The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-04-02
FOR EIGHT HOURS.
Mayor C1eveland's Spirited
Address to Paterson
Workingmen.
SOUND ECONOMICAL VIEWS.
The Gathering Was In Honor Of r
P.McDOnnelI, and Was En-
thusiastic.

''scabs' j. P. Mcdonnell, editor of the
Paterson Labor Standard, was arrested,
convicted of libel and fined $500 in 1878.
A year later he published letter writ
ten by the late Michael Newton in behalf
of the labor movement and for so doing
was sent to the county jail for sixty days
by Judge Dixon. When released he was
given a great ovation by the people, and
since then on April 1, the anniversaries
of his discharge from Imprisonment, have
been celebrated.
The tenth celebration took place last
night at Apollo Hall Paterson, and about
four hundred men and women took part
in it. Among them were Mayor Cleve-
land, of this city; John Craig, Sergius
e. Shevitch. editor of the New York
Volks Zeitulg; John B. Lennon, presi-
dent of the Tailors' Union, New York;
George McNeill, of Boston; James Gibson,
president of the Grocers' Protective As
sociation, Paterson; M. Friesen, P. Nc
Samuel Samuel us aoIt Oscar b WOOD Hisxander HiH1a9lPa
Bell. G. B. Springer, B. T. Furey, Will
liam H Root, Thomas Cogan and
j. P. Mcdonnell. These gentlemen
were on the stage. Chairman Glib
son lost no time when the
committee escorted the invited guests in
tAe udll anu dS SUoH Us Mayor Clev6laHu
could remove his coat he was asked to
make q speech and was introduced to the
audience. He expected to be asked to
speak, but had no idea that his would be
the first Grafton. However, it was just
as well for all who followed him talked
on the suggestions he made. When the
applause was over that greeted the Mayor
when his name was mentioned he said,
among other things:-'L Ladies and gen
tlemen. Mr.. Chairman, am glad to be
here. / want to testify my regard foAJ.
p. Mcdonnell, for knew him before Ne
came to this country. He has niade
a personal sacrifice such as history giye&
us instances of-he was put in Jail be-
cause he told the truth and rejoice that
you all remember that this is the tenth
anniversary of his deliverance from jail
for doing the workingman good. Its
the workingmen we want to support this
government, for your Jay Goulds and
your Vanderbilts never made q country
and never will. The one who does this is
the one who works and not the one who
locks up the safe.
The Recent article in the North Amert-
can ReutetU by Erastus Wiman, which
shows the vast accumulation Of capital
that is lying idle indicating that the pro-
duction Of the country is greater than
the demand makes me think that the
time has come, not to restrict the pro-
produce all We can, but it seems TO me
the time has come when 1t Is. no longer
necessary for the producer to work from
day light to dark. Let MS restrict The
hours. When I was a boy the people
fought against fourteen hours work. then
twelve hours, and let us continue the
struggle, and reach the point that Will give
those who do the work a chance to enjoy
a little more Of the comforts of life. be-
lieve the time has come when eight hours
work is sufficient. When I think of the
accumulated capital in England, France
and Germany and this country cannot
help believing thus / know l shall be
criticised for taking this view of the mat
ter, and II SO it will not be novel ex-
perience. know that long hours are not
necessary now.
Labor is the power Of the day, and it is
your duty to form organizations and
unions, and in absolute union declare we
will live together and die together, but
Labor must be on top When Joined
country glorious and powerful.
In conclusion | will repeat you must
convince the public that eight hours
labor is enough and labor organizations
are necessary to do it. Organize and you
will be successful, for there is not in the
American history a single instance where
an advanced step has ever been taken,
and then turned backward This is the
land of progress. Ladies and gentlemen,
thank you for your kind attention. =
(ireat applause.)
Sergius f. Sheyitch was the next
speaker, and, considering his well known
socialistic ideas, he was extremely mild.
He declared tnat very peaceful revolu-
tion was in progress which would be par
ticipated in by every man and woman
who detested oppression. He admitted
that we live in 'sthe most free country In
the world and the Constitution is the
most noble and best document ever writ
ten by man. IL was so 100 years ago and
is so now"
less one; he wanted the workingmen to
have but eight hours to work and no
political corruption and he asserted that
the greatest corruption that ever came
to the nOtice of man was at the last
election
He closed by paying Mayor Cleveland
glowing tribute for the attitude he has
held for years on the labor question and
said he was glad Jersey City had such
friend to the workingman for Mayor.
John B. Lennon, president of tho
Tailors' Union of New York followed and
in his remarks he said that he had accepted
an invitation to be present that he might
show his personal friendship for J. p.
Mcdonnell for the work he had done in
past years for the laboring people.
''Brother Mcdonnell may not be greatly
appreciated in Paterson . said he, s'but
abroad he is because of his efforts to
emancipate the working men. Mr..
Lennon made a plea for the esupport Of the
Labor Standard and asked that the men
organize as fast as possible.
Mr.. George McNeill, of Boston, said the
coming revolution has come and the
question is what position will You takef
Ten years ago tonight the streets of Pat