Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-03-27
GREAT ENTHUSIAST AT
MASS MEETING OF THE
TERRA GOTTA WORKERS
Unions of City Take Part in
Huge Demonstration--P
rade in Rain.
SP EAKERS GIVE ISSUES

Demonstrating the strength of un-
fonism here about, 1000 men from
the allied unions Of the city to the
inspiration furnished by two bands,
marched through the principal
streets Of Perth Amboy in disagree
able, drizzling rain to Washington
hall, where a grand union mass
meeting called by the joint terra cot
Ia workers unions, of this place, was
held last night. Tfe object OF the
meeting was to strengthen and en-
courage the more active support of
the recently organized terra Gotta
workers unions in the city. City
and county officials and many prom
inent union men were present. Sher-
1T BollschWeiler was among the
speakers.
During the meeting a resolution
was adopted requesting the vote and
support of Senator William e. Ram
say for Assemblyman Arthur A.
Quinn's anti-injunction bill, and the
anti-lead poison bill, house bill 529,
championed by the American Society
of Labor Legislation, both of which
bills have passed the lower house of
bill was taken following an appeal
from Miss Lillian Erkstine, of Plain
field, who is voluntarily working to
better the injurious conditions sur
rounding the workers in the lead
mills of the state. Dr.. Ramsay will
be apprised of the above action by
letter.
Led by Charles Merello, leader
in the terra Gotta workers organiza-
ton movement, about 500 men form
ed in line at union hall in Smith
street at 745 and began their march
through the city. Andrew Nelson S
band led the procession. Following
the band were several hundred union
men in the midst of whom were six
from the painters union bearing q
huge American flag. Next came the
Columbus Italian band, followed by
representatives of the carpenters
union and hundreds of other union
men, many Of whom carried red fire
torches. The course of march fol-
lows: Union hall down Smith street
to High street, High to Market street
to State street, up State to Wash
ington street, to Amboy avenue, to
Maple street to Smith, to Madison
avenue, hence through Fayette street
to Washington hall. Thomas F.
Burke, who was to have been chief
marshall of the parade, was prevent
ed attending the pageant by an un-
expected call somewhere else.
Frank Butterworth, president Of
the International Brick, Tile and
Terra Gotta Workers Alliance, pre-
sided at the meeting. He explained
that Samuel Gompers and John Nit
chell, of the American Federation of
Labor, were unable to be present,
and read telegram from the former
the president of the federation, stat
ing his regrets not to be able to come
and stating that he hoped the move
ment will result in much good for
Perth Amboy and unionism in gener-
al
Mr.. Butterworth made the opening
address and endeavored to set forth
the reasons why the mass meeting
was called. He stated that the city
and county officials had been invited
to give them from first hand the in
tentions Of the terra Gotta workers
organization ana WHAT HeJuOuS Jl6y
intend to pursue. He said that the
meeting was called to show those un-
organized terra Gotta workers that a
real organization had been started
and to invite the representatives of
other unions to lend inspiration by
their presence to the cause. He de-
clared that they did not intend to
ruin the terra Gotta industry, that
they had learned how to conduct
conservative unions whose demands
on the manufacturers would be grad
ual and moderate. He declared their
methods would be unobstrusiye, that
they did not want to try to run the
business for the employer, but neith-
er did they want the employer to run
their business. In speaking of the
recent union movement in New Jer-
sey he said: "Unionism is too strong
in this part of New Jersey that 1t
cannot be crushed. The so-called
agitator has not been responsible for
the union movement, but it is the
spontaneous movement on the part
of the workers" He urged the non
union men in the audience to organ