New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-30
FOR AN EIGHTHOUR DAY.
EIGHTY LABOR UNIONS TAKE PART IN
A DEMONSTRATION

A DEMONSTRATION.
An army OF laboring men set the East Side astr
last night by a demonstration In favor OF their de-
mand for an eight-hou day. About three thousand
men, representing nearly every branch Of industry.
gathered at various places. and. after parading in
the East Side marched to Union Square, where a
mass meeting was held.
In all eighty labor organizations members OF
the Central Federated Union. participated in the
parade. among the larger representations being
those OF the Cloakmakers Union 500 strong; Brew
ers' Union No. l, the Ale and Porter Union No.
l. the Ffremens Union No /, Walters Union No. /.
United Engineers No l. Pipe Caukers and Tap
pers' Union. the international Union OF Steam En-
gneers, the Liberty Dawn Association Of Cab and
Livery Drivers, Rising Sun Association OF Livery
Stable Employees. Bakers Union No. l. Electrical
Workers Union, Horseshoers Union No. l. Plaster
ers' Union, German Walters Union No !. and
Cigarette Packers Union No. 81 Daniel Harris,
president Of the State Branch Of the Central Fed
Grated Union, was grand marshal.
Bands OF music numerous, and the keepers
OF the East Side saloons spent more money for
fireworks than they do the Fourth Of July.
Hundreds Of men carried pacards. reading simply
Eight hours" Transparencies frequently
seen In the line. bearing such phrases Our
motto-Not retrogression, but progress" "Polti-
clans will please taSe notice that we mean bust
ness" Eight hours work, eight hours recreation
and eight hours rest" Fight for shorter hours
made by machines, cigarettes bearing the union
label are made by human beings"
The line of march from No. Ala East Fifth-st
to First ave- 10 Fourteenh-st. to Second-ave., TO
Twenty second-st to Fourth-ave., to Union Square,
where a dense mass OF people surrounded the bal
cony from which the speaking was done, and which
adorned with flags and emblems of labor or
CARNATIONS.
Daniel Harris called the assemblage TO order, and
made a few remarks In which he referred to the
Eight Hour bill, which recently passed the Legis
lature, and is now awaiting the Governors sigma
ture to become a law, and he announced that a
resolution asking the Governor to sign the OH,
He then introduced John s. Crosby, VINO was re-
ceived with cheers.
JOHN s. CROSBYS SPEECH.
Mr. Crosby began by saying: Il only wish that
a meeting OF this size could be held every week OF
the year and could have such meetings II
workngmen were not too tired after their days
work ito attend meetings The passage Of this
bill which your chairman referred to- is an indica-
ton that the endeavor to get for the worklnBmen
The employers getting fewer and fewer.
Corporations are your employers. now, and unless
day laborer Under proper conditions 1t should
not be necessary to pass an eight-hour law put
under the circumstances something must be zone
to relieve the workingmen AS labor is not free
to make contracts. the law. should protect H.
man working than eight hours day has
no time to consider the great problems that are
facing our race There are brains anu nte,sen n
10 apply their intelligence for the good of their
fellows. and the Intelligence, which the world SO
much needs. Is idle" 49, 80,
Mr. Crosby again referred to the Eight Hour bill
and said that II is an indication that the power WELD
ed by the working people is being felt. And be-
lieve" he said that your Governor Will sign the
bill | believe him to be an honest man. MI
Crosby here said two complimentary things
about the Governor that OF his hearers took
exception to. Mr.. Crosby then, In reply 10 the
questions that were fired at him, replied that ne
was not making a speech for Roosevelt. But,
he said you can sometimes do more with man,
and especially that kind OF a man. by rubbing his
fur the right way" ,,
Mr. Crosby then told the crowd that they should
demand that the city build the rapid transit tunnel,
which, he said, would give employment to many
men and they would have an eight-hour day
while the road was being built and afterward:
After Mr. Crosby finished John F. Tobin addressed
When ne had ceased talking there were loud
cries for Eugene V. Debs. but he was not present
Mr. Harris then read the resolutions 10 which he
had referred early in the evening. They were
adopted unanimously, and were:
'Iiesolyed That we, the working men ana
women OF the city OF NewYork. will render all the
assistance that lies In our power both morally ana
fna nciaIly to all those who are endeavoring TO
better the condition OF their coworkers in reducing
the hours OF labor In their respective trades IRE
spective OF creed color or nationality, and be II
further -, e,- ,,,-
"Resoved That we request the Governor, Theo-
dore Roosevelt to sign the Eight Hour bill passed
at the last session OF the Legislature, and that a
conv Of these resolutions be sent TO him.