The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1894-02-21
BREAD RIOT IN BOSTON
An Army Of The UatmplOyed Demlndi
Pord
A SPEECH BY AN ANARCHIST
The Legislaturs Refuses to Give
Any Assistance and the HOB
Vents Its Anger In Fierce
YElls.

BOSTON, Feb. D.-Five thousand unem- |
ployed men made n demonstration on the |
common this afternoon which threatened !
riot. In an ugly mood they crowded INTO
the state house ground and demanded inn
mediate aid. The governor addressed
them from the state house aud was re-
ceivel with applause, though lie made no
promises. An attempt was then made hy
the leader TO get petition before the leg
isla,ure then in session. A large force of
police was called out TO guard against
trouble.
The leaders tried to get into the le2isla'
tive hall 10 present their grievances while
the crowd RENAME outside. NJ. |. Swift,
an anarchist and tho spokesman of tue
mob, appeared at balcony and an
nounccd that the legislature refused 10 ac-
cept the petition. The crowd broke into
yells OF derision and contempt. Then
swift launched into a trade Of abuse Of
the legislature. Ills threat TO clean ont
the state house was received with shouts
of appreciation. A large number Of po-
licemen were soon gathered on the scene.
Swif; was forced TO stop his talk and mat
ters quieted down.
Meanwhile the house OF representatives
had remained in session and upon the adj
vice of some members considered the pc
iit,on from the mob. II was decided To
appoint a committee OF seven TO meet the
representatives OF the unemployed to con-
slder ways and means for their relief.
Speaker Meyer sent message 10 the
crowd apprislug them OF this decision,
and il appeased them greatly. A special
Il. r. 81.
entrance OF the state house. They eU-
tered and began forcing the mob slowly
towards the big front doors. Clubs wero
drawn and tho dissruntled crowd gave
way. Then there was an uproar and
many desperate members urged an attack
upon the legislature, but those more scnsi.
BILE prevailed and the crowd slowly re-
treated. The police forced them steadily
back, but just outside the gaio the dlsap-
pointed workmen refused 20 move fur
ther. Finally the captains of various
police divisions held hurrel consulta-
ton and decided TO drive them still fur
thcr back. The crowd slowly rctreated
across Beach street and finally halted In
the common. No attempt was made To
take another stand aud tho mob slowly
| dlsbanGed.
The incidents preceding the outbreak in
| the roiunda were rather ominous. Tho
crowd assembled on the common early in
the afternoon 10 the number OF 300,
which soon swelled TO 800. A couple Of
hours was occupied by half dozen
spea akcrs. all local labor leaders, and then
the crowd adjourned TO the state house.
! A committee was appointed TO see Gov
ernor Greenhalge and present 10 him n
petition asking him TO formulate and put
into operation some plan to alleviate
their suffering. They also asked for u
state farm and factories where the unem-
ployed might work. and TO appoint per-
manent commission 20 attend To tho
wants of the permanent class of uuem-
ployed. His exceilency read the petition
and then went out and addressed the as
sembled crowd. He expressed sympathy
for them and told them just what he could
and could not do Tor them. His talk gave
them no satisfaction. and some hisscd. but
the majority applauded his remarks. Tho
petition to the legislature, after recitlnr
tho troubles, asked the state TO commence
operations upon tho proposed Cape Cod
canal, TO establish the commission men,
toned and to provide for state farms and
factories. When informed OF the legisla.
ture's action. Leader Swift OF the uneH-
ployed Withdrew from the state house and
announced the result TO the unemployed.
No comment was made and the crowd
quietly dispersed. Rumors tia, there was
a rio; and pi iched battle between the po-
lice and the unemployed at the state
house filled the air, aud thousands of pco-
pie hurried to the scene. The demonstra.
ton was complete surprise. II was not
expected the unemployed would galher in
such numbers, and from tho few that
were looked for TO call upon tho governor
this afternoon, no such sociaiistic spirit
was expected. The force Of police at tho
scene was small or the disturbance would
have ended much sooner.