The Labor enquirer., 1886-12-11
DEMANDING AN EIGHT HOUR DAY.
One Hundred Thousand London Work
ers Manifest in Trafalgar
Square.

was in attendance. All along the route
and in the square itself the blue-coated
gentry were visible in numbers. 1
should judge, however. that there were
many less present in the square than on
the day of the prohibited meeting,
although it was pretty evident that there
we're large numbers in reserve, close by.
1t was announced in the capitalistic
press during the week that artillery
would be in readiness, but at the last
moment this was officially contradicted.
Nevertheless large numbers of soldiers
were held in readiness at the adjoining
barracks, and it was easy to see from
the platform on which 1 was statloned,
that the National. gallery opposite was
full of the military.
We had fivn platforms, and these were
not wooden structures but solid stone.
Two of them were on the balustrade in
front of the National gallery, and three
of them were on three sides of the
pedestal of Nelson's column. So itseems
that there is some use even IN a monu-
ment erected to commemor interna-
tional enmitv. This square which has
been the scene of 80 many meetings
probably never held greater. 1t has
been estimated that this square when
comfortably filed will bold 100 900 peo-
pie. If 80 it certainly held that number
on Sunday, for it was filled to overflow
ing. There we're eight of US appointed
as speakers to each platform, so that in
all about forty Socialists addressed the
meeting. fhe enthusiasm was immense,
the resolution was carried amidst great
applause, and three hearty cheers for
the Social Revolution rang through the
square before the regiments of Social
Democrats marched away.
The following is the resolution
THAT this meeting, in view Of the
deepening distress in London evidenced
by the increase of METROPOLITAN pauper-
ism and the growing numbers of the un-
employe |, calls on the government to
relax lhe severity of the outdoor relief
test for able bodied men proved to be
unable to get work t. urge the local
bodies to start useful relief works at rea-
sonable rates Of wages; to direct the
metropolitan board of works to com
mence the building of ofartisan's dwellings
on vacant cities in London, especially on
those of prisons now abandoned; to re.
duce the hours of work in all govern
ment employments to eight a day; to
give no contracts whatever to firms who
pay less than trade union rates of wages
or work their men more than eight
hours day to i troduce a bill COM
pulsoriiv shortening the hours of labor
of all employees of railway, tram way, and
omnibus companies to eight a day ; to
establish relations with the governments
on the continent with a view to inter-
national labor legislation for establish
ing reduced working day in all trades
and occupations"
The VIII lie vast gathering was as Or
derly and loyal to the instructions of
those who had the management of the
arrangements as though they were
highly trained and disciplined oldlers,
and with the exception of two or three
large stone pillars being overthrown in
consequence Of the crush near one of
the platforms, not the slightest damage
was done. When the deputation sent
US word that the prime minister, Robert
Cecil. Marquis of Salisbury. K. g., had
gone to his country seat to spend the
day, the indignation of the people was
very great and resolution denouncing
bis action in thus refusing to see the
deputation appointed to lay before him
the wishes OF the people was carried
with great enthusiasm. Of course, as
everyone knew, he had been notified of
the meeting and deputatlon DAYS before
hand 30 that nothing could excuse his
cowardly behavior. He left word, how
ever, that he would carefully consider"
our proposals.
His tory lordship recently expressed
his opinion that our proposals were not
practical. We intend to show him that
they are highly practical before we have
done with him. He seems to think that
it is more practical that the workers !
should starve than that the government
of which he is chief should find employ
ment for them, but we shall convince !
hime of his error before long. To sly
the least, we are making ourselves q
living terror" to the capitalist class
here. They shrek Tor the suppression
of our meetings, and among our bitterest
opponents are the so-called radical Jour-
mails. Instead of urging the right of free
speech this miserable fraud of a party,
which processes to be working class
and extremist party, advocates through
its organs that meetings In Trafalgar