Year: 1875




establishment Joined in, and the procession
quite an imposing spectacle There were eight
thousand persons the streets talking gesticula
ing when the head Of the procession was by Mr.
d. G. Hartman


A MEETING


After hearing the report as above he asked them to
go quietly TO the park and hold mass meeting, he
gong in the meantime to get the necessary speakers
This TO have been the first sensible hint given
during the round They marshaed in battalion
file, the women walking with the men, and went the
park, collecting around the music stand AS they
Nam street they received accessions and
by the time the speakers had arrived-at about half
past nine o'cock-there could not have been less than
l2OO persons present BY this time all the humor had
vanished. There longer the traing and jocu
larty that had been observable during the early morn
ing. One fact apparent-they had leaders
There certain undercurrent that showed spirit
of impatience TO have the matter settled,
either way or the other A few police
in uniform had followed tho procession
to the park; but 1t afterward transpired
when the arrests made that many mixed
with the people, being dressed in citizens clothes
Such sight has probably been in the
try before Here these thousands of people, all
dressed IN working costume, standing on the damp
grass under the chilling influence of the cold breeze
that came of the harbor anxious hear word
that should encourage them to do Just what was neces
sary at the time. Low arose. like the break
dashing the seashore at distance 1t
of upturned faces, whose sombreness relieved
only by the dainty sprgs of flowers in the bonnets of
the females they lowered up above the caps
of the and waved to and fro in
the breeze Among the speakers IL
b. Coffin Henry sevcy, d. G. Hartman, Jonathan
BiltcliGe and several members of the committees of
the different labor organizations The procession, in
going TO the park had along Bedford street. thence
down Six-and-a-Haf street, and thus by way Of
Pleasant Main street. In this way II had taken up
large delegation OF female operatives, who otherwise
would have known nothing about this impromptu
meeting for the general understanding that
meeting not TO be held until the afternoon. "Go
for Rock street," ''Go for the mansions Rock
street, shouted several, if with the intention of
moving the speakers to a little harshness The first
speaker was old Mr. Bclife who seemed almost be-
side himself with rage ut the continued attitude of the
manufacturers His advice rather short and rather
awe have done all in power with the
of mills TO obtain our rights So far we have failed,
and they still continue to hold you their terms. l
very old and have not long to live, at the
most, and l scarcely whether l am arrested to-
day, for what am about to say you would die to-
morrow before will become a slave, and there are
thousands of others like me. will dleness but
while there bread in the town would 60 and take
it,"


This was followed by great cheering and much ex-
element


MORAL SUGGESTED.


When Mr. Sevey came forward he briefly showed
that, considering all the circumstances it most
serious affair. He thought that the conditions asked
were altogether unwarrantcd and that these
terms the manufacturers must have known
could not have been accepted, excepting un-





the help from that which they did themselves in the
form of combinations illogical and unwise He ad
vscd them appeal public sentiment and the senti-
of the country, and make a special appeal to the
people of New England by having a meeting in
Boston, and securing in their like Phillips
and Garrison who would readily help them and be able
ntellgenty to discuss their cause that it might be
thoroughly understood. 1t was matter that Massa-
chusets must take up All her traditions, her history
her claims for the oppressed forbid any other than the
cordial support If she doesn t support you now
when your rights assaied when assistance be
of any moment On motion of the chairman, Mr.
Coffin, a committee OF six appointed to
wait on the Mayor ask his assistance
IN view of the circumstance The committee was
composed OF Messrs. Corln, Hartman, sevey and a
member from the weavers, spnners and carders
unions respectively. They then left the crowd the
park and proceeded at to the City Hall and had
an interview with Mayor Davenport. "A number Of
manufacturers and agents, including Messrs Durfee,
Healy Daval and Others followed the deputaon into
the municipal Offices in order to be present the
ference. The Chairman asked the Mayor what he !
thought of the terms offered by the manufacturers to
the help He replied he could nothing wrong in !
them and wou!d be willing TO sign it at any time. The
trouble was he said the help did understand them
He was then if he thought was reasonable for
thar hat ha1p CHI
all their associations wherever they might be ruled by
the will of the majority while they themselves were
bound by an association whose rules demanded Just
that which they would have the operatives now re-
nounce.


without replying to this the Mayor said, 'Can you |
tell of any method by which to inspire the running
of our mills without these constant inerruptions2"


1--WE don't seo," said Mr.. sevey, 'that you can ex- |
pect TO rQn your mills without interruption, because
you must acknowledge that you cannot them
without interruption at all 1t is not with the help it
is with the markets You are throwing upon the help
that which originates in poor markets 1t is with I
these you deal You cannot accomplish it by I
cutting down the help There point beyond which
you go down, and If your products go down to
four and one-quarter where then will be your
labor limit ?"


He said there certainly limit but that they had
never gono so low since the


He was then asked what assistance he would render
the help


He said he did not that the law gave him any
special privileges in this respect


He reminded that but for the threats and unfair
attitude of the there would now be strike.


A MASUFAcTuRER-Do you charge with tyranny
and inhumanityH


Mr.. CoFFIS-No we simply charge you with mis-
understanding human nature.
Mr.. sEvEY-Can you ask any man with heart in his |
bosom, with any love of country selfpride, sign
such conditions


IT. 49,, F1fs - -."+s W - - ~ -.
tH' 10 not see 90 much objection TO them
but the assistance, could only send such
citizens to the city almshouse Those who not
citizens would have to go to Titicut the State Farm
house, an institution near Bridgcwater.