Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-22
THE VOICE OF LABOR
Mass Meeting Held Under Auspices
of Local Unions.
THE HAZLETON KILLING CONDEMNED
Addresses by Prominent Leaders of
Federated Organizations.
STRONG APPEAL FOR UNITY

The open meeting last evening, which
was addressed by some of the prominent
officials of the American Federation of La
bor and which was held at Electrical
Workers Hail. No. 62S Louisiana avenue,
under the auspices of the Central Labor
Union and the Building Trades Council,
was as large and enthusiastic as even the
most earnest promoter of the gathering
had hoped for. The meeting was called to
order by President William Silver of the
Building Trades Council. who presided.
Among those present were President
Samuel Gompers of the American Fedora
ton of Labor; Vice Presidents Mcclure,
Duncan, OConnell and Garland; Secretary
Frank Morrison of the same organization;
President NJ. d. Ratchford and Cameron
Miller of the executive council of the
United Mine Workers. Former President
james F. McHugh of the local Federation
OF Labor; Gabriel Edmonston. Milford
SpChn. president of the Central Labor
Union: Samuel De Nedry of the Journal of
the knights of Labor; Andrew Murray,
President William Silver of the Building
Trades Council; o. NJ. Lawson, master
workman, District Assembly, 66, and many
others
The HaxeltOn Incident.
A paper was adopted condemning in
strong terms the act of Sheriff Martin and
his deputies at HaZleton, Pa, for the kill
ing. near that place, of twenty-four I'M
armed striking miners, which was as fol-
lows:
''Ihe killing of score or more of miners
pear tIazietcn, Pa, September TO- by Sher-
if Martin and his deputies, should be de-
plor~d by every~iaw-abiding citizen of the
country. 1t was a lawless act done in the
name OF the law. and demonstrates the
fact that neither the life nor liberty of the
citizen will be regarded when unjust, OPP
pressive and trataiIzing conditions are to
be maintained.
We regard Sheriff Martin and his depu-
ties as guilty OF deliberate, unprovoked
murder. and demand that they be arraign-
cd and prosecuted for the crime.
We ueplCre the conditions now existing
at HazietOn, and in other portions of the
Lehish regions, where an armed force is
maintained and civil law is pinioned to the
bayonets OF Il hired soldiery. This is the
Inevitable result of an Industrial system
pregnant with increasing evils, which. il
not eradicated by the efforts of American
manhood and patriotism, will result in the
obstruction of this republic or the horrors
of revolution.
While we counsel obedience to law and
will ever deprecate any violent infraction
thereof, either by capital, its hired agents
or the Wage-earners, in their struggle for
better conditions, yet We recognize the fact
that the abuse of the injunction, the unre-
Strcted power of the judiciary. and the in
depreciation and enforcement of law which
is oppressive and unjust. provoke disorder
and discomfort, breeds contempt of govern
nent, Torment riot, and endanger the sta
bility of the state.
I'VE therefore declare for the repeal OF
all law which discriminates as between the
legal privileges of the poorest and the
richest; of the humblest laborer and the
vealthiest capitalist; that the right to life
and liberty shall be as fully protected and
as sdcredly guarded is now the right to
control the means by which men live. We
lpliS13finu yrh oh mill
foTce and maintain just and equitable eco
ncnlic conditions where all men shall en-
JOY peerase OF privileges and stand equal
before the law
President GOmpers' Address.
Pr ,sident Gompers of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor who was the first speaker
after a few remarks in reference to the
prominent visiting labor men present spoke,
in part, as follows:
We are confronted with conditions which
are not only peculiar, but very acute. The
toilers have been compelled. as far back as
history goes. to contest for every inch of
liberty enjoyed. Confronting labor are the
wealth possessors of the country We
must bear in mind that from time i'm
memorial the power of government has
been on the side of wealth.
Some time ago l took occasion to say,
ana l want to repeat it here tonight, the
wealth possessors are free wherever they
80. no matter whether it be in the United
States or under the Gar OF Russia.
In the early days the struggles took on
different phases Men who attempted to
leave one place for another with a view OF
improving their conditions violated the
law IL took years and years of effort to
educate the public mind to the fact that
that was wrong.
With the dawn of the new century came
different forms OF oppression. The gather
arg OF labor1ng men for discussion was
declared Illegal, and courts found prece-
dents to enforce the position taken by
crowned heads in this regard
Men Were sent 10 prisons and tails and
even to untimely graves for the prjnciple
of organization, but agitation by Iaborinp
men eventually compelled courts to recog-
nize the fact that organization within ri.
law Is not conspiracy.
New Device.
During the last few years there has beer
new device brought into play-that OF
government by injunction-and these hav,
been issued by judges of almost every kinf
of court. Perhaps the time is not far dis
tant when the justice of some police courr
viii issue an injunction to prevent laborinl
men from doing anything. Under an in
junction issued recently men were pro
hihited absolutely from going upon a publi,
road OF any OF the approaches to the road
1t Is not so serious. perhaps, that tn,
judge can issue these injunctions as th,
ne Is the sole arbiter of whether or no
the man against whom The injunction Il
issued has violated it,. This is in opposi
ton TO justice. in opposition to our prin
cipes OF government and it must go in tn,
course of time Though corporations ma,
try TO steal our liberties / beg you TO re
member that the laboring people mus
stand together. and permit no one to tea
down the grand republic built by Wash
ington. Jefferson and Madison
Appeal to UnOrgnnIxed Labor.
IT. conclusion. Mr.. Gompers made al
earnest appeal for the unorgan:zed to be
come organized, for the former had. h.
said. no voice in shaping legislation L
would. he said. be by the efforts of tn,
trades unions that wrongs now existins
would be righted and the government O
The United States be perpetuated.
There is he continued, mo wrong up
Ger which We suffer thar cannot he rfoht