Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-12
THE STRIKE APPROVED
Lafayette Hall Packed TO Hear the
Printers Cause Discussed.
LEADING LABOR ORATORS LOGIC.
Repeal Of the Conspiracy Labor law Is
Strongly Advocated.
STATE LEGISLATORS. ARE DENOUNCED

The big trades meeting last night in
Lafayette Hall was ushered in with parade
of all the union printers and pressmen OF
the two cities. The line was headed by the
Cathedral Band and extended down Fifth
avenue from Smithfeld to Market streets.
After marching over several of the princi-
pal streets of Pittsburg the procession filed
into Lafayette Hall, which filled rapidly
with people of all classes, and when the
meeting was called to order there were fnlly
1,5OO people packed between its four walls
The meeting was called to order with the
election of Chairman Phillips, of the Trades
Assemblies of Western Pennsylvania, as
president, and long list of prominent
labor men as vice presidents.
F. A. Lewis was the first speaker, and he
briefly explained the strike from its start to
the present time. Letters of regret were
then read from the following gentlemen:
President Gompers, of the Federation;
John McVicker, Michigan; John B. Lemon,
New York; Morgan NJ. Sheedy. Pittsburg;
William Weihe, Pittsburg; W. j. Bremen,
New York; w. J. Dillon, Pittsburg, and
p. j. Mcclure, Philadelphia
The Conspiracy Law Denounced.
Frank X. Foster, of the Boston Typo
graphical Union, opened the speech-making.
He said: 81 may be detained in Pittsburg,
as understand that here you have law
that enjoins people on the slightest provo
cation, but up in Massachusetts, We do not
have sny conspiracy laws, and 1 may talk
TOO freely tonight. When 1t comes to
dealing out judge-made law, it is time for
the people to stand together and test the
matter. Those who are in trouble with the
laboring people only need to appeal
TO the judiciary to achieve their ends. This
has been shown too often, and it is now
time that the wage-earners of the country
stand together and fight for the repeal of
this conspiracy law"
Jeremiah Dougherty, of Pittsburg, was
the next speaker. His remarks were mostly
upon the recent decision handed down in
the injunction case. He said:
81 think 1t is ali right to take the case to
the higher tribunals, but when law is bad
there is but one way to remedy 1t, and that
is by repeating ii. 1t is time for the wage
earners to go TO the polls and cease voting
for the 'wall-howers,' 'space-illers' and
'chair-warmers' whom the people of Allie
gheny county have been sending to the
Legislature. There are a couple of
men in the county who make the laws.
1t is hard to change this, but it can be
done. The Pittsburgers all know it will be
difficult task to oust Magee and Finn, for
in the past when you have asked the aver
age man to vote against them they have re-
piled: When I was on little jag last
summer and fined IS 30 my fine was re-
mitted, and l could not go back on the ring
now ."
SharPsburg Murderers Roasted
He then spoke of other decisions which
had been handed down against organized
labor He cited the case of the Snarpsburg
murder, and said the men were acquitted
because they were rats"
Rev. DR.. Robertson, of Allegheny, was
next on the list 81 would not be here to-
night" said he, eff 1 did not think the
present strike a Just one, and that the par
Elephants are being wrongfully dealt
with. The question in the niunc-
tion case is whether it was a fair
decision. There is another more important
question, and that, whether rightly or
wrongly interpreted, is the conspiracy law
fair one? 1 congratulate the printers in
the wsy they are handling the matter in
appealing it to the supreme court of
the people, which is really a bet
ter court than that of the United
States. In the United States courts the
laws are decided, but in the court of the
people the laws are made. / hope the pub
lie will join with the printers in condemn
ing the laws
J. Hamilton Burtt followed IN few we'll
chosen words along the same line as Rev.
Mr.. Robertson.
The meeting adopted set of resolutions
approving the course of the strike.