The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1897-01-01

End Railway Company.
Boston, Lee. 29.-Faneuil hall was
packed to the doors last night by men
and women, who gathered to express
their sympathy for the 800 conductors
and motormen who have been dis
charged by the West End company for
participating in the strike last week.
President Little of the street car COM
pany was invited to attend, but declined.
The meeting was called by the executive
committee of the employees union te
protest against the discharge of the
men who struck.
On the platform were senators, eX-
congressman, lawyers, doctors, clergy
men, philanthropists and business men,
while in the gallery were many women.
One incident tended to mar the har-
mcny of the gathering, and that was
while Robert Treat Paine, ST., 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 a prominent labor
speaker of this state, presided and con-
cisely stated what the meeting had been
called for in presenting j. B. Eli, a
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 it's 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-
ceived with an ovation which lasted
fully five minutes. He said Il would
show little heart for my fellowmen If
[ did not come here tonight and say
few words in their cause. What are
Wa here for? To protest against
wrong. to demand the righting of
wrong or to sue for pity. | have 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
lie, have been thrown out of employ
ment The people should protest against
800 proved servants of the public being
places filled by green" men. The pub
lie for a generation past has been Civ
ing everything to property and has not
saved a vestige of power to save her
people from injustice Millions of dol
lars have been spent on our streets and
given to private corpora ton for moth
ing We see this corpora ton having a
legislature of it's own, a police of it's
~ I'll
and all this for one end only. that profit
may come to the members of this cor
pora ton. and we are left in this position
that over 1000 human beings are without
protection from injustice. The strike
vas a short one, perhaps mistake of
judgment, but the men came back ready
for work. acknowledging their defeat.
The discharges were not for righteous
ness. bat for yengeance It means that
TeTrsif - tits les Fl 1ari5. fJl0C57 ,af me cII
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
we'll as your own. 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
lars 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 it was that
they were afraid to trust themselves to
the mercy of the new men on the cars in
journeying to and from the halt
Robert Treat Paine, ST. objected to
some of the statements of the previous
speakers. He was not a pesSimist; he
believed that the WOrkingman was ad-
vancing, and that his conditions were
because God is on his side
Il believe that if this organizat ton had
presented their agreement to the public
before taking it to President Little the
city of Boston would have supported the
men in Obtaining their desires" Mr..
Paine's address was received with
cheers and Kisses, and the
chairman had several times to inter
fere in order that the speaker could
He was followed by Rev.
CasSOn. eX-Congressman Nc
Ettrick, L. M. Young, president of the
union; Alderman Mahoney Senator
Quinn and others.
1t was unanimously voted, with but
one dissentant, that a committee of five
be appointed to wait on the West End
street railroad and protest against any
further discharges, the reinstatement
of the men, and to obtain conference
so that the agreement might be dis
cussed. The following were appointed
on the committee: Alderman Mahoney.
Sena tor Quinn Robert Treat Paine, Rev.
Mr. alright and eXCOngressman Nc
President Little Obdurate
Boston, Dec. 30-The committee ap-
pointed at the mass meeting in Faneuil
hall Monday night to consider the West
End street railway difficulties from the
point of view met at city hall
yesterday, and after long discussion
a plan of settlement. The
sta tement called for an equitable settle
ment of the whole controversy, the dis
of the employment of new
men, the reinstatement of former en-
ployes, and that the company receive
a committee of it's employees in order to
reach an agreement. The committee
afterward went to the offices of the COM
pany and there submitted it to President