New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-29
SILLY TALK IN COOPER UNION.
SPEAKERS AT MEETING TO PROTEST
AGAINST THE TORTIFICAT1ON BILLS
SAY THE GUNS ARE MEANT FOR
WORKTNGMEN NOT FOR
FOREIGN FOES

Cooper Union was filled last night with lot OF
Wild talk which was let loose IN the course OF a
meeting held under the auspices OF the Central
Labor Union 70 protest against the spending Of
sssooooo by the Government tor coast defences and
fortincations A goodslzed crowd present. but
there were few Americans on hand. and at various
times during the evening they made their presence
known. The Socialists In control and they
impar,ially hissed everybody. from President Ceve
land ard Chauncey NJ. Depew TO General Master
Workman Sovereign and Samuel Gompers
The sentiment that frequently sprung and
as frequently brought down the house THE
guns and fortincations for you ani not for a
foreign foe" In fact. Henry George declared the
bills before Congress to protect the seaeoasts
and ports from foreign invasion "wers deliber-
ate,y designed and careful scheme TO crush labor
whenever It raised It's head" This absurd dec
lara,ion met with few protesting Kisses that
were lost amid the din OF cheers.
Jerome O'Nell presided. ard letters indorslng the
meeting read from William Lloyd Garrison,
Lyman Abbott. Samuel Gompers and j. r. Sow
erelgn C. W. Hoadiey and John McLuckie started
the speeches. and then Herman V. Hetzel who
said he was from the city OF brotherly love and
poor wages. gave the crowd a talk that seemed to
warm the cookies Of their patriotism"
II know this thing is meant for you and not for
foreign countries-not for the enemy beyond. but
for the common people he said. and he spoke as
about the children being drilled in the pubiic
placard I'm the Sunday schools. Suffer ttle chill
dren come unto me would amend with
Johnny. bring your gun " He told several hoary-
headed Jokes" and iluay declared: You are be-
ginning TO find out what you want and that's why
they fitting up their guns and fortihcations. -
There squad OF thirty or more policemen In
the hall and a good deal OF their time spent In
quietng the handful OF Americans who did not
agree with the speakers sentiments.
Ernest X. Crosby made moderate and reason
able speech against the bills. and then Henry Is.
Salisbury declaimed How TO make the rich
secure and the poor content'-the former by the
guns and the latter with the guns.
Resolutions read indorsing the sentimen ts
expressed and pedgng those there 10 vote agans;
every Congressman who was recorded for the bills,
and calling for the formation OF new political
party tha, will demand the abolition OF ars-
tocratically organized standing Army and Navy,
and the crushing out OF monopolies."
The chairman called for the ayes and there was n
storm OF them. and although he failed TO call for
the noes they cam. unb!d from all over the hall.
Henry George then called for a rising vote. and
victions to stand up against the resolutions. Mr..
George then paid his respects TO the newspapers
and they were literally hissed. He wished 10 de-
clare deliberately, American citizen. he said.
that he would rather every engine hurled from
the track, every rail torn up and good many
other terrible things than order maintained by
n standing army Liberty and order maintained
BY standing army are Incompatible. he de-
clared.
talk.