The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-05-27
Great Demonstration In
Birmingham.
ss
-
TART SPEECHES ARE MADE
Locked Out Street Car Men De-
mand Recognition.


Birmingham. May 26.-(SpeciaI -
Not less than 5000 laboring men and
women attended mass meetings this
afternoon to show their sympathy for
and listen to speeches in regard to-
the locked-out street railway em-
ployes.
Four thousand people were in the
Bijou Theatre and policemen had to
stop any more from entering Ar
engagements were made immediately
for an overflow meeting at the Hippo-
drome skating auditorium.
President p. e. Jacobs, of the Birm-
ingham Trades Council presided at
the Bfjou and c. C. Houston of the
Typographical Union presided at the
Hippodrome. Some of the speeches
were sensational and especially one by
white Gibson, an attorney who repre-
sents a number of labor unions He
was quite personal In his remarks.
Robert Jemison, President OF the Street
Railway Company. was warmly roast
ed In the speeches, as well as tho
Sheriff of the county for hiring spe-
cial deputies. Mayor Ward was also
criticised sharply.
Recognition of Demands.
Ben Commons. organizer of the
American Federation of Labor, was tho
first speaker at the big meeting. He
said that all the street railway men
were asking for was recognition, and
1t was now UP to the other union men
In the district to say whether union
ism was to live or die in this district.
White Gibson followed. He did not
hesitate to use names In expressing
himself He touched on Americanisna
and liberty and in conclusion said that
II necessary all the wheels of COM
merce and Industry In the Birmingham
district will be shut down to secure
the recognition that is due.
Capt. Frank 8. White spoke next.
He said he believed the men had
right to organize. and he admonished
the men to be sensible and not to re-
sort to lawIessness. saying that they
would lose II they did. The only per-
sonal reference he made was when he
said that Robert Jemison was smart
every day In the year and that the
ilaborfng men were oniy smart occa~
sionaIly.
James Leith. of the Typographical
Union. followed Captain White. and
he spoke on the lines OF unionism. The
cheering at times was deafenfng.
Objects to Union Lights.
When the lights were turned on there
was great kissing and yelling. and
cries of Put them out The Birm-
ingham Railway, Light and Power
Company furnishes the lights to the
theatre. 1t was necessary to announces
that the management of the theatre
who was donating the use of the house
would not permit the meeting to pros
coed without light.
At the Hippodrome DR.. o. T. Dor
zier and Ben Davis, an attorney, were
the principal speakers.
The street car schedule was fairly
good today. but there was not much
riding. the business being very light as
compared to the usual business done
on Sundays.
There is no telling what result thc
meetings today will have on the sit
nation. II is not improbable that sa-
looms will be ordered closed again to-
morrow.
Deputy sheriffs ran across fifteen
bows playing craps in one of the pub
lie parks this afternoon. Four were
arrested and the others got away. The
names of the others are known ana
they will be charged with Sunday
gaming. The boys are sons OF re-
spectacle people.
Announcement Is made that the man.
aRement OF the Louisville and Nash
Vile Railroad has declined to meet the
committee sent TO Louisville to CONFER
with reference to the discharge OF
union men at the Decatur shops.
strike is likely to follow in all shops
of the system.
]. d. Buckalew. Third Vice-Presi-
dent of the International Union, Is ex-
nected here tomorrow when he VIII
probably announce the decision or the
international organization.