The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1894-02-23
POLICE CALLED ON.
Unemployed of Boston Create a
String Scene.

OIlIulS OCcIlG.
Leaders Threatened Co "CIear Out TIL,
State House" but Subsequently Modif,
Their ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Equal t.
the Emergency.
Boston, Feb. 21.-Six or 700 men, who
pretended to represent the unemployed Of
this city, went up to the state house yes
terday afternoon to see Governor Green
halge
The leaders were Morrison l. Swift and
Herbert N. Casson.
They had been to the state house on a
previous occasion to see his excellency,
but he was then absent in New York.
Previous to the demonstration at the
state house about 1900 men had assembled
on the Common yesterday under the
auspices of the association for the I'M
employed, and listened to semi-an-
archistic speeches made by Morrison 1.
Swift and Herbert N. Casson. Under the
influence and fiery ardor of the speeches
the crowd, headed by the two speakers,
marched to the state house, where these
self-appointed leaders interviewed Gov
ernor Greenhalge, while the crowd re-
manned outside. They demanded that
work should be given to the men they
represented.
The governor signifed his willingness
to do all in his power to help the unem-
ployed, and he had no doubt the legisla-
ture would do the same. Upon the invi-
tation of the delegation the governor adj
dressed the crowd. He told them that
personally he would do all he could and
that he would recommend action by the
legislature. He pointed out that the
general court had no power to give work
to the unemployed except it had money to
pay them and that such work must be for
the public good. The governor insisted
that the first duty of every citizen was
obedience to the laws.
This speech did not meet with the ap-
proval of the crowd, and they surged into
the state house to present to the legisla-
ture petition, but which was couched in
the terms of demand. The petition
stated how the unemployed have starved
for months with patience after making
many appeals for employment, which the
city and state were alone competent to
furnish, and should have supplied in the
beginning. They ask the legislature to
provide farms and factories where the un-
employed at all times may work to sup
ply their own wants This petition was
presented to the legislature by Represen-
tative Mellen.
A Qualification.
On their return the mob assembled in
Doric hall, where Swift made an incen-
diary speech, in which he threatened that
If the petition was UNDECIDED they woald
clear the state house.
Governor Greenhalge met Swift and
Casson directly after this speech, and in
plain language told Swift that his speech
was grossly obnoxious and improper
Swift saw that the governor was angry, |
and Immediately tried to 'crawl" by say
ing that he meant ito clean them out by
ballots" and apologized and denied that
he had made utterance of such words
At the close of this incident the men,
bers of the state police and 80 Boston |
policemen were called upon the scene.
After consultation with the governor
the order was given to clear the state
house. The crowd was defiant, and shouts
went up of kill the police" and "Down
with capital" The sight of the clubs in
the hands of strong men, however soon
tended to disperse the Kissing and yelling
mob.
1t is said that only In few instances
had the police to use force.
Swift was seen last night by a reporter,
and denied having made the statement
accredited to him, but afterward qualified
it by saying: IF did say it. I meant by
the ballot. 1 am not displeased with the
outcome this Is the first of a series of
meetings which will be held until the un-
get work"
Governor Not Frightened.
In answer to query of a reporter as to
what he thought of the demonstration
at the state house, Governor Greenhalge
said: "My impression is that law and or
der are prevalent, and that feature was
the idea of subsection to law. felt no
uneasiness in the presence of large num-
bers in the state house 1t is very difficult
to know what the extent of the exigency
is. Everything was all right. l had
made my speech. but the crowd still had
a notion of presenting their petition to
The house. At first they were quiet and
orderly, and / would like to have argued
with 1000 of them. Those fellows (refer-
ring to Morrison and Casson) began to
make incendiary speeches, and l said to ,
myself, I'll stop that. All wanted was I
10 policemen. 1 told those fellows that
hey could not run this place. / picked
,ut the leaders and told them 1 would
lold them responsible for any trouble" !