The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-02-21
SOCIALISM In BOSTON.
Thousands of Unemployed Be-
siege the State House.
they INSIST UPON RELIEF.
Petition sent in 60 the Legal ssure-
Police Come 60 the Rsseae-Ths
Demonstration = sarprise.

Bos7os, Feb. 2o.-Fifty thousand uneu,.
SLOWED made demonstration on the com.
non this afternoon which threatened a
Yio; In an ugly mood they crowded INTO
Tie state house and adjoining grounds and
demanded immediate aid. The governor
addressed them from the state house and
vss received with applause, though he
made no promises. An attempt was then
made by q leader TO get petition before
the legislature. then in session. A large
loros Of police was called out TO guard
AGAINST trouble. The leaders tried 20 1et
into the legislative hall to present their
grievances. while the crowd remained out
Ode. NJ. i. Swift, an anarchist and
spokesman of the mob, appeared NJ the
hsioony and announced tina. the legisIa-
ture refused TO accept the petition, and the
crowd broke into yelis of dsrision and
Contempt Then Swift launched into Q
trade Of abuse Of the Legislature. His
threat 10 clean out the state house was re-
esiyed with shouts OF appreciation. A
large number OF policemen soon gathered
on the scene and Swift was forced to stop
his talk and matters guieted down.
The agitators then had 10 be satisfied
With talk with some OF the individual
members. and that qaieted them consid-
srsbiy. Meanwhile the house OF represen.
tstivs- had remained in session. and upon
the advice Of some Of the long-heated
members considered the petition Of the
mob. It was decided to appoint a CON-
mittee OF seven to meet representatives. of
the unemployed and to consider ways and
means for their relief. Speaker Meyer
ssnt message to the crowd apprising
them Of this decision aud il appeased
them greatly. A special detachment Of
police arrived at the side entrance OF the
state house. They entered and began
forcing the mob slowly toward the big
front doors. Clubs were drawn
and the disgrun;lsd crowd gave way.
Then there Was an uproar. and many des-
perate members urged an attack upon the
legislature, but those more sensible pre-
vailed and the crowd slowly retreated. The
police forced them steadily back, but Just
outside OF the gate the disappointed work
men refused 10 move further. Finally the
captains of the various police divisions
held hurried consultation and decided to
drive them still further back. The crowd
slowly retreated across Beacon street, and
finally halted in the common. No attempt
was made to take another stand, and the
men slowly disbanded.
The incidents preceding the outbreak In
the rotunda were rather ominous. The
crowd assembled on the commons early in
the afternoon to the number of 5000,
which was soon swelled to 5000. A couple
Of hours was occupied by half dozen
speakers. all labor leaders, and then the
crowd adjourned to the state house.
A committee was appointed to see Gov.
6reenhalge and present to him petition
asking him TO formulate and put in opera
ton some plan to alleviate their suffering.
They also asked for = state farm aud fac
tories where the unemployed might work.
and TO appoint . permanent commission
To attend To the wants Of the unemployed.
His exeellency read the petition and then
went out and addressed the assembled
crowd. He expressed sympathy for them
and told them just what he could and
could not do for them. His talk gave
them no satisfaction. and some Kissed. but
the majority applauded the remarks. The
petition TO the legislature. after recitipg
their troubles. asked that the state COM
rnenee operations upon the proposed Cape
Cod canal; to establish the commission
mentioned. and TO provide for state farms
and factories.
When informed OF the legislatures
action Leader Swift, OF the unemployed.
Withdrew from the state house and an
nounced the result to the unemployed.
No comment was made and the crowd
quietly dispersed. Rumors that there was
riot and pitched battle between the
police aud unemployed at the state house
filed the air. and thousands of people bur-
ried 70 the scene The demonstration was
seomplete surprise. IL was not expected
that the unemployed would gather in such
numbers. aud from the few that were
looked for to call upon the governor this
slternoon no such socialis,ic spirit was
expected. The force Of police at the scene
was small or the disturbance would have
ended sooner