The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-13
LABOR,S PROTEST.
A Great Mass Meeting at Metro.
pOlitan Temple.
Reddy, Mcguire, Sumner, Gator and Barry
Denornce Proposed Legislation Against
the Working Class

tiOnable bills now being considered by the
Leeisature-the Ant-Boycott Bill, the
Anti-Tramp Bill and the Pinkerton De-
tectve BIll-and such a demonstration is
rarely witnessed. The auditorium was
taxed to its utmost capacity, and anxious
listeners peered over the heads of the multi
tude from every available elevation on the
outside
On the rostrum were ex-Judge James G.
Mcguire, ex-senator Patrick Reddy, Hon.
Charles i. Sumner, Hon. Thomas V. Gator,
James A. Barry and the officers OF the
Council of Federated Trades.
President Fuhrman called the meeting to
order and explained its objects by outlining
the iniquitous measures proposed for legis-
lation and calling for the protest of every
honest laboring man. He then introduced
Mr.. Reddy.
NOT THE NEW YORK BILL.
Senator Campbell. said Mr.. Reddy. comes
forward with this vicious measure in his
hands and protests that he has always been
laporiug man. 81 don't know what that
gentleman's history may be-" he added,
but Pm satisfied now that he IS working
for somebody loud laughter and is working
hard, too
The leaned Senator Campbell claimed
that the bill Is in substance the same as one
passed III New York two or three years ago,
and it had been found to work admirably
Mr.. Reddy said he would show that the bill
is no more like the New Y Ork law than its
author was like his Maker.
The New York law provides that bOycottS
shall not be prosecuted by force, threats
and fraud. Senator Campbels bill had
entirely omitted the words, force, threats
or fraud" 1t, therefore, proposes to make
of every man a criminal who dares TO re-
fuse his patronage to another, 'the most III
iquitous aud damnable measure ever con-
Ceiyed by any man or body of men.
such laws always place the laborng man
in the hands of the Judges, and history tells
us that, with few honorable exc pt0ns,
the courts nearly always settle difficulties
between the rich man and the laborlng man
in favor of the former
" Ii is the most sweeping and daring at
tempt 70 take away the citizens liberties
that was ever proposed There is not a
saving clause in it, Read it for yourselves,
labOrnG men, and see the dsep-lald plot
against your rights and your freedom. If
II becomes law you are hencefOrth slaves.
You should strike against it! Hremen-
dous applause,
HISTORICAL COMPARISONS DRAWN.
The author of the bill has said that he
was opposed to the boycott aud wanted to
eXterMinate II because 1t was un-AmeTican,
il was Of foreign origin. Let me show"
said Reidy, that tie great and wise Sen
at1r Campbell is un-American and of
foreign origin. He hasn't been here long
enough TO know that the father Of this
country was a bOycotter, that Benjamin
Franklin was a bOycotter, yea, that the en-
tire original thirteen colonies were boy
cOtteTs Of the most approved pattern"
Reference was made to the boycott of En-
gland and OF the tea in Boston Harbor. He
also cited many Instances IN early history
where the spirit OF the boycott was advO-
Gated and praCticed by the nations leading
statesmen. Mr.. Reddy appealed 10 the
wOTkingmen 10 arm themselves with his
torical facts TO answer with indisputable
proof the sham argument that tue boycott
Is un-American.
The Pinkerton detective bill he con-
demnpd as a measure that even Russian
Gar ought To blush for and tie thought all
free American citizens should unite in send
Lag lis author, Senator Dargie, 10 some pO-
lltical Siberia Tor ever.
Ex-Judge James q. Mcguire said he was
there to protest against the dangerous
measures under discussion; his protest
might not do any good, but it was neverthe-
less his duty to protest. He declared that
the author of the obnoxious bill (CampbrlD
Is not bad man nor corrupt man; lie had
known him intimately for years.
be characterized the Senator as an old
fogy busybOdy. who might be and doubtless
mad been used unwIttingly by some one who
had purpose TO serve. Il know" said the
speaker, that Senator Campbell is a boy
cotter himself, aud has been for years, and
he would have been in the penitentiary for
the Lord knows how long.
CAMPBELL As \ BoYCoTTER
81 know the Senator was a boycotter, for
l was at one time in the conspiracy with
him. We both agreed a good many years
ago TO boycott the saloons and the liquor in
dustry Of this State, and his law would
have pnt tue stripes on US as sure as death
had 1t been in existence"
Mr.. Mcguire demonstrated that the tenn
perance movement Is the most powerful and
effective Boycott In existence, and covers
every letter within the scope and spirit of
this proposed law. II it passes, woe to the
thousands Of anxious mothers, wives and
sisters, VINO, with humanity, love aud sor-
row in their hearts, are trying to save their
sons, husbands and brothers from the GIN
mills destructive work.
The tramp law should be condemned and
eternaliy banished, ne thought. Punish the
tramp for the crimes that other men are
punished for, but don't punish him for be-
lnE tramp. Don't put the brand Of crim-
Inal upon any man simply because he is I'M
fortunate enough to be tramp.
The proposed detective law was aIraigned
as really the most dangerous of all. 1t es-
tabiished a system OF semi banditti, MAN.
tanned by private hire, and could not live
side by side with human liberty. " You
must put il down." he exclaimed, or il
will put yon down. 1t is a menace to our
boosted freedom and threatens the nstitu-
the appearance OF such measures Do they
not beiray the melancholy truth that an at
tempt is being made to sap the institutions
of our country?"
THE DAWN OF VICTORY.
When Charles a. Sumner was next intro
dueed he was greeted with three rousing
cheers and much enthusiasm. He said he
wanted TO congratulate the laboring man,
not exactly upon the threatened legislation,
but upon the dawn of victory to those
against whom these bills are directed
DE referred to the f0undrymen and said
they were weakening daily and bound to
surrender in the end. He had no doubt
these lniqultous laws were originated by
them. 1t Is their last resort. They are in
need of laws that Will make a criminal of a
w0rkngman who refuses to enter their
shops and do their bidding at their price.
Thomas V. Gator said he was becoming
very tired Of the hackneye1 cry that the
boycott Is nn-American. Everybody would
admit that, but what of it? The first in
stance Of the boycott that he knew of is told
IN the.Old Testament, where Moses cautioned
PhaToah to cease expressions upon his people
or he would overrun his land with frogs; to
Tree his people or he wond fill the country
with ice; to let his people 90 or he would
turn the river into blood. Yes" added
the speaker, " it may be called un-Ameri-
can and II 1t is, l answer that it is divine"
THE SPIRIT OF oLIGARcHY.
The speaker maintained that lie had said
before on the same roStrum, and he re-
peated 1t, that it is very apparent that the
trainers OF this Government did not intend
this TO be government OF the people. for
the people, by the peorle. The spirit of
olgarchy is among us. Money is the ruler,
and If it becomes necessary its rule must be
sustained by the bayoDet.
James III. Barry was called for vocfer-
. ously as the meeting was about to adjourn,
and he finally responded. He said that the
word boycott is odiOus to him because he
had suffered so mucn from it, He didn't
have To look back far TO recall the time when
SIX Judges of the Superior Court conspired
to take all legal advertising out of his paper
because he had criticized one of them Tor
corruption.
He differed with Mr. Mcguire that Sena-
tor campbell IN not bad man. He had
known him for years and knew hin, To he a
thoroughly bad man. He was one of the
orlglHators OF the famous tape-worm ticket !:
lie is the bondsman Of McCudden, the Mare