The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-29
MASS MEETING.
Boston Citizens Display
Their Sympathy
For West End Company's
Discharged Employees.
Notable Gathering In the "Cradle of
Liberty" Last Night.

Boston. Dec. 29.-Faneuil hall, that
historic Cradle Of Liberty" from the
platform OF which the rights of the
downtrodden and oppressed have so
often been defended. was crowded last
night by men and women of all classes
of society In sympathy with the SEQ con-
ductors and motormen who have been
discharged by the management for par
ticipating In the recent strike on the
West End street railway In this city.
President Little Of the road had been in
vited TO attend, but declined, owing TO
previous engagements.
On the platform were senator's. ex-
congressman. lawyers. doctors, clergy
men. philanthropists and business men,
while in the gallery were many women.
One incident tended to mar the har-
mony of the gathering, and that was
while Robert Treat Paine. Sr., the
millionaire and philanthropist, was
speaking. A woman In the gallery in
terrupted the speaker and began dia-
tribe, the drift Of which could be heard
by only those around her.
Harry Lloyd, prominent labor
speaker OF this state. presided and con-
cisely stated what the meeting had been
called for in presenting j. B. Ell. q
young professor OF economics, who re-
viewed the efforts OF the street railway
men, by their executive committee, TO
scure the adoption OF an agreement rela-
tive TO hours OF labor, wages and other
matters, between the management Of
the road and its employees for 1897.
Rev. Scott e. Hershey OF Boston spoke
next. first stating that his sympathy
and convictions were with the EN-
ployes OF the road.
Hon. George Fred Williams was re-
csived with an ovation which lasted
fully five minutes He said Il would
show little heart for my fellowmen IL
/ did not come here tonight and say a
few words In their cause. What arc
we here for? To protest against q
wrong, to demand the righting Of a
wrong or to sue for pity. have a right
in the name OF humanity to utter pro-
test against the wrong that has been
done these. men, their wives and their
children. Hard working, industrious
men, trained to the service of the pub
lic have been thrown out of employ
ment The people should protest against
500 proved servants of the public being
thrown out of the service and their
places filled by green" men. The pub
lie for a generation past has been CIV
Ing everything to property and has not
saved vestige OF power TO save her
people from injustice. Millions of dol
lars have been spent on our streets and
given to a private corporation for Moth
ing. We see this corporation having a
legislature OF its own. a police, of its
own. a city. as II were. within a city.
and all this for one end only. that profit
may come TO the members of this cor
poration, and we are left i'm this position
that over 1000 human beings are without
protection from injustice. The strike
was q short one, perhaps a mistake OF
Judgment. but the men came back ready
for work. acknowledging their defeat
The discharges were not for righteous
ness. but for Vengeance. IL means that
hereafter the flesh and blood of the en-
ployes shall feel the lash of tyranny.
and that the hand of the corporation Is
not flesh and blood. but is steel.
This fight is In the public interest as
well as your own. 1 doubt whether you
will ever accomplish the conversion of
the public business and public works
into the hands of public authorities.
We are seeing enough millions Of dol
Ers sunk in a subway which. when COM
pleted. will be given to this corporation.
Our only remedy is the polls"
Father Field Of the Society Of st. John
the Evangelist expressed his sympathy
with the strikers and regretted that the
bishops and clergy were not better
represented, but perhaps 1t was that
they were afraid to trust themselves to
the mercy OF the new men on the cars in
Journcying to and from the hall.
Robert Treat Paine. Sr., objected TO
some of the statements of the previous
speakers. He was not a pessimst; he
believed that the workingman was ad
vancing, and that his conditions were
improving, because God is on his side.
II believe that II this organization had
presented their agreement to the public
before taking 1t to President Little the
city of Boston would have supported the
men In Obtaining their desires" Mr..
Paine's address was received with
mingled cheers and Kisses, and the
chairman had several times to inter-
fere in order that the speaker could
proceed. He was followed by Rev.
Herbert Casson. ex-Congressman Nc
Ettrick. L. NJ. Young, president OF the
union; Alderman Mahoney, Senator
quinn and others.
1t was unanimously voted, with but
one dissentant. that a committee Of Ave
be appointed To walt on the West End
street railroad and protest against any
further discharges, the reinstatement
OF the men, and to obtain a conference
30 that the agreement might be dis |
cussed. The following were appointed |
on the committee: Alderman Mahoney |
Senator Quinn. Robert Treat Paine, Rev |
Mr.. Alright and ex-Congressman Nc
Ettrick.