The Indianapolis journal., 1893-10-28
THEY WANT TO WORK
Movement Started to Give Relief
to Unemployed WOrkmen.
Criminal Court Room Crowded at Last
Nights Mass Meeting Many Com
mittees Appointed.

The Criminal Court room was crowded
last night with the wage workers and
their sympathizers who met in response
to the call of the Central Labor Union to
discuss ways and means of affording relief
to the unemployed workingmen Of the city.
The meeting was presided over by d. f.
Kennedy, who briefly stated its purpose to
be that named. The meeting was not to be
the place for the discussion of silver, tariff
or any political question whatever. Neither
was it an organized effort to solicit char
ity; what they wanted was work, and the
purpose of the meeting was to devise ways
and means, If it were possible, to give the
idle men as much work as could be per-
formed.
There were no long speeches made by any
one but a number of those present made
short speeches. stating their views as to the
causes which had led to the stagnation of
trade and idleness Of workingmen. The
first speaker called upon was +. T. Nc
Whirter, who said he thought the causes
which produced the present situation had
been accommodating for twenty years. The
crisis was at hand, and the question was
now upon it's remedy. The workingman
was not seeking aims, but work which he
was able and willing to perform. The con-
traction Of the currency and stringent
money market had put number Of men,
who had been able to give employment,
upon the verge of bankruptcy, and they
were now unable to supply the work. Mr..
McWhirter thought there was something
radically wrong with society when such a
state of facts existed. Mr.. Branan thought
the press was, in a large measure, respon-
sible for 1t, because it had not published
the true state Of facts as they existed
from the outstart He suggested that some
means be devised TO assist those working
men who had toiled for years for their
homes and were now upon the point of
losing them by foreclosure of mortgages.
In speaking OF the causes which had pro-
duced the present state of facts he said he
had heard 1t stated that 1t was an organ
lied effort the part of capitalists to
disrupt organized labor, but he did not be-
lieve such was the fact. He thought a par
tial relief might be afforded by the city
giving employment to more men, and went
so far as to say that he believed the city
could employ all of the men part OF the
time. Later in the evening another speak
er advocated this division of time by work.
ingmen in all branches of labor in order
that all might earn little Mr. Higgin-
son saw in the present situation the certain
outcome of false systems, wherein women
were employed SeamStreSseS and did
the work OF tailors for a pittance while
tailors walked the streets unable to secure
work, and the same state of facts existed
In other branches, he said
After Mr.. Higginson had concluded the
speeches were limited to five minutes Pres
ton Lyton suggested that an organized ef-
Tort be made to secure q reduction of
rents. Another said he believed a great
deal of the 'hard times IN this city was
due to the drainage from the city on ac-
count OF the worlds fair at Chicago One
elderly gentleman in the rear of the room
said he thought a great deal of good could
be accomplished by the city giving employ
that great deal more could be accom-
plished by the men themselves by keeping
out or saloons and not dividing with the
saloon keeper the small amount they were
able to earn. Preston Lyton suggested
that committee be appointed to elicit
the support of the press one of the most
powerful factors that could be exercised in
their behalf
Committees were appointed to wait upon
the various city officials and others and
seek to enlist their aid in behalf of the un-
To Visit the Mayor-D. T. Kennedy, f.
I. McWhirter, J. II. Deery, A. b. Loeben-
berg. William Johnson. w. III. H Tuttle
and Fred Miller.
To Visit the Board of Public works-wil-
liam E. Baker, John NJ. Pruitt, J. w.
White, w. ]. A. Ross and I. w. Miller
To Visit the Board of Public safety-Mr.
gut w. H. knight and s. w. shannon
To Visit the Councl-T. Fl. Wright. c. +.
Schulz. John McGregor, Frank Parish and
To Visit the Rental Agents-Hugh Schaf-
er, III. K. Lay, Owen Hartsford and L. L.
Cloud.
To Visit officers of Building and Loan
Associations and Proprietors Of INSTALL
ment Houses-J. S. Johns j. Z. Claggett,
Oscar Beach, Charles F. Moore. L: M. Mil
Ter, Mrs. ID. +. Kennedy, Mrs. l.. L. Cloud,
Miss Ida Keys, Miss Rogers and Miss Gray
The members of the first three commit
tees We're made special committee to
visit the Commercial Club and the Board
of Trade. The committees were instructed
to report at the next meeting. which will
be held on next Wednesday evening at a
nlaca To be nrOYided.