The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-25
HARRISBURG. July Is, 1877.

Scotch Irish, has produced several men OF mark In
State as well as national politics. Ex-senator Edgar
Cowan; the late John COvode ("Honest JOHN, as he
| was called; General Henry d. Foster, the demo-
cratic candidate for Governor and now a member OF
| the House Of Representatives, and Governor John
W. Geary, all hail from Westmoreland county. Just
| now Geary looms up the 'lavorite son" Of the
county, II not OF the state He is serving his
second term as Governor, and from thence he
hopes no. not he, but his frends ne Is too mOdest
to vault into the Presidential chair. Raised him.
self upon farm, and not very profitable
one at that, Geary has always claimed
to be friend OF the workingman. the
laborlng classes. never saw politician who, in
his public givings out, claimed to be anything else
but friend OF the workngman This class Is so
numerous In our country, and exercises sucn con-
trolling influence in politics. that 1t is hardly safe for
public man TO take any other ground For some
time past Geary has been par excellence the work
ingman's friend, and he has managed to max them
believe. at least in this State, that he is their Moses
who Is to lead them into the promised land where
capital will no longer Cypress labor. In Site like
Pennsylvania where the masses earn their bread by
their daily toll, this Is small achievement for
politician who IS ambitious OF higher honors than
that OF Governor OF the state. The views Of such
man on the general topics OF the day may not be
uninteresting to the readers Of the HERALD.
THE GOVERNOR IN HIS EXECUTIVE CHAMBER.
When l called upon the Governor this morning,
found he had just returned from trip to another
part OF the State He was exceedingly busy, as all
Governors are after having been away for few days.
and shere was quite number Of persons waiting
In the ante room to see him. He seemed to dispose
OF each case with great rapidity, and most OF the
callers went aw~y with a satisfied expression upon
their countenances, no doubt feeling that Geary
would make good President The Governor is
press. This Of itself Is proof positive that he Is
candidate for the Presidency for who ever knew Of
an asplrant for that position who did not cultivate
the channels OF public opinions tall, well built
man, with head which would be pronounced
by Psychologists well baanced-ut least, II
not the custodian OF powerful brain,
and q pleasing address, with great volubty OF
speech-Geary is calculated to make very fair I'M
preston upon those who '1ook upon his kingly
eyes'' for the first time. Full he was OF business
he did not seem to be in any very great hurry to
end the conversation, the substance OF which give
below. He was exceedingly shy of the Presidency
question: and almost blushed when mentioned his
name In connection with It, But still he mani.
tested no disposition to change the subject. Like
most men In public life, the history OF whose ex
plOits has not been properly set before the "dear
people, the Governor likes to talk about himself,
and shows an egotism somewhat akin to that OF
Senator Sumner. Perhaps this Is pardonable In
great men. In ordinary individW.s, 1t is generally
voted oore h"v one Hlca win Geary IS
THE LABOR REFORM QUESTION
and we began on that, the Governor doing all the
talking. He has evidently made 1t a speciality and
Is perfectly at home upon the subject.
Glow about the labor reform movement 9'' I said
"Well. don't know that there is any reform ABOUT
It, All that contend for that the aborlng classes
shall be recognized have repeatedly told our peo-
pie tine republicans tnat they made great mistake
nf Our Cif
Zens. have almost gone on my knees TO them and
a sSae ee taken 70 show the men
gotten, and that their rights viii be guarded as
against capital Now, do not desire to array labor
against capital. There Is no necessity lOr it, but
the rich can take care Of themselves, and
! am and always have been on the side OF
high wages paid for labor but 1t don't amount
TO so much IN year after all, especially when there
many OF these aborers getting rich the so-caIed
high wages The trouble is capital is not willing to
corporations who control capital want to pile up
The labor reform party, I suppose, is rather
"Yes; there are from 100000 to 10000 OF them
Thus lar they have as general thing gone with
lions several times IN this State. In 1859 they sup.
ported me against Asa Packer. Last year they un.
doubleday elected several OF our congressman
Their sympathies are all with the republicans but
our public men don't seem to recognize them and
they must and probably will, 90 where they will be
''Wil that be to the democratspn
"Well, l can't say. They are strong enough n
they choose, to have a party OF their own and to
elect their own men, or TO compel some one OF the
parties 70 nominate men who will take care OF their
HOW THE GOVERNOR MANAGED THE STRIKES.
"The strikes among the miners in TINS State seem
to be at an END, Governors"
Eyes. You have no idea how near we were to
having boodshed and revolution In the State during
tnOse Strikes Nothing but the very incest manage
ment prevented IL. There were at least 80, 900 OF
those strikers in the eastern part of the state More
hn IN Il bad,
vice 0ftnree or four years. The majority OF them
had the arms that they carried through the war for
suppose these men had taken 1t into their heads
TO 0rganize-they had among them officers who
military power of the State to have put them down.
Parties came TO me with all sorts OF plans to end
the s strike paid no attention to any OF them, but
Kept my eye steadily upon my own plan, which was
10 show these men that they must submit whatever |
grievances they had to the courts. The leaders OF
tnese men came TO me and said they had no cOnfl-
dence IN the Judiciary and none In the Legislature.
put they SAID we believe In you, Governor, and We
think you WIN do what IS right l assured tnem
tnat would and advised them to 20 to work and |
obey the laws. At the same time 1 was fully pre-. |
pared to sustain the civil authorities In enol cling
the laws with all the power of the State. But the
workingmen seemed to have confidence In me-"
-, THE GOVERNOR ON THE PRESIDENCY
~ suppose you know, Governor, that you are
spoken OF as the labor reform candidate for the
"well. no with great modesty); I cannot say that
l Know II. nave seen something about 1t IN tho
NJ but have not authorized any person
10 uso my name In that connection. or course can
not hep II II the aboring classes throughout the
country should put me forward for that or any other
place."
You arc like Horace Greeley in that respectr
=, am Tying mere TO do nv Iul duty as Governor
OF tnls commonwealth. | assure you am making
no emory 10 secure the nomination for any other
place aiIer the expiration OF my term OF ONCE.
ani however, as a citizen, at the disposal OF my
leilow citizens. Whatever they shall indicate I
sha always De ready TO comply with their Wishes"
lou VIII submit To the will OF the people,"
yes i always try to do that. | am not above
pubic opinion nor the newspaper press, rs some
men anect TO be. | always read the newspapers,
especially wnen they abuse me and cnticise me. |
IKE w see WHAT they have TO say about me- aud, II
possible, 10 profit by their crtclsm.u
Inat ~ good trait OF character Governor, in a
Presidential candidate.u
care ABOUT public opinion, ana they pay no aten-
tioh 10 Wiiat the newspapers say about them Now,
care great DEAL and think in TINS country every
a. man lnf.It Ica,,