The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-04-24
THE LABOR FERMENT.
A Mass Meeting to Consider
Remedial Measures.
QUIET RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.


Seattle. IN mass meeting AZ the Arr.ory
last evening. protested against the reduc-
tons IN wages which kase been made II
sais city within the past year.
Several thousand men aud few women
we're IN the hail, the aoor being literally
packed from the stage 20 within . few feet
OF the door. the gallery being also well
flied Seats we're srran sed over about haif
OF the floor and those were all filed early
liz the evening. Tnen the Industrial Army
n arcned in with their banners and
crowded the aisles. The Sailors Union
attended in uniform and trades unions
were present In body. The hundreds OF
men standing soon became weary and be-
gan leaving the hail. especially Eo~ard the
close. and when the meeting adjourned
not oYer 500 were present
w. g. Armstrong presided. W III. Mid
dieton acted as secretary and the presi-
dents Of different labor unions. as vice
presidents. the speakers. Gen. Saepard. OF
the Industrial Army. Mrs. Mohr and Mrs.
Keuworthy, OF the wornan's auxiliary.
occupied the stage. In opening the meet
ing Mr. Armstrong briefly presented the
grievances of unions in tins city. the
longshoremen. railway men, briekiayers
and laborer.
He was followed by p. H. McKernan, of
the industrial Army, who spoke to sueh
length that his hearers became impatien,
and called for other speakers.
". T.. G. Adams, of the American Rail-
way Union, spoke briefly ard vas fol-
lowed by G. A. Lafayette. president of the
Western Central Labor Union. under
whose auspices the meeting Was held, and
* ha a = as rss ha In la
criticised Rev Wallace Nutsinc. Who had
said the laooring men could eat clans. ".
II. White for taking 81. SO fee tor appear
ing at krug's preliminary examination
and then favoring the reduction OF wages.
and Judge I homss Burke for his efforts TO
reduce wages. He challenged the latter
TO public discussion of the questions st
issue. Henry Shepard, commander of the
Industrial Array, spoke briefly, introduc-
ing . memorial. Roy Goodwin, organizer
for the American Railway Union, was the
las. speaker. being called upon after all
the resol utions had been adopted. All
the resolutions had been prepared IN adj
vance. and after being read By the chair
were adopted unanimously without dis
cussion.
Gen. Shepard presented memorial from
the Industrial Army of the Northwest TO
Gen. Coxey, commander of the National
Industrial Army at Washington City.
The memorial recognized organized labor
as the moral support of the present move
ment to obtain "some ameiioration for the
condition of the toiling masses. expressed
the idea that only united effort would sue
coed and asks Gen. Coxey-
ITO forthwith petition all leading and
lesser labor organizations, industrial
trades unions and the various branches
and wings OF political parties in the
United States 10 each send delegate to
work in conjunction with the Industrial
Army for the advancement and attain
ment of the ends desired. This Joint
assembly is to be called a National
Industrial Congress. from which shall
be eliminated ali questions of politics.
The duties Of the SAID congress 10 be
Jointly tgith yourself as a mem ber) TO dis
cuss the various social and national con-
ditions and thereupon to act as q unit in
formulating petition TO the L nited States
congress for such congressional enact
ments as will give all necessary immediate
relief, and such constitutional amend
meats as will preclude the possibility of a
repetition of the present distressing condi.
ton
A preamble with resolutions on behalf
of the BricKlsyers' Union condemned the
action OF the city council in attempting
Ito reduce the wages OF mechanics and
laborers below living rate" stated that the
men now engaged on the sewers were in
ferior and unskiiled workmen and their
work unsatisfactory. that the average
WAGES OF brickiayers in Seattle in
1873 were s27 per month. that there
was prevailing disposition of ali
corporations, especially in Seattle. TO
orpress workingmen in an unfair manner
protested against the action of all persons
enieavoring 10 reduce the wages of work.
ingnIcn below just compensation, called
on all citizens to investigate the mechan-
icas depredatons being perpe,rated on our
city work ana use their influence against
it. rledginG the support of the meeting TO
aid all men in maintaining their rights as
citizens and workingmen.
Another Sc; OF resolutions condemned
the seton OF the Pacific Coast Steamship
Company. the Great Northern Railway
Company. the city of Seattle and several
street railway corporations for reducing
the wages of mechanics and iahorins men
below just rate of compensation. and
piedging support OF the employees in every
lawful nav.