Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-08-10
Speeches Of Stanley Matthews and Judge
West,


A largely.attended ratification meet
ing was held at Cleveland on the evening
of the list, at which speeches were de-
livered by Stanley Matthews, Judge
West, the Republican candidate for Gov
ernor, Gen. Garfield, Hon. James Mon
roe, ex.Gov. Cox and Gen. Gibson. We
| give liberal extracts from the speech of
Mr.. Matthews and the speech in full of
Judge West. Mr.. Matthews was the
first speaker. He said:
Mr., CHAIRMAN, GENTLEMEN AND FELLOW
CITIZENS OF CLEVELAND: l con
gratulate the Republican party of Ohio, l
| congratulate the Republican party OF the ma
tlon. / congratulate the people of this
State and country on the good things that
in my judgment have been done and said this
day.
In the first place, gentlemen, we have an II.
lustration In the action of the convention It,
self OF the practical working of the idea
which has been put forth within the past
year as the idea of civil-servicc reform. We
were told thatif there was platform of civil
| service by which Federal oiiice-holders were
forbidden to take any part in primary meet
ings and the management of political con-
vcntlons, that IL would be impossible to car
ry on the government of the country by
means OF parties; because il was thought
that all the life, all the energy, and all the
means Of party motion resided in the emolu-
ments of office.
We have had to-day, gentlemen, in this
goodly State, representative body consist
ing OF 66l delegates, coming from remote
parts Of the State at their own expense, not
one OF whom was a Federal ofllce-holder, and
yet venture to say, without disparagcment
to any OF its predecessors, either Of its own
party or Of the opposing party, that there
never was assembled In political conven-
tion a body of 66l members more intelligent,
more sensible of the responsibilities under
which they acted, more patriotic and more
intent on the public good than that body
| which met to-day.
Mr.. Matthews then spoke OF the candidates
nominated and said of Mr.. West: =" wish
you all knew him as he ought to be known
| wish you all knew him as | know him-a
man without fear and without rcproach, a
man above temptation, incorruptible in in
tegrity, with sight as keen for the truth IN
thought rs his vision is imperfect for material
things, and heart that throbs with every
honest and generous impulse that belongs to
the best quality OF human nature. A man
| among men. A man that feels for men, who
knows what 1t is to labor and to weep and
to suffer, not elevated by any circumstances
OF his condition above the common lot of
his fellows, and able to enter in with sympa-
thetic feelings to all the common expert
ences of his race; with an intellect enriched
by reading and reflection upon all the serious
and grave questions of private and Of public
interest. A soul pure and white, unsullied
human or divine. He is an honest man,
which is the noblest work of God.n
The speaker expressed his entire approval
OF the platform adopted, especially that por-
tion in announcing the confidence of the CON
vention, the wisdom and patriotism of the
President, and its support and approval of
his policy and efforts to paeify the entire
country. OF the resolution in relation to the
labor troubles Mr.. Matthews said it was pro-
posed by the convention that Congress shall
| a IF Nh Lot,
see what that means. We have what is called
a Bureau OF Agriculture organized
for the purpose not merely of collecting aud
distributing seeds, but for the additional
purpose of collecting all the information,
statistics, and facts affecting the condition of
that labor in the East, West, North and
South, that by publications, ETC., the condi.
tions of that labor might be known from the
laborers themselves, and out of these might
grow up true, sound and valuable system of
kno wledge that would affect their condition
for the better.
Now it is proposed to enlarge that bureau
so that instead of being confined to mere ag
ricultural labor it shall cover the whole do
main of labor of every descriptions; the me-
chanical labor of all artisans, the day labor
and everything connected with the industrial
system OF the United States, and il any Ia
boring man in the United States has any
plan, proposition, complaint, or any appeal
! to make to the Government OF his country,
. there stands an organ of that Government TO
express to him the idea that that Government
does not regard him as an outlaw and an out
cast, but II man Of flesh, and blood, and bone,
r that needs his daily bread and meat to live
on, and they do or will endeavor, by every
means that he can suggest-mind you, that
he can suggest-by which that Government
shall exercise its power, its whole power, its
constitutional power to bring into harmony
with the necessity OF his existence all the
forces of society.
The next proposition is this: Here are
great lines of railroad extending from the
Atlantic to the Mississippi River. The New
York Central, the Lake Shore with its west
ern connections, the Erie and the Atlantic "
Great Western with its western and south
, western connections, the Pennsylvania Rail
! road with the Panhandle, Cleveland, COlum-
bus, Cincinnati IL indianapolis and its con
, nections, and the Baltimore IL Ohio. Here
are four great trunk lines of railroad, with
their leased lines and branches, and those
: four lines are the lines upon which the whole
transportation of the country is transferred
from the West to the East, with return
transportation from the East to the West.
Now, these lines OF railroad are required to
. be operated by great number of working
men; every description of laboring man is
more or less Interested in the ability of these
companies to earn money enough to pay him
wages enough to support himself and family.
Now, those railroads, by virtue eofmismanage-
ment, abuse Of trusts, Injustice, discrimina-
, tion, reckless competition with each other,
have been cutting each others throats until
they have impoverished themselves to such an
} extent that it takes all they earn to pay the
, salaries of their Presidents.
, Now, under the Constitution of the United
States, Congress has jurisdiction over the
subject of commerce between the States, and
1t has exercised that jurisdiction in the pas
e sage of law years and years ago, called the
{ Steamboat law, and in that law it regulates
the interest in commerce so far as it is car
ried on by means of sail and steam vessels.
. For instance, amongst other things it re-
I quires that no man shall be allowed to act as
( an engineer or a pilot on a steam vessel uu-
q less he has been examined and has received
a certificate of his qualifications.
Now then, relating to the working of rail
y. roads: tine railroads will not be permitted to
run their trains with green hands; they would
not be allowed to pick up fireman and make
him an engineer, because he would have to
be examined and receives certificate of quail,
ifcation from a board appointed for that
: purpose. l mention this because it would
: be a benefit to the engineer and the fireman
TO be protected against the competition of
men who are green, inexperienced, and I'm
competent.
But that is not all. Congress can regulate
, these lines OF transportation. 1t can take
hold of these giant corporations, and it is the
only legislative power known TO the Consti
tuition which can control them, and by
l reasonable rules and regulations it can pro
vide against that mismanagement, that reck
/ less competition, that destructive abuse OF
trust by which these companies have disa-
bled themselves from performing their duties
to those whom they employ in their service.
I And 1t is a proposition made by the Repub-
> lican Convention that Congress can exert
this beneficial jurisdiction in every wise way
, for the mutual protection of those who
have invested their money in the cOnstruc-
ton of these great highways of trade and
= travel; and so also as to protect the true in
5 terests and the real rights OF those who labor
. in their employment
! And now there remains but one other
l thing; perhaps in spite of the wisest legisa
c tion circumstances beyond any human con
Y troll may arise, from failure of crops OIL
e some other natural cause, by which a contro.
= versy may arise railroad company may
think that it ought not to pay beyond Ger
: tain rate of wages to its operators, where
: as the men think that they ought to continue