The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-02-21
GREAT HUBBUB AT THE HUB
BOstOn's Unemployed Make a
Demonstration.
Five Thousand Men Besiege
the State House.
The Legislature Asked to Provide
Work for the Idle.
Upon tho Refusal of the Lawmakers to
Hear the Petition q Violent Out
break Ocours-Police Dis
perse tho Mob.
BY the Associated Press.


BosToN, Feb. 20.-Five thousand un-
employed made denomination on the
common this afternoon, which threat
ened riot. In an ugly mood, the mob
crowded into the state house and sd-
joining grounds, and demanded imme-
diate aid. The governor addressed them
from the state house. His remarks
were received with applause, though he
made no promises. An attempt was
then made by the leaders to get petit
tion before the Legislature, then in ses-
sion. A large force OF police wac called
out to guard agsinst trouble.
The leaders tried to get into the legis-
lative hall to present their grievances.
While the crowd remained outside, M.
|. Swift, an anarchist and spokesman OF
the mob, appeared at a balcony and an
nounced that the Legislature refused to
accept the petition. The crowd broke
into yells of derision and contempt
Then Swift launched into TRADE OF
abuse of the Legislature. His threat to
clear out the state house received shouts
of appreciation. A large number OF
policemen soon gathered on the scene !;
Swift was forced to stop his talk, and
matters quieted down.
The agitators then had to be satisfied
with a talk with some individual mem
bers, and that quieted them consider
ably. Meanwhile the house of repre-
sentatives had remained in session, and
upon the advice of some long-headed
mem bers considered the petition from
the mob. 1t was decided to appoint q
committee of seven to meet representa-
tiyes of the unemployed to consider
ways and means for their relief.
Speaker Myer sent message to the
crowd apprising them of this decision
and it appeassd them greatly.
house. They 1itfs enteTsd and began Sc ' iosciig ni
the mob slowly toward the big doors
Clubs were drawn and the disgruntled
crowd gave way.
Then there was an uproar and many
desperate members urged an attack
upon the legislature, but those more
sensible prevailed and the crowd slowly
retreated. The police forced them
steadily back, but just outside the gate
the disappointed woTkmen refused to
move further.
Finally the captains of the vsrious
police divisions held hurried consulta-
tion and decided to drive them still
further back. The crowd slowly re.
treated across Beacon street and finally
halted in the common. No attempt
was made to take another stand, and
the mob slowly disbsnded.
The incidents preceding the outbreak
in the rotunda were rather ominous. A
crowd assembled on the common early
in the afternoon to the number Of 5000,
which soon sweled to 5000. A couple
of hours were occupied by half dozen
speakers, all local labor leaders, and
then the crowd adjourned to the state
house.
A committee was appointed to see
Governor Greenbslge and present to
him petition asking him to formulate
and put into operation some plan to al
leviate the suffering. They also asked
for state farms and factories where the
unemployed might work, and to appoint
q permanent commission to attend to the
wants OF the permanent class OF unem-
ployed. His excellency read the petition
and then went out and addressed the
Assem- bled crowd. He expressed sympa-
thy for them and told them just what he
could and could not do for them. His
talk gave them no satisfaction, and some
hissed but the majority applauded his
remarks.
Their petition to the legislature, after
reciting their troubles, asked that the
state commence operations on the Cape
Cod canal, to establish the commission
mentioned and to provide for state farms
and factories.
When informed of the legislatures
action, Leader Smith OF the unemployed
withdrew from the state house and an
nounced the result to the unemployed.
No compents were made and the crowd
quietly dispersed. Rumors that there
was riot and pitched battle between
the police and unemployed at the state
house filed the air and thousands of
people hurried to the scene.
The demonstration was a complete
surprise. It was not expected that the
unemployed would gather in such num-
bers, and from the few who were booked
to call upon the governor this afternoon
no such socialistic spirit was expected.
The force of police at the scene was
small, or the disturbance would have
ended sooner