The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-23
BUSY SESSION.
Registration Urged at Meeting
Of Economic League.

The meeting OF the Economic league
last evening was not as harmonious as
might be desired. for opinions OF almost
every shade prevailed.
A motion was carried that all the unions
be asked 10 appoint members OF com
mittee for political action, meaning work
In the line OF registration.
Thomas Houston OF the Cigarmakers
union presided and In calling the meeting
10 order he referred b the matter OF
registration and declared that the city
council elected under the present system
had asked the state legisla ture 10 do
their business for them by establishing
police commission.
POWER OF LABOR UNIONS.
"The whole matter" he said, lies in
the hands of the labor unions al the pres
cut time There are 1900 men I'm the
city OF Providence in the labor unions III
these men don't hold the balance OF power
they never will. If they don't show re-
suits this year they will never have
better chance.
lis IL not possible TO elect a straight
ticket representing the workingmen who
will go pledged TO the Initiative and ref
erendum? Under that system there Will
not be. as claimed by it's opponents. more
elections than at present, although during
the first year there will doubtless be more
or less amendments proposed.
These old parties give us lots Of prom
ises, but we have been waiting FOR leg
islature that will work for the working
man--to vote for a man who will favor his
best interests. This is the first time this
movement has started here IL We can
get enough men TO register we can elect
men from the city OF Providence any
way
Everyone Is aware that this Is the
Trades Union Economic league. II is
an organization OF the individuals from
the trades unions
An Individual. who claimed to be or
ganizer OF the Firemens union. essayed
Interruptions. but he was promptly
squelched by President owens OF the Bar
tenders union and Brother ONeill Of the
Bartenders' union.
AN ABLE APPEAL.
An exceptionally clever and suggestive
address, in fact. appeal. was made by Ed
ward owens. president OF the local union
CT bartenders. lie said
Twenty thousand votes means the
election of any candidate you put Into
tne ~ ,nte uo s,raigh, goh may cst I' yo vii
be able to vote for someone tnat indorses
labor. for every office The working
men are In the majority In the state ana
can elect to office.
Don't he "A horse always. You have
got the strength and should turn II 10
your advantage. Register and influence
your friends To register IL is your duty
You've "A chance I'm Providence this year
that YOU may never nave again. Hart
ford has elected "A clothing clerk as may
or. If there was n labor mayor in ProYi-
dtnce wouldn't the team drivers get more
from all sides2''
John T. Cannon OF the Machinists' union
said:
Let us get together on election day.
Why be Democrats or Republicans when
we can get together In n common causel
Organized labor has been victorious in
other cities and we can do II here. We
can abolish this government OF bosses,
corrupters and bribers and have n gov
ernment OF. for and by the people"
REASONABLE REQUEST.
At the close of the above address the
league decided 10 ask the board OF can
vassers and registration TO remain open
until o'clock at night during June for
the purpose OF registration the part
OF laboring men.
Remarks OF an interesting ma ture were
also MADE by International Organizer
Grace of the Team Drivers union. VIII
liam Keough and T.. @. Mereweather OF
the Plumbers union. J. III. Cook OF the
union and President Moore of
the Central Trades and Labor union.