Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-08-09
kearneY and Butler.
AGlrAroR AND DEMAGoGUE HAVE AN INTER
VIEW.

AGITAToR AND DENAGoGUE HAVE An INTER
VIEW.
despatch to the San Francisco Chronicle, from its
Correspondent With ktarneyI
Ben Butler called On kearney, yesterday
afternoon. Alter II lOng conversation on va
rious topics, the subject Of railroads was In
troduced, Butler claiming that they should
be public highways Butler then spoke Of
Vanderbilt, when Mr.. kcarney, interrupt
ing, said, I'VE call such men thieves on the
Pacific coast" Gen. Butler didn't blame the
man so much as the system which allowed it.
lie blamed the workingaleu for voting for
such a system.
Kearney-"W must chop both was, ,Ger-
eral-hang few of these thieves and vote
them out at the same time. We'll, General,
what about the greenback p
Butler We'll, the greerback is untazed
money. The Shylocks wish to make it IL
terest- bearing money, but"
KeaIney-" Money, money. We want first
an honest government, then money will take
care Of Itself Why, if cObblestones were
money to-mOrr ow. these thieves would make
d corner in it.
Bdtler (laughing) - That's so
Kearney-"W Well, General, | fnd that you
are quite tayorite with tic wOrkingmen
here
Butler-"Well, man can hardly live in
one community for 60 years without having
some friends
Kearnev-"Well, il you run iOr Governor
you will have to relinquish your scat in Con-
gress."
Butler-' expect to leave Congress this
term, whether | run for Governor or not,
which is by no means settled thing yet. :"
The General then gave his reasons. lie
had been III Tor ten wears. There were l3p,-
600 men. from Maine to California, who
used to be under him, who thought they had
a mortgage upon him for all time to attend
To their pensions, making it a very Onerous
duty, coup led with the work Of letting of
- bricks" occasionally. He was growing
tired Of it, lie then touched upon the sub
ject OF uSurious interest, suggesting that
our constitution should contain a clause
against usury. Speaking ahout the savings
banks in Massachusetts, he said that they
could not pay 50 cents on the dollar
kearney-'' That's what | told them in
California, that the banks Of San Francisco
could not pay 20 cents on the dollar, but
they would not believe it
Ten. Butler then explained the evils OF
untaxed bonds. 4 man with 100000 in
United States bonds comes TO Boston, and
hires house. lie is protected from fire,
etc by our police. lie gets his interest
from the man who lives next door to him, or
from those who work on the streets. Thus
he lives 10 luxury and the workingmen vote
to keep it IN.
Kearney We will change all thar when
the workingmcn get into power"
Butler ii am in favor OF taxing idle in
ye-tmauts such as this, aud allowing manu-
featuring Investments to 90 uutaxed-
kcurney- That's right that's our plat
form"
Butler What do you think Of the differ
ent PARTIES -
Kearney-"Well, the Republican party
cannot come into power. The Democrats
have sold out before they commence the
fight Hayes and Tilden are alike. Ger
tainly Hayes was elected by fraud. Old
Marston voted IA 900 dead men in Califor-
MIA, but Tiden is no better. We want
radical change. Well, General, what do
you think OF organizing the workingmen on
a basis here in Massachusetts, -
Butler-"Well, that requires thought. 1t
you are going through crowd and one man
pricks your finger at the same time that an-
other steps on your toe, you don't care who
knocks them of In other words, while we
are united on one point. we all have our
opinions on finance"
Mr.. Kearney expressed his pleasure at
meeting the man who had thrown so many
hot bricks at thieves, and the interview ter.
minated.