Los Angeles herald., 1890-05-11
A Mass Meeting of Working
Men and NatiOnalists.
Speeches by Those Interested in
the Movement.
A Procession of Trades Unions of the
City.
Some Resolutions Endorsing the Move
ment-A Very Successful
Demonstration.

place last evening. procession OF va
rious labor organizations was formed at
seven oclock at the corner of Fifth and
Main streets. Among the unions repre-
sented were the following: Cigar
makers Union No. 225; Carpenters
Union No. 56; Bakers Union No. 40 !;
laborers' Cooperative Construction
Company; Los Angeles County Co.
operative Association Tailors' Union;
Typographical Union; Brickmasons'
Union; Stonecutters' Union; Ironmold-
ers' Union: Painters Union; Plaster
ers' Union; Barbers' Union.
The procession was headed by band
of music, and was escorted by repre-
sentatives of the nationalist clubs, un-
der whose auspices the demonstration
was held. About 300 men took part in
the procession, and it extended over a
distance of several blocks. A number
of transparencies were displayed bear
ing sentiments like the following: "To
the creators of wealth belongs the
wealth they create-Labor, not money,
is capital-Eight hours for ALIVE are
the people--No more night work.
The procession arrived at Illinois hall,
where the exercises of the evening were
to be held, at 80 O'Clock. After the
playing of selection by the band the
meeting was called to order by T. E.
Cross, the president of the eight-hour
league.
"The meeting is called to see what
needs to be done to assist labor, and it
has been suggested that the discussion
be devoted to the eight-hour question.
We hold that one OF the best ways to
make the laborer's lot pleasanter one
is to shorten his hours of labor, which
will give fairer division of the work"
Mr.. Cross then suggested that chair
man should be selected, and he was nom
mated and elected
w. G. Owen was then called upon to
speak. He said: "We are here tonight
to consider the project of shortening the
hours of labor, but it is necessary to
branch out into somewhat large field of
economic problems to understand this
question. / notice in the papers that a
call is issued for workmen in Portland.
That city is now passing through
a "boom." This item opens up
the whole social question. 1t is an en-
deavor to bring some order out of the
present chaos, some administration that
shall make things palmer and straighter,
so that all who are willing to work shall
have work, and that no one shall labor
without having the whole results of his
toll. The reason why | take so much
interest in this eight-hour movement is
that it represents the grandest coopera-
tion OF the working people throughout
the country ever witnessed. We are liv-
ing in an age of intelligence, when men
come in communication with men as
they have never been able to do before.
Men of every class and condition are
joining hands to make the world happier
and better, The heart of humanity is
being touched. We are ready to help
right the wrongs under which humanity
is suffering. instance this case of the
Portland call for men to illus
trate the heller skelter method by
which such matters are arranged.
The workingmen of every country have
taken a stand and joined hands to secure
order and justice in their affairs. The
magazines are crowded with articles on
labor and the social problem. The
dullest and blindest cannot help observ-
ing the cooperation of workingmen, and
are compelled to ask what it portends.
But to win the assistance of everyone
is required. We need both the thinker
and the man of action. Edward Bel
lamy has supplied the ideal, and shows
present conditions in their true light.
But the work of such men is not suf-
ficient in itself. There is demand for
steady determination each for all and
all for each. There is no mistaking the
philosophy of this worldwide labor
movement. 1t is to bring the economic
machinery out of its present chaotic
condition into harmonious working
ch 70 tc ;,+ Lo
hands of those who should hold 1.-THE
workingmen."
At the conclusion of these remarks
there were loud calls for Mayor Hazard
but he was not in the audience.
Mrs. Sarah Seal, the president of the
Los Angeles County Cooperative Asso-
citation, was called upon. She said
Eight hours is a fair days work. 1t
will give the laborer leisure for study,
reading and thinking. All that is
needed is that you be firm and the day
is yours. If employers understood this
problem as it is they would agree to the
eight-hour plan. The last two hours OF
work are worse than wasted. Eight
hours actively put in accomplishes more
than ten hours of tagging work. The
solution of the workingman's difficulties
is cooperation in every plan of life; to
work, to buy, to sell, to have everything
in your hands that you can. Ii it does
nothing else than make your life easier
and make you see what is coming in the
future, that is enough to justify
it. The power is in your
hands. Cooperation is all that
is needed. You are fighting for principle
and not for power. He that works is as
great as he that governs the nation, if
he works to the best of his ability"
II. &. Wiltshire was the next speaker.
He said: 'Less than eight hours is
enough to produce all that we need. 1t
is the most feasible plan to palliate the
condition of the workingmen. The en-
ployer can make just as satisfactory
profit with eight hours of labor. | think
that the plan outlined in Chicago is the
best one-which is that all trades should
support the one making the fight. Com
bination is absolutely necessary"
The following resolutions were then
offered and passed unanimously:
WHEREAS, There is constant increase
of new inventions and new labor
saving machinery in the United States
and throughout the civilized world, con-
tinually increasing the great numbers of
unemployed men and women, forcing
them to remain idle and in poverty
under the present system of government: