The San Francisco call., 1897-02-09
MASS-MEETING IN
FAVOR OF BAKERS
Big Gathering at Turk
Street Temple Last
Evening.
Resolutions Adopted Denouncing
Opponents of Labor
Measures.
Those Present Urged to Organize for
Political Purposes Before
Election.

Several hundred laboring men answered
the call for a mass-m Getting at the Turk
street Temple last evening to protest
against the efforts that are being made to
defeat two bills now before the Legis-
lature that are intended to improve the
condition of the bakers.
The majority OF those present seemed to
be members of the Socialist Labor party,
from the applause that frequently greeted
the mention of the name of that organiza-
ton, and the speakers devoted considera-
bic time to pressing the claims of the
party.
The gathering was presided over by G.
Ross Martin who stated the object of the
meeting and said it was high time that
the labor unions protested against the
course that was being pursued by the
Manufacturers and Employers Associa-
ton in attempting to defeat bills that
could be nothing if nor advantageous to
the hard working bakers.
The bills provide for the appointment
OF bakery inspector, who shall be Jour
neyman baker. and fix the days labor at
ten hours, with overtime for anything in
excess of that.
r. A. Copeland read a circular letter
sent out to business men and manufac-
turers by the Manufacturers and En-
pIoyers Association asking them to write
to the representatives at Sacramento from
their districts to vote against the bills.
The chairman then read the following
resolutions, which were adopted unani-
mously:
WHEREAS, There are now pending before the
State Legislature two bills contemplating re-
spectively: (d)The enforcement OF certain pro-
posed sanitary regulations relative to bake
houses and (6l reduction of the number Of
hours daV Wbiph hal
to be employed, all time over ten hours to be
regarded as overtime and 10 be paid at a
higher rate than that OF the proposed legal
workday as provided in the bill; and whereas
in reference TO the bill relating to the
sanitary regulation of bakeshops the measure
is wholly practicable and necessary to the
good health of the community; and that the
bill relative to the number of hours consti-
tutng days labor in bakehouses is COM
mendable for its humanitarian purpose and
calculated TO raise the moral tone and increase
the material wellbeing of a large body of cfti-
ZenS who in no small degree contribute
through their purchasing power TO the indus
trial aud commercial interests of the State
and whereas. a non-progressive body OF men,
known as 1.-THE Board Of Manufacturers and
| Employers OF California as greedy and grasp
ing as they are shortsighted and mean-spirited
have issued on the 2Sth of January last cir.
cular letter calling upon all employers in the
State 10 write to the Senators and Assembly
men OF their respective districs, urging them
to oppose and vote against the aforesaid bills:
and whereas, the said circular letter is NOT
only misleading, DuL lalse In statement and
narration OF particulars. and a credit only to
the narrow and contemplate commercial
spirit which dictated its contents; therefore
be it
ResoIeed, That having heard the reading of
such circular letter, and fully understanding
its spirit and purport, We, the citizens of San
Francisco in mass-meeting assembled do
hereby denouEce the underhanded manner in
which The organization known as the Board
OF Manufacturers and Employers of California
has undertaken TO defeat the will of the peo-
pie by secret special appeals to the representa-
tives of the people in legislative session as
sembled; and be ii further
ReSOlUed That while we indorse the interest
and provisions OF the afore- e-mentioned bill
we, upon moral and political grounds, wholly
disapprove OF the practice of sending delega-
tions, from whatever source, to legislative
bodies for the purpose of "lobbying'' in the in
terest of any class, bill or measure wha tsoever
being contrary TO the genius of repre-
sentative form of government, believing that
II the individual voters nave not done their
duty at the polls the consequence of the
ignorance and negligence should fall upon
their heads without the Interference OF med
dlesome delegations ana letter-writers that
interfere with representatives without the
sanction of the general body of electors.
The speakers OF the evening were NJ. w.
Wilkins of the Typographical Union, II.
Warnecke of the Cigar-makers Union.
Leo Gasser and Theodore Lynch, secre-
tary of the Trades and Labor Alliance.
All delivered strong addresses on the sub
ject of the bills mentioned, and urged
their hearers to organize before the next
general election so that representatives. in
Congress and the State Legislature may
be elected who will be friendly to the in
terests of labor. Their speeches were re-
ceived with frequent and hearty applause.