The Portland daily press., 1891-02-03
ENTHUSIASTIC LABOR MEETING.
Eloquent Address by Frank X. Foster
-DIscussIon Of the Australian Ballot.

An audience OF good proportions and
much enthusiasm gathered In City Hall last
| evening at the labor mass meeting. Pre-
vious to the gathering the Central Labor
Union, headed by the American Cadet Band.
marched up to Congress square, displaying
| red fire profusely. Several transparencies
were carried. among them such as "The La
borer is Worthy Of His Hie," "All Honor
to the Contractors who Conceded Nine
Hours" "The Secret Ballot the Only Hon.
est Ballot" and take the Children out Of
the Factories and put them into the Schools" I"
Upon the stage were seated number of
men prominent In the labor movement. The
decorations for the Christian Endeavor
meetings added much to the beauty Of the
hall Copies Of the labor Leader" were
distributed at the entrance.
Hon. M. P. Frank spoke at some length In
accepting the craftsmanship of the meeting
and said 1t was pleasure for him to preside
at a labor meeting. He said:
People should devote a portion of their
time to consideration Of the questions
which concern not only themselves, but the
whole race. Man has been long In obtain
Ing his rights, but two have already been Sc
cured. freedom and selfgovernment. An
adjustment Of the labor questions must final
ly be made. He advocated less hours of
weary toll that more time might be had for
enj yyment. An equitable distribution of
profits Is problem forcing aS Itself to the aso az
be no conflict between capital and labor.
Labor Is the mother Of capital. They should
be united In the most tender and strongest
ties.
Organized labor is working to secure a Sc
cret ballot, shorter hours aud better wages.
Labor Is misjudged II 1t is supposed that
there will be anarchy or disorder In bring
ing this about.
The great majority concerned in this labor
movement are honest. protectors OF law and
order. right and justice. To this majority
the appeal Is made.
Mr.. John +. 0'Sullivan, presid ent Of the
National Sailors and Flremen's Union, and
also an attache Of the Boston Globe. was
warmly received on being introduced. He
came to say a word in regard to the working
Of the Australian ballot system In Massa-
chusetts. He said:
When first advocated by the Boston Labor
Union 1t was sneered at by leading men.
The press at first opposed lt. Persistent
agitation and the labor organization finally
convinced the wage-earners that the ballot
was necessary, and the legislature feeling
the pulse OF the people. passed the law. 1t
destroyed the occupation of "heelers." After
the first election every paper said It was the
best thing Massachusetts ever had because
1t gave every man the privilege Of expires
Sing his honest opinion without the supervi-
sion OF boss or "heeler."
Hon. Frank K. Foster, editor Of the Labor
Leader, who was once the Democratic can
didate In Massachusetts for lieutenant
governor was received with much applause
and spoke most eloquently for labor. He said:
Around the world Is echoing the plant Of
the wage-oarners; the tread Of the host Of
isoorers toward better conditions. In Eng
land Gladstone and John Burns stand side
by side for labor. In American labor Is the
one problem most discussed,
Certain specific measures Of relief have
been asked for In this state. but only por-
tion OF the question has been touched. The
labor organization does not believe that the
work can be done In day, but they hold
that the time will come when little child
shall not be taken from the school house aud
thrust through the factory gate In order that
the dividends Of the corporation shall be
made greater.
Labor unions believe not only In the rights
OF meh, but OF women; fair days work
should give sufficient recompense to man to
properly maintain his family.
BE patient" have been the words to the
workers. Christians are told by evangelists
tney ought not TO sing so much about the
sweet bye-and-bye, but more about the
sweet now-and-nowD I Labor has long been
bye and bye, in some future land" The or
ganizati0n of labor In all civilized lands
gives the lie to that assertion. It says, we
are tired Of giving up happiness In the life
that nov Is for the promise Of happiness In
the land to come.
He was glad that Maine had aroused to the
matter OF having one day set apart as holi-
day for labor.
The speakerthen denounced the conspiracy
law as it stands and said that the short hour
movement demanded attention.
Mr.. Mark Cou'ant then presented resolu.
tions Itch were enthusiastically adopted,
urging that the state legislature earnestly
consider the Australian ballot measure and
the bill to make Labor day holiday, and al
so denouncing the Intimidation Act.