The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1894-02-23
" ANT HELP.
The Unemployed Men of Boston
Make a Demonstration.
IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE DEMANDED
A Crowd of Five Thousand Ragged an d
Hungry Men Crowd the State House
Grounds and Make Them
selves Ugly.

troubles in this city eliminated in a
demonstration on the Common yester-
day afternoon, which for a time
threatened to end in a riot Five
thousand men. hungry, ragged and
ugly, crowded into the state house and
the adjoining grounds and vociferously
demanded immediate aid in their dis
tress. couple of hours were occupied
by half n dozen speakers, all of them
local labor leaders, and then the crowd
adjourned to the state house. A COM
mittee was appointed to see Gov.
Greenhalge and present to him Pc
tition, asking him to formulate and
put into operation some plan to allevi-
ate their suffering. They also asked
for state and farm factories where the
unemployed might work, and to ap-
point permanent commission to at
tend to the wants of the permanent
class of unemployed.
His eXcellency read the petition and
then went out and addressed the as
sembled 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 major part ap-
plauded his remarks.
An attempt was then made by the
leaders of the demonstration to get a
was then in session. The petition, after
reciting their ills. asked the state to
commence operations upon the pro-
posed Cape Cod canal, to esta blish the
commission mentioned and to provide
for state farms and factories. but the
rules precluded this. and then things
be ran to look serious.
The rotunda was packed with a
crowd of men who were waiting to
hear the result of their leaders efforts
to present their grievances to the as
sembled solons, and when Mr.. Swift,
nnzavowed anarchist and the spokes-
man, appeared on the balconies and
told them that the legislature had re-
fused to accept their petitions they
broke ITO yells of derision and Kisses
Of contempt. Swift leaned over the
balcony railing and launched forth
into an impassioned TRADE against the
legislators who, he said, were too busy
creating corporations to listen to the
voices of the starving men. His voice
shook with emotion as he denounced
the trea tment the men had received,
and his ominous threats to clean out
the state house were received with
hoarse shouts of appreciation
The brass-buttoned officials and door
keepers seemed paralyzed with fear,
and Gov. Greenbalge, who but a few
moments before was mingling with
the mob, wisely retired to the legisla-
tive chamber. The few policemen who
had been detailed to take care of the
crowd were powerless, and soon the
were flying through the streets lead
ing to Beacon Hill loaded with blue
coats, and soon there were 100 police
men on the scene.
An officer was quick to apprehend
an accident, and placing his hand upon
Swift's shoulder, warned him of the
danger. Swift stopped speaking, and
the furious crowd below mistool1 the
action for an arrest, and rent the air
with curses They swayed back and
forth, and it seemed as if violence was
to be used, but the speaker quickly as.
sured his followers of the real state of
affairs and the excitement subsidized.
The agitators then had to be satisfied
with talk with some individual mem
bers and that quieted them consider
ably. Meanwhile the house of rep-e-
sentatives had remained in session, and
upon the advice of some of the long
headed members, considered the petit
ton from the mob. 1t was decided to
appoint committee of seven to meet
representatives of the unemployed to
consider wa, and means for their re-
lief. Speaker Meyer, of the house, sent
a message to the crowds apprising
them of this decision and it appeased
them greatly. A special detachment
of police arrived at the side entrance
to the state house. They entered and
began forcing the mob slowly toward
the big front doors. Clubs were drawn
and the disgruntled crowd gave way.
Then there was an uproar and many
of the desperate members urged an at
tack upon the legislature, but the more
sensible prevailed and the crowd
slowly retreated. The police forced
them steadily back, but just outside
fused to move further. Finally the
captains Ol Iuc NdIlouS DOllCc diSlSlOQS
held hurried consultation and de-
c;ded to drive them still further back.
The crowd slowly retreated across
Beacon street and finally halted in the
common No attempt was made to
make a stand and the men soon dis
persed.
Rumors that there was a riot and
pitched battle between the police and
the unemployed at the state house
filed the air, and thousands Of people
hurried to the scene. Most Of the curl
Gus were too late, however, the CROWD
being driven from the state house be
fore they arrived. The demonstration
was a complete surprise. It was moi
expected that the unemployed would
gather in such numbers. aud from tbs
few that were looked for to call upor
the governor no such socialistic spir:
was expected. The force OF police a
the scene was small or the disturbance
would have ended sooner.
Pat Rooney" Dead.
CINCINNATI, Feb 20.-The Geological
garden of this city has suffered a heav,