New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-14
WAGE E1RNERS SPEAK OUT.
MEN AND WOMEN IN AN EARNEST
MASS MEETING


WILSON BIII,-PLAIN WORDS AND SOLID
ARGUMENTs-A POWERFUL APPEAL TO THE
ADMINISTRATION NOT TO FORCE TIE
WORKERS TO DEGRADATION.
The meeting Of worklngmen and workingwomen
at Cooper Union Friday night was unlike any
other meeting held in that or any other hall
in this city; ii a gathering which would be an
impOS sbility in any country except this. ana the
assemblage itself, regardless of what was said or
done was an argument in favor of commercial leg
isaton such as will enable working people to main
tain the standing which good wages have permitted
them 10 acquire The large auditorium was crowded
with men and women who came to protest against
the passage Of the Wilson Tariff bill and against
any legislation which would tend TO lower the
standing of the wage-worker. They We're men and
women whose bitter experience showed the fallacy
of the Wilsonian theories. The audience was not
bosterous as workngmen's gatherings sometimes
are: il not over-demonstrattve, as polucal
crowds are wont be: It staid and serious and
quick indorse with applause those sentiments Of
the speakers which American. Yet it was not
an American gathering in the true OF the term.
for the great majority American by adoption.
but the fear of condition which might bring them
back to the level from which they escaped when
they left Ireland Germany, Russia or ltaly-fear
that they might once more be reduced to the place
which the English and the Scotch mechanic occu-
FROM MANY INDUSTRIES.
on the platform sat the various chairmen OF dele
cations representing the interests OF 10000 wage
earners in various branches Of industry. Carpet,
glove clothing jute lnoleum. lace ribbon. silk. cot
ton. thread. hat whiting. worstcd yarn. fur and
Irvine manufacture some of the Industries rep
resented by speakers. who were limited TO five
minutes each.
The eminent statesmen Of the century were never
who though they made claim 10 oratory. though
their grammar at times defective. told truths
with sle1gehammer fore and spoke with that
natural eoquence which IS born Of conviction and
which convinces. Every man who spoke resented
the mputation that the employer controls the man.
every man, more forcbly than the other, said
that Work is wanted-not charity" And when a
taken the adoption Of a resolution
urging their representatives, in Congress 10 oppose
the Wilson Tariff measure. the soprano aye OF
basso profundo of the big carpet weaver.
Samuel Websters description Of the wofu effect
be f no G s N the. minis " his
hearers as to what should be done with tn Wilson
William IFnry Greene and James Lowell, both
from Paterson \. j. T.. L. Price. for the clothing in
lot Of theories The hit Of the meeting was maie
cyrp trade Mrs J. Een Foster introdcpd her.
self as speaking in the name OF over Two millions
Of wage-earning women, and told how the lowering
THE PROTECTIVE TARIFF LEAGUE.
The Workingmen's Protective Tariff League met
last night at No $40 West FOrty-nnth-st. - hear
the report of it's committee appointed AZ the last
meeting TO draft a constitution and bylaws for the
league
The following present John Bell (who
presided. a. X. Herschaft, Thomas O'Keefe, John
Walker, William Kevan. Patrick Leonard, James
Burns, Robert Mutt William Rood. Thomas Finne-
the Elm Tree Flax Mills Travis Brothers. the
Chelsea Jute Mills the American COrdage COM
pany Planet Mills and Hggins's Carpet Mills.
The constitution and bylaws were adopted by sec
lions. with slight amendments. II Is proposed mat
similar ORGANIZATIONS having in view tho protection
OF American Industries, be formed throughout the
state f. Is also provided that person who Is an
employer Of more than five persons can become
member of the league. any branch Of II. Each
shop club shall have rcprcsentatlv" Tor cach ten
members, and two officers NAV be employees or
the same firm The revenue OF the league Is 10 be
only as much will defray running expenses AMI
OUTLAWS Incidental to the spreading OF the doctrines
Of the league.
the duties Of which it will be to secure pledges
from candidates for office TO aid. In the event Of
their election. the cause Of protection and secure
tariff laws in keeping with the Mckinley bill Of
1S0.
The league is arranging QugS mass-nc"iine.
the Film Flax mills branch has already had meet
ing indorsing l.. f. 'lugg for Congress. ana its
delegates at Yesterdays meeting said another meet
ing would be held before election