The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-26
The Red Flag Flaunted on All Sides, and the
Stars and Stripes Put Out of Sight
The Blood and Thunder Orators.
An Army of qramps and Idlers Drawn
to st. Louis by the Strike Troubles.
Sensational Story Concerning an Alleged
Combinationof of Corporations and Moneyed
Men-Threats of Arson in New York.
Demonstration by the Communistic Element
of Chicago Work-People.


Demonstration by the Communicate Element
of Chicago Work-People.
CHICAGO. April 25 Throughout the larges
portion of the city, to-day, all reminders that
this was Easter Sunday were permitted to
attract much less attention than the evidences
that it was day of display for the International
Workingmen's Association. Streaming crimson
banners and hurrying groups. of swarthy faced
foreigners were far more conspicuous in the
eastern half of the city than any tokens of the
resurrection or church-going The day had
been chosen for an eight-hour demonstration,
under the auspices Of the Central Labor Union.
representing the communistic element among
the laboring people of the city. There was
great number of men in line-probably 5000 to
4,000-several bands of music red banners BY
the score, and very few United States Gags
The organizations began gathering on
Randolph street. in the old Hay Mar
ket, before 10 A. NJ, and the marching
soon began. The line of march was apparently
chosen to cross and recross as many street-caI
lines as possible At many places cars stood in
lines over half mile in length. The objective
point was the lake front, where mass meetin G
of all participants was to be held. The long
route of the procession was thronged by thou
sands Of people, but notably lacking any SEM
blance of enthusiasm. Those in the ranks, how
ever cheered and shouted for Eight hours"
and Down with the capitalists" There we're
hardly dozen banners in English the entire
length of the procession. Two or three contained
instructions to boycott certain individuals or
their manufactures, and one was as fol-
lows: Private capital represents stolen
labor" Another had the words Eight
hours a days work" One banner
bore in German the words, "Druk water like
cattle, says Master Workman Powderly."
On the way down Madison street the driver Of
wagon attempted to drive through the pro-
cession. His wagon was quickly overturned
and left upside down in the gutter
When the procession reached the lake front
the various organizations, augmented by throngs
of curious people, in all perhaps 900, gathered
around two stands and listened to speeches by
A. r. Parsons, Michael Schwab and Mr.. Hara-
sach from one stand. Parsons spoke in English,
Schwab in German, and Harasach in Bohemian.
On the other platform Sam Fielding, August
tude. Spies spoke in German and the others in
EnRllSu. LIE speeCueS WeFo All ol tut UioOu
and thunder order. and declared in favor OF
the abolition of private capital and the
unifcation of all wealth. Parsons declared, If
starvation was forced upon the masses, they
would raise the banner of liberty and equality
and sweep away all their oppressors. Henry
said that heretofore all strikes had been wrong
The men had struck to walk out. They must
change front and strike 10 walk in, and throw
the owners and managers out 1t was better to
throw out the owner of factory than to throw
ont 200 or 800 workmen
While the speaking was in progress, all the
United States flags about the stand which
Parsons stood were furled and tucked out Of
sight while the red flag was faunted on all sides.
Some one yelled out Where's the stars and
stripes9" as Parsons spoke of raising the banner
of liberty" and pointed to the red flag Of the
Central Labor Union. No answer was vouch-
safed, but II couple of minutes the stars and
stripes were unfurled from the platform. When
the speaking had been concluded at each piat,<
FORM three cheers were given for the eight-hout
movement, and the crowd quickly melted awas-