Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-04-29
THE EARLY CLOSING MOVEMENT.
A Mass Meeting In East Washington
Last Evenins-Addresses by Labor
Leaders.

large audience assembled at Washington
hall, corner Pennsylvania avenue and Sd street
southeast, last evening at the call for an open
air meeting of the Clerks Assembly. X. of L.
Mr.. w. II. Daniel presided. The object Of the
meeting was to further inform the clerks in the
eastern section OF the city of the progress OF the
early closing movement and the objects which
II Is hoped to gain by the alliance with the
knights of Labor. Mr.. P. T. Bowen was the
first speaker. He made a long address upon the
subject of the rights Of the workingmen, and
their duty to assert their rights. He urged his
hearers TO band together now, as by organization
alone can they hope to succeed. 1t WASH proper
TO walt for the opinion OF the public, he said,
by deciding what their rights are the best way
10 secure them and then To assert them openly
and iorclbly, and public opinion will soon be
and was frequently interrupted by applause
Mr.. E. w. OYSTER,
president of the federation of trades union. was
then introduced, and stated to the clerks that
he had come to the meeting simply to assure
them of his sympathy in their efforts to secure
their rights. He believed the cause to be q lust
one. and one that, if properly handled, is bound
TO succeed. The clerks, he said did not have a
national organization and therefore they did
the proper thing in joining the Knights of
Labor. Laboring men have to contend with
the avarice OF q certain class OF EMPLOYERS
claims of the clerks, but there are others who
mold out for the purpose of gaining by the early
closing OF their rivals, who favor the working
men, These are the men who must be forced
be did not favor bOycotting in the least and
the organization OF knights OF Labor are
against 1t, except when necessary. The en-
ployer should not be bOycotted except as a last
resort.
Mr. OSBORN WARD,
OF the U. 3. labor bureau, spoke encouraginply
TO the clerks, telling them that the early clos
ing movement is bound TO become a popular
one, Notwithstanding the opinion to the con-
trary of the middle men, who are ayaricious
for their own benefit. He described the sue
ceSsful Efforts made to secure short hours and
provide seats for clerks in New York The
movement here will be popular one The
employers here are willing to agree to the de-
themselves. They must be propelled. SYM.
pathy for the clerks in their effort TO secure
their rights Is proclaimed openly from the pull
pit right here In WASHINGTON. He told his
hearers TO be encouraged and go ahead. They
should not fear being discharged for orpaniz-
ing. Their employers know they were or.
ganlzed, and the power and popularity of the
organization Is conceded.
Mr.. 7. FULTON CANT
was the last speaker, and he discussed the labor
problem at length. He spoke forcibly and at
times very eloQuently. Organization, he said.
Is only primary step. There is something
ahead. 1t Is the most serious matter that ever
came before the country. ave no longer strug.
gle TO escape our Glass;" he said, "but by orga-
nizatlon We say that the wage earning class
shall be the class OF America. It will be the aris-
tocracy of the country" He then took up the
early closing question, and urged that by con-
certed effort they were sure of success.