Evening journal., 1891-01-22
THE RIGHT OF LABOR.
MASS MEETING OF MoULpERs IN
THIS CITY LAST EVENING.

Harper OF Chester, Discuss the Coudi-
tion of Labor.
A mass meeting of the machinery
moulders of this city was neld at tho
headquarters of'the Fourth ward Demo.
Gratis, No. 800 East Fourth street last
evening. James +. Kane presided The
object Of the meeting was to establish o
local branch Of the Brotherhood of
Machinery Moulders Of America.
Addresses were delivered by John A
Penton, Detroit, president Of the brother
hood; Frank Mcfarland, president Of No.
II, Philadelphia, and Adam G. Harper.
president of No. 80, Chester
Mr.. Penton was the first speaker. He
is young man, very intelligent, aud
speaks rather rapidly. In his address he
trsversed the whole ground upon which
labor organizations are based, compared
the condition of unorganized labor with
that which is organized and warmly ad
vocRted tho establishment of q local
branch Of the organization in this city
He deprecates piece work as tending TO
have an injurious effect on labor aud
| labor organizations. The paying of sick
benefits was one of their most powerful
adjuncts, and had been the means by
were kept within the organization. The
machinery moulders were distinct body
of men, and theirs was q distinct
trade which needed special leg
islation and special attention. II
labor did not organize it would soon
be crushed by the capitalist and corpora
tions The big fish always gobbles up
the little fish, and the means Of preven.
tion was thorough union. so that when
the two forces came together Il would be
like the clash OF opposing locomotives.
There were now eighty four branches
OF the organization throughout the
| United States and each was in a flourish
ing condition Their extent and strength
was the best guarantee he could give of
their honesty and competency. TSey
wanted men to join their league who
were honest, upright, moral and indus
trious. and although it might be a phil
anthropic movement he did not represent
it IS such, but asked them to join for
selfish purposes. the benefit Of themselves.
If they did 50 by co operation, this
| selfshness would become the best kind
Of philanthropy, and their mutual ocm.
bination, the shield and protection Of
their fellowmen
Frank Mcfarland, president of 80 II,
Philadelphia. is an old worker in the
field OF labor He had not the ability nor
eloquence of his fellow visitors but he
told some wholesome truths about the
condition of labor in parts of Pennsylva
MIA and other states, where the laborer
was ground down by capitalists aud
corporations. A branch OF the brother
hood in this city woRid not he thought
be so valuable because of any practical
I
from the lesson it would teach surround.
ing cities. Union was contagious, and If
branch OF the brotherhood was estGb.
lished here, Baltimore might "cateh on, -
and the eontagion spread to Southern
States. In some parts Of this country
machinery moulders we're paid less wages
than ordinary laborsrs. In Phgnixville
he saw the moulder paid 81 so a day.
while the laborer got 50.
He had been member of the machinery
moulders' orgal ization in Philadelphia,
when that league was one of the strong
est in the country, when corporations
trembled before it and manufactures
dare not say them nay. That organiza
tion fell, through the corruption Of some
of its members and the inaction Of
others. What they wanted now was al
organization such as that existing il
England, Scotland and Wales, whose
officers would be respected and law
obeYed. An organization that would bs
able to meet capital at its own door aud
wrest from it the power which il now
possessed, which would redeem tbs
poor people from slavery aac
bondage in which they were held
in some parts Of the countrJ
where corporations might be said to owl
Ill. LII AZ
Professor Sweeney that the sooaiistil
question was the centre toward which,Gl
others were attracted, and the question
mankind would be called on to consider IA
the coming quarter Of a century Labo
and and capital were like two migha,
! svslanches approaching from. opposi6
= directions When they came together
the clash would be so great, as to rever-
berste throughout the globe, and capital
would die a natural death, as it had hat
an unnatural birth, while the cause o
labor would 60 marching on.
s He gave pathetic description of th
3 condition of the miner in the Pennsylva
: niG coal regions and finished by exhort-
ing the ia to establish a branch of tn,
t brotherhood in their midst.
, Adam G. Harper, president of No. 80
s Chester, wss the most brilliant speake
. of the trio. He contrasted the condition
K of the labOrer in European countries will
= that of bis fellow men in the Unitel
, States. The conditions were so differen
I that were the American laborer an,
5 mechanic placed in the same condition
governed by the came laws, restricted b,
a the same rules as his European brother
n a revolution would take place within
d week, and yet the European lsborer wa
d more thoroughly organized than tn
American.
1t had been said chat the union of tn
different branches of industry unde
J. various heads was q source of weeknes
: rather than strength, but this opinion
I was erroneous. Federation withou
7 education was a source of confusion
d when the masses were united an
/, thoroughly educated then he believe
with Chsuncey NJ Depew that teder
y alton would be beneficial to all It onl
+. remained for the laborers of this city {
a say whether they shall establish branc
5 of the brotherhood in their midst an
. assist by cooperation their own faRilie
and those OF their fellow workmen.
At the close OF the meeting severS
names were taken and branch of th
brotherhood established which wi
organize in few days
Don't fail to see The Witch on FridG
b evening. Benefit of Wilmington WheS
: Club. Admission, 90 cents
1