The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-02-25
FOR IDLE LABOR.
A Demand for an Extra
Session.
A JOINT CONGRESS SPEAKS
Upon Taxation as a Means of
Raising Money.
JOINT CONGRESS SPEAKS
GREAT RATIFICATION MEETING.
A Number of Speeches by Labor
Union and Farmers Alliance
Representatives.

A mass-meeting TO ratify the work of
the joint congress of labor unions and
the Farmers Alliance In this city last
week was held last night at Metropolitan
Temple. The hall was crowded.
Though last in the ORDER Of business, the
first thing was thu adoption by q unani-
nous rising vote of the following pream-
Bile and resolutions introduced by Thomas
V. Gator:
WHEREAS, An extraordinary condition OF de.
preston of enterprise and industry has left
thousands OF able bodied, Industrious persons
IN California without opportunity OF obtaining
employment, ana without employment such
persons and their families must Starve and
thousands are now on The verge of starvation !;
and whereas. all men entitled TO life, and
employment is the only means OF life to labor
lug men; aud whereas, private charity is wholly
inadequate TO keep these thousands of deSerV-
ing citizens from suffering and death, and under
such circumstances, where private employment
fans, Government should provide for the EN-
ployment at fair wages upon proper public
workS-State or municpal-to be paid for by
moneys raised by the usual pow of Xation,
aud tie Government Is the only power which
can act properly III this NATTER now, there
lore, be II
Unions and The farmers Alliance does hereby
request that the Governor of California snail
forthwith convene the Legislature in extra seS-
sion TO consider The question OF providing en-
pIOymenI tot the unemployed and TO Uass the
bills for That purpose supported by the meni-
berS OF The Peoples party at the last session,
which did not pass, aud TO pass such other laws
shall provide Tor Immediate relief, by both
The State and municipalities, for The unem-
ployed.
1t was a very earnest, enthusiastic
meeting. Every reference to the political
union between California farm-wOrkers
and wage-workers was loudly cheered and
indictments against either of the old parties
aroused great applause.
j. L. Gilbert, State president of the
Farmers Alliance, was chosen chairman.
The declaration Of principles made by the
joint congress was read and adopted amid
much enthusiasm.
The first speaker was NJ. McGlynn of
this city. He inquired whether there was
any occasion for establishment or delight
over meeting like this. What did it
signify? That the wage and farm workers
of California have recovered little of the
common-sense with which God is supposed
to have endowed them. Two old time
stained, time-dlshonOred pictures mad
been turned To the wall. One was the
hayseed farmer with bushy whiskers; tue
other man with dynamite bomb in one
hand and boycott in the otheT, labeled
trades unloniSt.
1t needed such lesson as presented
itself TO arouse the working classes.
Laborers in city and country had followed
bog. Fighting each other meant getting
in deeper; helping each other may mean
getting out They had now joined hands
ia common fight against a common foe
and had determined TO fight common
fight.
In the declaration of principles Just
read the meeting learned what was de-
maDded of the Government. Was Ii any
more than justice? Did it contain any
thing at variance with the constitution. or
with the teachings Of Christianity or that
humanity did not entItle them to 2" asked
the speaker.
He drew a picture of the UNEMPLOYED
in San Francisco, and said: IF a minister
of the gospel asks why Iclsim that he does
not follow the teaching of the carpenter,
Christ, l will tell him that he faces a con-
gregati0n whose pillars acquired their
heliish in spirit, and that l will seek my
own religion. l will not hold fellowship
with man or woman who bows down
to the golden idol, be Its name what it
may"
Thomas Y. Gator began very spirited
address by calling attention to an alleged
representative Congress at Washington fiji
clustering while 100000 Americans were
out OF employment and 100000 on the
verge of Notwithstanding there in so
great an emergency as this. AS the servants
OF the Wall-street ana LOmbaTd-slreet
gold bugs, filibustering 10 prevent the pas
sage of a bill which might increase the
volume of currency and lower the rate of
interest.
True democracy. he SAID, th rule of the
people, demanded the power of recall and
proportional representation. 1t demanded
the NATURALIZATION Of all means of trans
pOrtatlon and the municipaliZatiOn of
town and city utilities. For proof of the
expedency Of the former he referred to
several European nations. and for the lat
ter to the city of Glasgow.
lie charged the present distressing con-
dltlon OF the country and all panics in the
past to eonsplracies among bankers and
money-lenders, who had SIMPLY to enforce
collections of loans to reduce values of the
products of farm and workshop. He de-
nounced the despotsm of the banking
system and called upon the Government
to do the banking of the people, to make
every postoffice a sub-trea>ury, which
should loan money at low rat Of interest
upon wheat corn, tobacco wool and other
non-perishable products.
he demanded that the Governor call an
extra session Of the Legislature to author
lie the levy of tax of q to "a of l per
cent and with the money so raised build
pubic WORKS and pay labor fair wages. A
tax OF Is OF per cent would raise a fund
In San francisco Of $500, GOO, build neces-
sary works and save many from starya.
ton. Cold insensate gold, cold insensate
lands had more consideration at the hands
of Government than the flesh and blood,
the bodies and souls of men and women.
The State, he said, should build a rail-
road through the San Joaquin valley and
another through the Sacramento valley.
The United States Government should
build reservoirs and waterways and r.
claim 600, 100000 acres of arid land. This
could be arranged in ten days; would re-
lieye distress and bring about state Of
prosperity such as the country has not had
for years.
Webster of San Luis Obispo, A W.
Thompson of San Francisco, j. Gelder of