Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-22
THE LABOR QUESTION.
Meeting Of Washington workinsmen
Last Night.

vell-attended public meeting of the work
fngmen OF Washington took place last night at
Grand Army hall, under the auspices of ID. A.
%, h OF L. j. ". Considine, the president of
the Federation Of Labor, was chairman, and
after the election of r. L. OBrien, secretary,
he introduced Hon L. F. Mckinney. of New
Hampshire, who spoke at some length on the
labor question. He said that he was not one
OF That class arrsigned against capital, neither
was he one Of that class who was arraigned
against labor; he held that the creator should
never be greater than the created. What the
laboring men needed, he said, is unity of
action, education, and most of all. patience
The laboring men, he said, were too anxious to
get what they want mediately, and il they
don't get IL they won't work. Now this. he said
Is all wrong. BE said that some time ago a
labor organization sprung up in his state and
when election time came around the members
worked together and elected a majority of
labor men to the legislature. The consequence
was that they got what they wanted. but the
victory was too great for them, and after a
little while the organization disbanded and the
politicians snubbed them. Mr. Mckinney
Interspersed his remarks with numerous
anecdotes.
He was followed by Mr.. John O'Keffe of
Rhode Island, who made a rafting speech on
the labor question. He spoke of the vast in
crease IN the wealth of this country but
couldn't account for its distribution and iIlus-
rated his remarks by stating that some time
ago a rich man owned
VERY LEAN CAT,
and was often chided by his neiQhbors for
not feeding it, One day after TRADE from
some Of his friends he ordered his son to buy
pound of meat and give il all to the cat. At
evening he returned. and seeing his cat still
lean. he angrily inquired why his directions
had not been carried out. His son answered
that his orders had been carried out to the
letter. The old man then walked over seized
the cat. and placed it on the scales 1t weighed
just pound. He looked at the cat weighed
1t again. and inquired where the weight of the
cat came in. This. he said. was a parallel case
The country had increased in wealth but the
people hadn't. His remarks were received with
applause.
Mr.. Paul Beaumont spoke in a pleasing way
and was often interrupted with applause. He
went through the whole question and dealt
with 1t very intelligently. He touched upon
the telegraph system. and spoke of what great
benett IL would be for the government to take
control of it. He said that the policy of a gov
eminent of the people, for the people. and by
the people was a thousand years away That
the doctrines taught by Jesus of Nazareth were
not what were practiced to-day. why" he
continued. IF Jesus would come to Washing
ton he couldn't find a better place to ssourge
the money changers than in the United States
Senate"
Mr.. Paul T. Bowen was the last speaker. He
thought there were too many labor reformers
and that the workingmen should concentrate
upon one. He referred to the single tax upon
land as just measure. and asked the labor
men TO cO-OOprata with him