The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-04-14
An Eight-Hour Demonstration.

CHICAGO, April 1O.-Fully 5000 rTorkinennen
crowded into the great Armory of the Sixth Cav
airy on the Lake Front tonight, and probably
1000 more gathered in front of the building. The
occasion had been advertised as an eigbt-hour
demonstration under the auspices OF the TFsdes
Assembly. A large proportion of the assemblsge
came in organized bodies preceded by fife and
drum, and carrying huge transparencies. Few of
the men wore any regalia, and apparently no at
tempt al display was made except in point OF
mum bers. Neither was there anything resemb-
ing in all directions and first come first served was
the rule as TO seats. Nevertheless excellent order
was maintained; hats were promptly removed at
the first tap OF the Chalrman'S gavel, and the 200
or 800 OF the mems wives and sweetbearts who
occupied tiers OF seats in place OF honor were
shown marked consideration by the abandon
ment of pipes and cigars in their vicinity.
curious feature of the meeting was the noticeable
absence OF youths and aged men as weil. The
audience was composed almost wholly OF men be
tween twenty-five and forty, comfortably clad,
and few if any showing sign OF liquor. There
were not to exceed dozen police to he seen in or
about the hall. Interest centered in the trans
prreneies, and as union after union at irregular
interval marched into the hall and the crowd
were lost in rounds OF cheers that were renewed
again ard again. Eight Hours and no DrOnes,"
Work Eight Hours Only and Boom the Labor
Market" and Oppose Child Labor" were fair
samples.
Among the trades represented the most numer-
Gus were the carpenters plasterers, clothing cut
tiers and cigar makers, but long list OF Others
were not far behind in point of numbers
George A. Schilling acted as chairman. Ranged
about him on the platform were the leaders of
the local unions and men prominent in the labor
movement Among the latter sat Judge kiehsrd sITS
| Ivan also occupied seat on the platform. The
addresses OF the evening were delivered by
| eight-hour movement; w. II. Saltal and L. y.
Sawyer, who spoke on advantages OF the oFganiLa-
tions.
Just as the overflow meeting was fully under
way, burly individual in long coat, ana wear
| ing shabby slOuch hat, mounted e pile OF bum
crowd and began socialistic harsngne. About
the same time there emerged from the hall I'D
held, file OF men bearing a red flag having op il
an inscription in German. This banner bad been
borne in the hall while the meeting was in prog
not distinguished from the half dozen other flags,
all of which were the regulation stars and stripes.
close to the socialist orator who proved TO be an
| Anarchist named Sam Fielding. At his feet sat
| his negro wife. On the outskirts OF the gathering
| of Fielding's supporters were an equal number OF
| curiosity seekers, making his audience round
/ l,O00. The frstnamed class OF listeners were
Fieidings sentiments and the fsct that their cries
| and conversation were not in English Inquiries
directed TO the two men who bore the red fag de-
veloped the fact that neither OF them could speak
the language in which Fielding was addressing
Hewas succeeded by A. r. Parsons, who assailed
the Knights of Labor after which his bearers
formed in line and marched TO the hall of the In
I
the hall and on the outside, were prolonged much
later. But few references were made by the
speakers to the existing railway strikes, and their
| principal point was that strikes should be made
| practically impossible.
Though the strikers were practically left IN
touched by the speaker, expression of the feel
ing of the multitude was given in the following
/ which was adopted by acclamation amid the Wild
| est enthusiasm:
Resolved, That this mass meeting OF citizens OF
| Chicago denounces the perfdy OF Jay Could in
breaking his agreement with the knights of La
Dor TO settle the causes Of the present
strike in the southwest by arbitration.
BY his letter of Sunday. March D last. 10 +. V.
| Powderly, General Master Workman of the
Knights of La Dor, Gould stated in substance that
the grievances of the men now on strike on the
| Southwestern Railroad system would De sub
mitted TO arbitration. This letter written 20
| Powderly after two interviews on that
| Sunday at Gould's house, and as part OF
| the agreement between Gould and the knights
of Labor. In accordance with the same agree
ment General Ma Ster Workman POwderly tele-
graphed the men on a strike to return 10 work et
! once. Gould the next day, by falsehood and
double-dealing, violsted this agreement, and he
| did this plainly for the purpose of demOrRlzing
! clare that the conduct OF could
| in this matter is base in the extreme
and we call upon the public everywhere 20 famil-
iarize.themSelves with the facts in the and
judge who is to blame for the continuance OF the
strike, Gould or the Knights of Labor.
Some Of the city papers estimate the gathering
numbered between 600 and 20000 men. II was
probably the largest labor demonstration ever yet
held in this city.