The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-03
BEN BUTLER AND the LABOR QUESTION.
Reply from Ex- Congressman William IL.
ROhins0u.

A Reply from Ex- Congressman William IL.
Rohin.ou.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERAID:-
DEAR SiR--ln yesterdays HERALD you publish an
interview with d. +. isuller, IN which he devotes
about ten lines to myself, containing about as many
measurements
He states that was brouyh to Lowell to chsl.
lenge him to q discussion OF the labor question in
the special election IN That city In 1850; that
desired to make speech on that subject at the
railrual q pot; thai laooring men were incensed
NJ me, and that had 10 creep through the windOw.
was not brought to Lower; did not go, nor
Was brought, To challenge MN. l, was not at the
SPECIAL, out tue gen .ra election. l did not desire
TO make a speech upon the labor question. l was
not IN favor OF tue thirteen hail nour law nor
was opposed to tue tea hour law. l was always In
favor OF miunx oy law the hours OF daily labor for
w0r1ngmen
inc 1acts arc that had spoken in Lowell aud
other parts OF The State in favor OF Robert G. Win.
tOps election George 5. Bout,y ell ON the old
Gay wing platform In Lowell my remarks were
received win great app ause oy very large and en-.
tnusiastc audiences. Mr.. Butler tried TO answer nv
arguments. II was suggested tnat we should NEE;
face TO lace and discuss "peading ISSUES n, be
acciden ally admits. Tne preimnarics were ali
agreed TO- each OF US choosing n cnairman-he Sc.
lectlng Ills ner-in-la Mr. iiiItretn tnen sheriff
o Tue cJuity. and selecting the veneraoe Dr.
Huntilgtol, thea Mayor D, tue ciyy. The railro aI
depot Was chosen as me Oily bu,ld.nt large .nan ~
10 mold the crowd expected 10 attend when, npaiIy
MR. Butler proposed u cO.h0e the dlscussDn 10 the
ten n0ur law.
afrnatVe " tiis GU stio refused to 50 limit the
discussion unless was aow ed 10 speak favor or
Inc meeting mad been advertised and ASSEMBLED
Mayor Huntington sheriff Blldreth anu myself went
into the meeting ana got u. on paorsn car. when
a crowd o. NOISY aud drum en- men q ound the car
anu on the outskIis OIL the meeting Mr. suffers
lnterest-and some sad Oh his drnKs-kept up such
shouting ana Cheering that the MAYOR, The cneIln
aud myself Win the wing Comnittee-One OF whom
,innk. wa. Judge .lchdrdson-now Assistant See,
Retry OF the treasury, lie t the Duiidag quietly as
We mad catered, anu went TO our MOTEL JusI across
IN. street. since then have spoken ana ectured in
Lowell TO large audiences, and was always received
kluIiy. in the House OF representative on the
leth OF May. 1865, ! gave uescuytIon 0! that
meeting IN the Lowell depot, In when [
stated the facts as here gwen, when any
one curious enough to take tne trod,!e Will ma In
and made no object on 70 my statement TIL day or
two alter when he SAID | was mistaken IN stating
tnal lie was on the platform Car III the depot. and
TINS Was the only correct Oh made In an en-.
c0unter with MN lew days afterwards on the
Wool,ey arrest case tMay l., 1868, made anu, her
to meet the gentleman mere or IN the Lowell KAN.
road depot" as Will lie seen by e,erence 10 the
wnen ne reused To DO Drought out upon those oc-
t ,ss "hen was prepared 20 meet hun,
when ! am not present 10 answer HIN.
But l make tins proposition. II he gets
nominated az the republican candidate Tor Cove nor
snai take pleasure IN meeting MN TO discuss the
'pendn. issues" III ms own home in Lowell any
day or evening he may designate, giving me long
enoigh notice 10 reach there by express. In tue
same rail- Dad depot, mat same window oelnq closed
tine bars also osed " ne desires) without mas or
or sherr or any one 10 beir,end me or Keep order,
except those same ncenscd laboring men. but lest
he should after agreeing 10 meet me In discussion
again Resort to some such ricS or technicaIity bog
leave here 10 say that am now, rs was IN 1850 as
was In Congress ana a. l Will be wnen return
there In favor VI l2~ limiting the hours Of labor
Va rfIt.lfv
W. II. ROBINSON
BROOKLYN, July 81, 1871,