The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-11-29
AEEFORN MOVB-H Lh f..
"a Getting Held Last Nigh' wh c" 'e'"'' W
Have ina, Objecf IN '''w'

The first of a proposed series vi o Hon
meetings under the auspices OIL the teI nI
tral Trade and Labor IouiO' va"
last evening at Eletts nan. etrt,. ,,oI
AIthough the meeting was lalIly We" ch
advertised, the ATTENDANCE ""0
small and slow in belns ctlleu ~ ~ ~ a. the
air. ". II. Mullen, the I'm ''i' 100 with
Iapor Council WHO presided, IeAeli ca -
ro,rat ro tra small ATTENDANCE. lie tN-
planned that the meetings "eie o. 49,, of
the purpose OF u.scussns Puc9.iCm.' ons
public importance, and thdt dhS 81
present was AT liberty u eNp' GO
opinion on either SIDE. ,.. 90 tho
MIR. Mullen drew a dark picture Vi IA
condition OF labor III h'Cu,,iUIi1. IL
made an appeal to them 10 olsdnlHiS' 90
discussion to be '"rhe Abolition Oh me
Contract Labor System by the Ci.y 80, VI
Richmond" and called on vi. Jali ne,
Dreamer who was one OF TWO men IL
Of 1--WE that had been appCihted ~ Spe"N
who were present. ,.t...
He spoke in favor OF the day labor
system. he said that every tnihg tlaS
had been done for labor III iNl~ J
originated In trades unions, .hu ma
should be "A revolution 10 teach our law
makers what we want no" we wan ~,
and when We want II. lie NprSssen lhe
hope that at future meetings all Htsses
of citizens would be represented. that a
free exchange OF ideas W0uid 40 100
and when the needs and wants OF ne
people were known the remedy couid De
applied. Mr.. Creamer is editor OF the
Macnlnists journal. IL,
MIR. a. B. McCulloch was next called
on, and in his speech compllmented the
work on the City Han, done py udy
labor, and held that for ITS splendid ana
enduring character II was not more cosby
than many other buildings.
Mr.. \. b. Daughtrey Of the Cigar
makers Union, MAS the next soeLkeI,
and strongly condemned the change from
day labor TO contract labor. tie said If
the contract system is fair for the labor
ers it was also fair for the officers OF the
city and that their WORK should also De
Councilman John T.. Epps. who came in
late. was called on for Re" words OF
encouragement
lie sand his position on the matter was
well understood that he a snort time
ago introduced a bin TO have the sewer
and other dirt work for the city done
by day labor at $50; that he found II
useless 10 put il at 81; but TOR some reason
he could not get quorum Of the com
mittee. He could not say why. but had
ms own opinion. Tie committee was re-
quested to be relieved, and the matter
was put in the shape Of an ordinance,
and was carried by a vote of Is - II.
The matter had been referred to the city
Attorney for his opinion as to whether
tWO-thlrd or majority report was re-
quired 10 pass it. He said he believed the
ordinance would be put in force and two
-i''iiHi'' HiiiA' il'l PUT W NbiN III Lii'
city.
he referred to the city officers. and
said one years salary for them amounted
10 thirty years work for Il laboring man.
He said he denied the fact that the city
Hall cost % per cent. more than il should
have done on account % day labor: that
he believed two or three hundred thousand
dollars was charged 10 the account of
day labor that ought not to have been
50 charged, and that every error that
was made and every extra expense that
was incurred was charged TO that ac-
count
Mr. Morris member Of the city Demo-
cratic Committee, and prominently con-
the course Of his remarks that "the
time had come for retrenchment and re-
form in city affairs: that the working
men had exhibited their power in the
control of the city or one occasion. and
that they could DO so again. and II need
be. put out the city officers and select
them from their own ranks"
Mr.. Henry Malone suggested that when
the meeting adjourned. ii be with the
purpose In view OF going into a reform
NOV emcnt. \ number OF other speeches
were made along similar lines 10 those
above expressed, and the spirit OF re-
form movement similar % the one which
existed some years ago seemed 10 be very
strong, and the impression which would
naturally be made on the mind of Il
visitor to the meeting would be that the
meetings were called distinctiVely for
working up such movement.
The time and place Of the next meet
ing will be announced by the Central
Trades and Labor Council