The morning call., 1894-07-07
Another Enthusiastic Mass-Meetin
arCntv Attended

Another Enthusiastic Mass Meeting
Largely Attended.
An enthusiastic mass-meeting was held
last night in Oakland under the auspices
of the A. r. U.
Eugene HOugh, in calling the meeting to
order. said it had been called by the Amer
ican Railway Union officers for the pur-
pose OF letting people know what their
grievances are, and what they expect to
do before they get through. He then
called for nominations for chairman.
E. M. Bernstein nominated M. j. Keller,
president of the Oakland Board of Trade,
but Eugene Hough was nominated by ac-
clamatioD. as ii was believed that a man
more closely identified with the interests
of labor than Mr.. Keller should be chosen.
Robert Fisher, machiDist, and a men,
Der of the American Railway Union, was
the first speaker. He presented the cause
of the laboring classes in vigorous man.
ner, and was frequently greeted with
applause.
Judge E. NJ. Gibson made the most i'm
portant speech of the evening.
Il see that our Attorney General. that
tool OF corporations" he said. 'seems
determined to bring on a contest between
the Government and the people. He is
going outside the law in his zeal. He is
trampling the law underfoot. Ge is not
attending to his business. He should do
as the Governor of Oregon advised Cleve-
land TO do-attend to his own business
If Pullman has any hopes of reaching
heaven he ought to return to the working
men the S30,0OO.OO0 he has cheated them
out Of"
John Gelder of the Federated Trades
next spoke. He said that the strikers
were in a good cause, the strike being
brought about bv the tyranny OF one
man, George M. Pullman, who had proved
himself false to the stars and stripes and
to this country through his treatment of
his man who Sc wages he had reduced
fully 1914 per cent. Men who had been
getting $50 per month were compelled TO
support their families on $50. and they
are compelled to get everything from Pull
man, even the clothes they wear. Mr..
Gelder's remarks were loudly cheered
throughout.
Following Gelder came R. c. Rodgers.
who dwelt particularly on the new organi-
cation just started as an auxiliary to the
union by nOn-rallroad men. Ii is known
as 1.-THE Business and Working Mems Pro-
tective League" A number of appica-
tions for mem bership were made. This
organization meets tonight at 1863 San
Pablo avenue and already has mem ber-
ship OF 300
E. T. Jost Of the American Railway
Union was the next speaker. He said the
fight had narrowed down to one between
capital and labor. The railroads are tied
up from one end of the land to the other,
and the union ID going to show Hunting
ton and Pullman that 1t has rights that
must be respected. He said that Pullman
employees are charged so much for what
they must have by Pullman that at the
end of the month they have nothing left IF
their wages.
President Roberts of the American Rail-
way Union was next introduced and was
received with An ovation. He said: 'This
is a strange world. Not long ago sat on
a locomotive in dirty overalls, but to-day
thousands cheer me. To-day l was served
with an injunction, and tomorrow l may
be in Jail. If it is necessary TO 90 to Jail
in this cause will go to Jail and stay there
the rest of my life. While president will
not infringe the law.
'The Southern Pacific used every means
to get the militia out, but the militia proved
themselves men. They may be disbanded,
but they will still retain their manhood.
They are not going to do US any
harm, and we will not do them
any harm. We don't know much
about The Federal troops. Right from the
start the corporations have been the ag-
gressors. Before a word was spoken
down came the Sheriff with his deputies Of
the roughs of Oakland. One OF the depu-
ties got scared. and in running away he
fell down and cut his cheek. He said he
had been struck with a rock.
I'VE have not destroyed any property.
We have not interfered with anybody
working except TO talk to them. A great
many OF our organization work for very
small wages. We have not been organ
lied more than six weeks. The company
will not pay the wages long overdue.
"The company is trying to starve US out,
and want to appeal to you to assist in
this entertainment to be held in this hail
Saturday night" Mr.. Roberts sat down
amid loud cheering. After a comic recita-
tion by Mr.. O'Brien three times three
were given by the big audience standing,
apd there was ended the most remarkable
gathering Oakland has seen In her history.
The A. Il. U. meeting broke up in a
hurry last night One of the strikers
outposts rushed into the hall and an
nounced that an engine was being fired up
at the freight yards. with the view of TAX
ing out mail train. The meeting was
declared adjourned and everybody ordered
to the scene of the disturbance.
The crowd. numbering nearly $50.
marchsd to the Peralta-street freight depo
and seeing no indication of activity pro-
ceeded to the roundhouse and swarmed
over the premises in search OF men at
work. EVERYTHING was quiet here. too. aud
the A. r. U. accordingly dispersed.
BY the use of electric headlights loc0mo-
tive engineers can pnunt gayantnpu tple-