The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-02-21
A Demonstration by Five Thousand
Unemployed Men in Bos-
ton Town.
March In a Body 10 the State
House and Petition the
Legislature.
For Timo Things We're Lively In and
About the Hay state CaPitol-No
Damage.

BosToE. Feb. 20.-Fiye thousand unem-
ployed made a demonstration on the com
mon this afternoon which threatened riot.
In an ugly mood they crowded into the state
house aud adjoining grounds and demand
ed imuodiats aid. 1hs governor addressed
them from the state house. He was re-
eeivsd with applause. thonRh he made no
promises. An attempt was then made by
the leaders 10 get a pstition before the leg
islature. then In session. A large force OF
police Wers called out 90 guard aeains,
trouble. The leaders tried 90 get inte the
legislative hall 90 present their grIsvaness
while the crowd remained outside.
NJ. l. swlft. anarchist and spokesman OF
the mob. appeared at the balcony aud an
nouncod that tbs legislature refused 30 ac-
cspt the petition. The crowd broke into
yells OF dsrlsion and contempt. Then
Swift launched into a TRADE Of abuse
of the legislature. His threat to
clean out the state house was
received with shouts of APPRECIATION,
The agitAtors then had to be satisfied with
talk with some individual members, and
that Quoted them considsrAbly. Mean.
while the house OF representatives had re-
NAMED in session and upon the advice Of
come long headed members considered the
petition Of this mob. IL was decided to ap-
point q committee of seven TO meet repre-
sentstives OF the unemployed TO consider
ways and means for relief Speaker Mayer
sent message TO the crowd spprising them
Of this decision. and IL appeasSd them
greatly.
A special detachment Of police arrived at
the side entrance TO the state house. They
entered and began forcing the mob slowly
towards the big front doors. Clubs we're
drawn sad the disgruntled crowd gave way.
Then there wae an uproar aud many dea-
perate members urged an attack upon the
legislature, but the advice of the mere
sensible Prevailed and ia crowd slowly re-
| treated. The police forced them steadily
back, but Just outside the gate the disap-
pointed workmen refused to move fu. ther
| Finally the captains OF the various police
divisions held hurled consultation and
decided 70 drive them siill further back. The
crowd slowly retreAted across Beacon
street and hRslly halted in the common.
No attempt was made TO take another
stand and the men slowly disbanded.
Incidents preceding the outbreak in the
rotundA were rather ominoua crowd
assembled on the oommsn early in the
Hfte noon. 90 the number Of 1900, which
soon swell TO 1000 couple of hours were
occupied by half dozen speakers. all local
labor leaders. and then the crowd nd iourn
to the state house.
A committee was appointed 20 sse Gov.
Greenhalge and pleseat - him a petition
] asking HIM to formulate and put into
operation some plan to alleviate suffering.
| hey also asked fOs state farms aud fac.
tories. where the unemployed might work,
and 20 appoint "a poi manont commission to
attend to the wants of permanent clasa OF
unemployed. dis exeellency read the petit
tion and then went ont aud addressed the
assemb.e crowd. He expressed sympathy
for them and told them iust what no could
and could not do for them. His talk gave
them no satisfaction and some hissed but
a majority applRuded his rsmHrks
The petition to the legislature. after re-
citing thsiT Z oubles asked that the state
commence operations upon the proposed
Cape Cod canal. 10 establish the commits
e.on mentioned. and 10 provide for state
farms ami factories.
When Informed OF the legislaturs's ao-
tion. Leader swift. OF the unemployed,
withdrew from the state house aud an
uounced the result 10 the unemployed. No
commsnts were made and the crowd quietly
dispersed. Rumors that there was riot
and pitched battle between the polics and
unemployed At the state house nllsd the air,
and thousands u people hnrTisd 90 the
scens. Tue demonstration Was a com plsts
surprise. IL was not expected that the un-
employed would gather in such mum bsrs,
ana from the few that we're looked for 10
call upon the governor this afternoon. no
such sOcialistio spirit was expected. The
force of police ~ the scene was small, OF
the distu baRes would have ended much
sooner.