he
should preach it till the grave claimed
him. lApplause.)
They knew as we'll as he could tell
them that the claims Of the unemployed
in London were not listened to until
property was damaged. Tnev knew as
we'll as he did that the middle and upper
classes were only susceptible to one form
of argument, and that was the argument
that was appealed to through their
breeches pocket. Hear, hear Now
what was the result of the London scareF
He would tell them afterwards, but IN
the first place he would tell them what
took place.
Some $4,000 employed and unem'
ployed men were called together oV
paid agitators in the interest of the tory
party. They were brought together to
advocate protection as a means Of allie
WAITING the prevail ng distress. The Rev
olutionary Social Democrats went TO tne
meeting and they stole the audience
laughter and applause And what
was the result Tnev were brought face
to face with men who for month afteI
month had trod the streets in search ol
vork-with men whom they had known
to attend their NEE ings : ear after veal
not the loafers and thieves, but the
honest unemployed workmeu of their
nation city. (Applause) After tn'
meeting broke up, they took the ero"o
to Hyde park, as means of getting tn u
to disperse. Along the road how were
they received? The members the ho'
eral members-of the Reform ciut
sneered at the poverty which thew then
selves had helped to create. (Applause
and cries of "shame."l When they
reached the Carlton club the sneerins
was mo. egeneral and more vehement
Could they wonder that those poverty
stricken men were unable to restrain
their wrath 2 Could they wonder tina
astene or a stick was thrown Th'