Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 December 1873 — MASS MEETING OF WORKINGMEN IN NEW YORK. [ARTICLE]

MASS MEETING OF WORKINGMEN IN NEW YORK.

Their Present Distress—Aid Demanded from the City Treasury. New Yobk, December 11. A mass meeting of workingmen, under the auspices of the Internationalists, was held this evening in Cooper Institute.Theodore 11. Banks, painter, presided; As early as 7:30 p. m. the hall was crowded in every part. Several hundred women were present. Telegrams from Cleveland and Chicago were read, wishing success to the meeting. Around the platform were numerous mottoes, such as: “We demand a suspension of rent for three months;” “The General that Commands this Army is General Distress;” “When Workingmen begin to Think, Monopoly begins to Tremble;” and others of an equally significant character. A hand-bill was circulated enumerating the high salaries paid officials, and demanding “ No more Salaries over $5,000.” The number of homeless men and women in the city was given at 10,000; those in station-houses, 7,500 every week, and out of eleven trades-unions, 20,250 men idle, and only 5,950 employed. It also stated that there are 180,000 skilled workmen idle in this State, and 110,000 of all classes idle in the city, and 38,000 women earning only an average of $3.44 per week. An address was read on the duty of the Government to protect industrial classes. When the Government fails in that duty, it should be set aside or overthrown. John H. Albert read a preamble and resolution, amongst which was: ..j/ T ; Whereas, We wish to avoid all outrage on persons or property of any, and deprecating violence and injustice in any form, we only demand the necessaries of life for ourselves and families, not as objects of charity, but as law-abiding citizens, whose right it is-to demand these of. the Government which we have always supported: Resolved, That we will, in this our time of need, supply ourselves and our families with propershelter and the necessaries of life, and we will send all our hills for the same to the City Treasury to be liquidated until such a time as we shall obtain work and pay for our work. Resolved, That we demand work now and pay for work and the abolition of the contract system. Resolved, Thar, to prevent money panics, we demand the enactment of a law that sfiall limit accumulation of any individual, that is, a law of graduated taxation, which shall prevent any man or men being able to lock up our circulating medium. The resolutions were adopted, after which a number of addresses were made and the meeting adjourned.