The Washington times., 1894-04-21
DETERMINED TO BE HEARD
Philadelphia Workingmen Present in
OppositiOn to the Wilson Bill.
ORGANIZED FOR ACTIVE WORK
Several Hundred Representatives Of Labor
Prepared to Protest Against the Passage
Any Bill Tending to Curtail Their Inter-
ests-More Accessions Will Arrive To-day.

Upwards of 400 men reached the national
capital yesterday as the advance guard OF
the National Workingmen's Protective Tariff
League, which number will be considerably
| augmented to-day by members to protest
against any further legislation tending to
lower the tariff on manufactured products.
A special train of eight cars, carrying the
first delegation of 26O workingmen and
women, pulled into the Baltimore and Ohio
depot from Philadelphia at noon, and was re-
ceived by Congressman Harmer, of the Fifth
Pennsylvania district.
The delegation marched down Pennsylvania
avenue with a great display of badges to
Metzerott's hall, where headquarters have
been established. There an address OF well
come was made by Representative Harmer,
and the delegates dispersed for dinner.
The trip from Philadelphia was made in
five hours and was without incident. At
Hav-e de Grace, Nd. the train passed Jones'
party marching to meet Coxey's army, and
cheers were exchanged. Across several cars
were draped long streamers, painted Work
ingmen's Protective Tariff League, Demon
stration at Washington against the Wilson
BILL Several of the delegation carried ban
bers carefully shrouded in wrapping paper
since word had gone forth that they would
not be permitted to parade in Washington.
Each one had pinned to the lapel OF his coat
"a ribbon of red. white and blue, from which
hung gilt medal. The diverse bore the de-
sign OF a muscular arm swinging Il hammer,
branded Labor" which was encircled by
the words Protest against Wilson Tariff
Bill" and on the reverse National WORKING
mems Protective Tariff League Washington
April 20 and q, 1894"
There were no manufacturers in the body,
but it was evidently company of prosperous
laboring men. for they wore good clothes and
for the most part talked intellgently and
grammatically. Thirty young women from
the carpet weaving factories wore badges and
carried their own satchels. like the men. A
majority of the delegation was from Philadel-
phia and Germantown, but there were also
workingmen from Trenton, Camden, Mama
yunk, Bristol. and Chester. The textile
workers were in the greatest number, but the
iron workers, cigar makers and other indus
tries were largely represented.
The first delegation will get down to busi-
ness at once and pave the way for their COM
rades, expected tomorrow. who, it is as
serted, will swell the party thousand or
more. The demonstration was organized
with the intention of marching to the Capitol
and presenting the protest to the Senate, but
that plan had been given up before the men
would be out of the question.
When the advance guard had reached Met
zerotts hall. a.meeting was organized without
delay Mr. George Walsh. of Germantown.
officiating as chairman. Representative Har
mer was loudly cheered as he stepped to the
platform wearing a badge of the League. and
proceeded to welcome the League to WASH
ington. II know your visit is not one OF
pleasure he said. stern duty brings you.
You have fallen into the times when disas-
trous legislation threatens your work. when
the prospect alone of the Wilson bill has
thrown 900, 900 men out of employment"
Some very vigorous speeches were made at
the afternoon meeting in denunciatiop OF tire
Wilson bill and they were received with great
demonstration of approval.
Ephriam Rigg, of Germantown, who be-
gan the talking, declared that the gathering
would be the greatest object lesson ever given
Congress. If they don't hear US tomorrow,
they will hear from US next November right
and left, :" he shouted. and his felow-workmen
voiced their approval with ''thats So"
Then he said that if Abraham Lincoln or
james G. Blaine were in Washington they
would be heard. Lincoln's name was cheered.
and then the reference to Blaine evoked q
mighty shout which nearly raised the roof.
He spoke sarcastieally of Bourke Cochran and
the Pennsylvania Congressman who had
talked against the bill and voted for it. Re-
would not be marching towards Washington
unless they were out OF work. The country
was witnessing the ful1lllment of the promises
which Roger Q. Mills had made in the Acad-
emy of Music at Philadelphia in 1888.
He said that there had been some question
of their right to exercise the prerogative of
citizens to peacefully assemble and petition
Congress concerning legislation which would
affect their interests. He had called on Major
Moore. the chief of police, and had been in
formed that they would be protected in their
right to hold meetings in public hail. but
the ief had reminded him of a city ordinance
prouiUiting parades with music and banners.
Mr. Harmer read the law prohibiting pro-
cessions or assembages on the Capitol
grounds. and stated that he had called upon
the authorities at the Capitol, who suggested
that if the members of the league came to the
Capitol they had better come in small parties,
rather than in one body.
Back in that same campaign Breckinridge,
of kentucky, had come with all his exuber-
ance to inquire how long the infant indus
tries would need the bottle of protection. Mr..
Riggs was interrupted by hisses when he
mentioned the name of Breckenridge. and then
went on to inquire why the rice of the South
should be protected and the wool of the North
20 without protection. The world had never
seen such mess as this administration was
making Of things. he said. and ended with a
reiteration of the text. "If they don't hear us
tomorrow, they will hear from US next No
yember."
Paul Wallace, of Germantown, asserted
that no one wanted the Wilson bill but the
importers and few theorists and praised
Senator Smith, of New Jersey, for his stand
against the bill. Samuel Gibson. Of Phila-
delphia; John Lawrence, of Bristol, and
George Walsh spoke in the same strain, argu-
ing that tariff reduction meant reduction in