The Detroit times., 1908-01-28
HOST
MARCHES ON
CITY HALL
TWO THOUSAND POLES ASK MAY.
OR FOR WoRk-ciTY JOBS TO
BE PUSHED TO FURNISH EN-
PLoYMENT,

men, mostly Poles, marched upon the
city hall Tuesday morning. asking the
mayor TO find work for them, This
Is the second demonstration OF the
kind in eight days, the former march
being OF west side Poles, while Tues
days crowd came from the east side.
Mayor Thompson offered his sym
patty and assured them that he will
ask the council and the various depart
ments TO expedite public works and
provide employment during the tenn
porary dullness.
The leaders OF the movement are
men who are affiliated with the or
ganization known as the Industrial
Workers OF the World, more mill
tant labor organization than the Fed
Grafton of Labor.
The gathering was entirely peaceful
and the march was almost silent
ore. After hearing the mayors mes
sage, the crowd dispersed
A small body OF men gathered at
Harmonic hall, No. 744 Russell-st..
early In the morning and marched,
about 100 strong, To Arbefter hall.
Russell and Catherinests. Here they
waited until the meeting opened at 3
o'clock. At that time about 1900 were
in the hall. Only three women were
present.
Herman Richter spoke first in So
cialistic strain, condemning industrial
conditions which make the working
siman instead Of earning his living
alone, dependent on a giant factory
Tor industry.
Times have come when humanity
can produce more than II can use. and
yet the ownership Of the tools OF In
dustry by few causes poverty he
went on.
I'VE want bread" he declared. re-
ferring to the present slack time in
the factories.
Poles Eioquence Stirs Crowd.
Frank HilinsN spoke next In Pol
ish. and his eloquence stirred his aud
itors to frequent applause.
I'VE have produced so much that
we have nothing TO eat" he declared.
I'VE are not free. The police, the
priests, are all with the capitalistic
class. No one cares IL workingman
die"
Referring to the Vanderbilt-Szech-
enY wedding. he said:
Here a rich young woman marries
a Hungarian and he gets $4,000 900.
. Yet the Huns In Detroit are walking
without shoes or clothing"
President Roosevelt, the speaker
said, had been elected as a father to
the common people, but yet allowed
millions TO be spent to send bat
tleship feet away, and when the panic
came helped the bankers and not the
poor.
George Young, a local organizer OF
the Industrial Workers. also spoke in
an infiammatory manner and then the
march started. The men plodded along,
but rarely raised their voices, and no
one sang. A few at the head OF the
column got into quarrel with a.
driver for Thomas Barlum, who drove
into the ranks. but this was the only
trouble.
IA the city hall Mayor Thompson
was in waiting and he met a commit
tee OF five--Herman Richter, George
Young, w. Voss, Frank Hilinski and
John Zakzewski-who presented to him
resolutions stating the needs OF the
unemployed and asking assistance.
Herman Richter said he would sug-
gest that the city provide work OF lend
the workingmen money. George Young
wanted the mayor to devise means by
which homes might be built on va
cant lands and the workers allowed
to purchase them at cost.
1T is unfortunate that these things
occur" said Mayor Thompson in reply.
ut Is no fault Of ours. This same
thing is occurring all over the United
States.
Sympathy From Mayor.
"We sympathize with you. AS far
as the mayor taking hold of things,
cannot see how we can do very much.
The mayor can't initiate anything. The
council must do that. The best thing
to do at the present time will be to
ask the council TO call together the
heads of the various departments and
commissions and ask them to advance
public work
This seemed satisfactory to- the
committee and the mayor further as
sured the members OF his personal re-
gard and told them TO call upon him
any time. as he Is not afraid of work
ingmen Young suggested that needy
workingmen who cannot pay rent be
allowed to occupy vacant houses, but
this was not discussed.
Richter. Zakzewski. Young and Hill
inski addressed the crowd again and
then the meeting dispersed.
Park Commissioner Breitmeyer
will send to the council tonight "a com.
munication In regard to the digging
OF new canals on Belle Isle, which
was discussed In The Times last
week He estimates that for the con
struction of the two canals needed
about $4,000 will be required, and OF
this 10000 should be available now
to give employment to laboring men
who are idle and who could thus fLG
work The necessity OF these canals
will be brought out at some length.
and immediate action recommended.
The park committee has been called
upon to meet with the commission
this afternoon and consider this con-
munication before Il goes TO the conn
ell. thus possibly erpedi,ing matters.
Both Chairman Freiwald and Aid. Re
maud have expressed themselves as
favoring the starting OF the work
now. Il would employ about SOC
men.
There IL only one that - Just as good
ne Stror 3 and TINT IL strors- Bvvr--