RIOTOUS MEETING IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXVII, Issue 124, 27 May 1893, Page 3

RIOTOUS MEETING IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE.

Not since " Bloody Sunday" has London been the scene of such riotous proceeding.as were witnessed in Trafalgar Square on Saturday afternoon, April Bth. Tlie occasion was a demonstration convened in ihe names of various working-class organisations in opposition to the Direct Veto Bill. The organisers had done their best to obtain an imposing display of banners, and it is said that tlie banner-carriers were in request at 10s a head. The temperance party were early in the field, and were splendidly organised. On the arrival of the proceesionists with an Irish green banner, bearing the inscription •• No Coercion," a desperate struggle for possession of the trophy took place, aid di spite their small number*?, the proc.-ssioi.i^is again raised their b-.nner proudly on high. But their triumph was only momentary ; down it came again, aud thousands if hinds were struggling to rend the offei ding sheet, and a very few moments suflicid to tear it into tbrrsd 3 . Tlie vast crowd now extended a* far as Sf, Martin's Church on the one side, and well into Northumberland Avenue and Cock-spur-street on the other. The Metropolitan police, be it said to their credit, did not foi a single moment lose their tempers Again and again they were forced with great violence against the granite blocks forming the base of the Nelson monument by the seething mass of excited and angry men in their endeavours to storm the platform and oust the orators who were to address the meeting. One man who had nourished a bricklayer s hod defiantly was thrown down and trampled upon, and it was only by a supreme effort, that the police cleared a space round him and saved his life. As it was, the man was rendered insensible, and appeared to be considerably damaged. Notwithsi-mdi-.g the abund int evidence that the promoters and their suppoiteis were in a bopele?s minoiity. under the orders of Mr Potter they essayed to go on with the meeting, but tbey might as well have tried by their voiceß to drown the roir of the water rushing over the Niagara Falls as to speak against the howls of this angry crowd. Not a word could be hesrd at a distance of tbree feet Nevertheless the resolution waß put to the vote. Ifc declared that the meeting, composed of working men connected with tbe industrial i.nd labour organisations througi.out Londou reo-'gnised that the proposed legislation was arbitrary to the interests of the people, ns it would iuterfere with their serial liberty, considered the Bill to bo a class of measure which would interfere with the conveninee of the poor, and leave untouched the privileges of the rich, and that should it become law a fatal blow would be given at the several industries in which hundreds of thousands of men are employed and that therefore, every legitimate means must be taken to defeat the measure In favour of the resolution very few hands were held up, and the movers not venturing to ask those who did not agree with it to vote, a determined and successful effort was made by the leaders of the temperance party to mount the platform. Mr J. M. Skinner, of the United Kingdom alliance was installed as chairman, and in response to bis call, three hearty cbec-rs were given for Sir William Harcourt and for Sir Wilfred Liwsod. Mr W. Sprow, organising secretary of the Seamen and Firem<n's Union next addresged the meeting in tupport of the Bill. While thus engaged be was piißhtd from the platform among the people beneath. Fortunately he was but little hi rt,and w-*p soon hoisted up again, when he continued his remarks. Art amendment in favour of the Direot Veto Bill was moved and carried by an overwhelming majority amid great cheering. Several speeches were attempted from the west Bide of the column, but the speakers were unable to cbtain a hearing. The proceedings having lasted for two hours the police were reinforced, a id the Fqivire olear; d without any seriuua mishap having hoppened, though no doubt n,any of those who had foun i themselves iv the thick of the fray took away mary a painful bruise

Tbere were ten arrests mdc ; three w<-re bailed out in the early part of the night, but at a late hour seven remained in tbe cells.