Year: 1868

TorchIight Procession and Mass Meeting Of


the Journevmen Bakers.


From fifteen TO eighteen hundred journeymen
bakers OF this city, Brooklyn and Williamsburg
marched to Lepoin's National Assembly Rooms on
Fortyfourth street, near Ninth avenue last evening"
from the Grand street ferry, where the New York
Unions received those from sister cities across
the East river With their numerous trcolofed
lamps, transparencies and banners with fitting and
expressive notices, and a large portion OF
the bakers clad in white, they made a
nne appearance in the streets the march. how.
ever was tedious one, and 1t was fully ha..past
ten before they reached the hall. Many were tired
somewhat obstreperous and unruly. This very soon
became evident when Mr.. Knoblock, OF Union No q
Of New York lhe and James Watson OF No. 1, hav.
ing been elected Chairman and Secretary or the
meetng), began to address the assembly. saying
that he knew many were dissatisfied with the long
walk, but he hoped that every journeyman baker
who after working for sixteen hours, would
still do job or an errand for his boss would
not think II TOO much TO walk few miles for him
bosses that they were In earnsst and meant to stay
in earnest" and having worked long enough for their
bosses would now conclude TO work hereafter for
themselves also. This latter declaration evoked M.
roarous applause, during which Mr.. Drury, OF the
General Trades Trades Union stepped forward, and on
say OF the benefits firm and compact
organization OF the workngmen. and instarced
the journeymen bakers OF Glasgow, In Scot
land who were the FIRST TO reduce the hours of labor
to ten and increase their wages, and that with
thorough organization and complete uranimity they
also could achieve 1t here The people suffer quietly
the increased price OF bread caused by the specu.
ators In -four, and they would the more cheerfully
bear II they knew that the higher price for the
benefit OF the workingman and ain the interest of
humanity" How humanity in general Is TO be bene-


ed by the greater cost Of bread he failed xpain
During the latter part Of his remarks the meeting
was quite boisterous and disorderly, q majority OF
those present demanding 10 proceed TO business.
But those who had come with speeches In their
throats were not TO be put down, and Mr.. Ennis
mounted the platform and expa:iated again upon
the effectiveness OF organization. The only sensible
thing he said was that nineteen hours OF work
without tntermission can't be done any longer In
this b0asted land OF freedom" Three resolutions
were then read as proposed by the executive com.
mittee The first demands that twelve hours
should constitute days or nights work, with
one hours interval for meals when convenient
for the The second asks for an advance OF nfty
cents per day on present wages, and five dollars per
week extra FOR board and the third declares that In
shops where majority OF the hands belong TO the
Union. they should not work with nonmembers In
shops where the members are In the minority they
might do a. they like. The arst resolution was
adopted unanimously the second as unanimously re-
jected and In It's place It resolved that eighteen
dollars per week should be the standard OF wages
from Monday next On the third resolution they
were still deliberatng when our reporter left at mid
night.