Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-05-08

In the neighbornood of 5000 per-
sons, at least one-third of them
women, attended the meeting of rail-
road men and citizens at the Audi
torium last night. The occasion was
the mass meeting of the railroaders
employed In this vicinity who are 'on
vacation" but who have been de-
clared by the leaders of the brother
hood to be outlaw strikers. At the
meeting which was attended not only
by railroad men but by business men,
professional men and other citizens
the speakers told the public their
side of the vacation"
The spirit of patriotism prevailed
at the meeting, the huge audience
standing at attention during the
ner." Throughout the evening at
each mention of the national colors
the crowd broke forth into cheers
and showed that they respected and
honored "Old Glory"
Particularly bitter were all the
speakers in reference to the public
press, stating that the papers of the
country had not stated their side of
the story The EVENING NEWS
received It's share in the attacks
which at times were extremely bitter
as far as the NEWS was concerned.
The meeting was opened by Joseph
i. Maloney, the chairman, who was
extremely DllleT lONdidS bhC - -
MING NEWS, claiming that the men
on vacation were not being fairly
represented He claimed that although
the roads were said to be running at
normal such was not the cases ana
If the vacation continued tor
much longer time all people will be
thrown out of work.
The first speaker introduced Npy
Chairman Maloney was Il. J.. Thomp-
son, who said that I'VE have waited
for two years for more money ana
lived on promises. The landlords or
grocery stores or coal dealers won't
wait day, they are no different from
us SO we decided not to wait any
longer" Thompson showed how the
railroad man works ten hours Tor
81 making in thirty days about S12O
He said that the men had been prom
ised more money, but the roads had
not lived up to their agreement and
until they did he urged the people
of this city to cooperate with those
on vacation and help them"
The next speaker was j. Rosencrom
who said in part:
"Why are we on a vacation ?" Be
cause our political railroad and
brotherhood representatives have neg
letced us. Because during the world
war the cream of the high wages were
received by our alien enemies. Be-
cause after the war they are return.
ing to their fatherlands with millions
of American gold, and but for the
protest of labor organizations would
not be required to pay an income tax.
Because on the return of the railroad
men from overseas they are confront
ed with condition worse than they
left. Because the church has failed
to reach the heart of labor or capi-
tai. Because the brotherhoods have
failed as labor organizations. Because
the grand lodge officers are autocratic.
Because the war wage board discrlmi-
mated against the men in the depart
ment."
What Is our grievance? We ask
that our wages be raised to particaliy
meet the aceluating cost of living.
He told how new millionaires had
been made during the war, how the
railroad men had kept their griev-
ances to themselves during the war.
How citizens are profteering; how
in one year of the war, corporations
income rose from thirty-five and one
third billions to eighty-four and one
half billions and the profits from
twenty to two hundred per cent.
He explained the meaning of SEN
iority az follows. - system OF p.so-
tical regulations which determine.
and utilizes the experiences of en-
ployes In the betterment of efficiency
in the security of life. protection of
property and the funationing of traf-
f1ic. The annulment o. lodge charters
to compel the men to live up to con-
tracts made by the grand lodge off,
GERS confines In secret and more
times compromise of the original
grievance"
"The public press started their
campaign of vilification in preying
and libel and we citizens have been
condemned and convicted before the
bar of public opinion to inspire col
prive us Of a living wage to support
our families. They will carry back
to the colleges and communities the
actual working conditions of the rail-
road man. which the press has denied
us. We are asking for justice after a
fair trial with all the true facts pre-
sented. We stand or fall on our rights
of American citizenship.
Jeff Davis" the King Of Hoboes
was the next speaker, he taking his
text from the EVENING NEWS edi-
torial of last night. According to Da-
Wis the editorial places the merchants
of this city, the Chamber Of Com
merce and everybody in the same
boat which Wall street is trying to
sink. He told how he had sold over
$4,000 worth of liberty bonds and
never received cent for his services.
He didn't want any money, all he
wanted was to make America safe
for Democracy and occupancy. Da-
Wis said he had no use for the I. w.
W., but loved America. In his esti-
nation there are only two kinds of
Americans. 100 ped cent, Americans
and 100 per cent. buns. "Bums go
on forever" said Davis. ''and so does
organized labor" He urged people
to keep their liberty bonds and not
sell them as the Wall street people
want them to. Liberty bonds are
worth every cent you paid for them,
not matter what they say" said Da-
Wis. and then turning to the reporter
yelled, put that In the paper"
THE patriotics of Wall street are
trying to make buns out of u.s." said
! Davis. "and I am trying to protect
America from Wall street." He then
launched an attack on Judge Gary,
calling him dirty bum" He told of
the money made by Gary and the
steel trust by charging s16.000.000
for battleship- He maintained that
the Chamber OF Commerce of New
York city and Wall street Is legislat-
ing the small fellow. such as the