St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-06
Immense Labor Demonstration in
His Interest at Chicago
Last Evening.
He Says They Want a Presidential
Candidate Who Can Har-
monize all Factions.
The Inference Being Very Obvious as to
Who That Harmonious, Cheeky
Person Might be.

city. Butler was somewhat fatlSued aIter HIS
long, hot journey, but still bears in his person
evidences of physical vigor, His hair is tribe
grayer than when he last visited Chicago, and the
line of badness has pushed its skirmishers well
ont toward the crown of his head, which
was covered while on the car with black skull
cap Upon being introduced by Col. Plympton,
the Associated Press representative recalled to
the generals recollection incident of the early
days of the war, when Gen. Butler, then in COM
mand Of the United States forces at Fortress
Monroe, secured for the writer, then private
soldier, who had just been thrashed at Big Bethel,
a seat on fiat boat for ride across the Hanp-
ton creek. The general smiled grimly as his
memor ran back over his checkered military
and civil career, and he re-
marked: ''Those were rather warm
days." and then reapsed into silence, while he
cast his eye medtativey out of the car window
the Calumet flats.
He did not take with extreme kindness to any
discussion of current politics or possibilities
of the Democratic convention, but said there
would undoubtedly be protection plank in the
platform.
Referring to the wrangle among the Illinois
Democracy which effervesced so hotly at the
state convention last Monday, he glanced at the
reporter with peculiar expression in his eye,
and said they needed presidential candidate
who would harmonic all factions. The inference
obvious.
The subject of southern sentiment in his di-
rection was nsiduously introduced, and in re-
Spouse the general observed that he had no
doubt New Orleans would give him an enthusiast
tic reception should he appear on its streets.
The political chapter of the interview ended at
this point. For further information all enquirers
were respectfully referred to his secretary The
generals position on the matter was that he was
deficient in information as to the status of the
candidates, and came to Chicago to find out.
On arrival of the train at the depot the distin-
guished guest was waited upon by committee
representing the labor organizations of the city,
headed by Mr. Muldoon, and after short season
of handshakng the general escorted to
a carriage and driven to the Palmer house.
There he was met by crowd of about 100 citi-
zens, who greeted him with three. cheers. By
an adroit flank movement through side door he
avoided the necessity CT delivering speech,
which was called for, and retired to his room.
On the route through Michigan Gen. Butler
was warmly received at the various towns along
the Michigan Central road. At Michigan City
the mayor boarded the train and introduced But
Ter to the people. The general then delivered
few remarks in the course of which he said the
demonstration was evidence they approved his
course.
The local labor demonstration in the Butler
interest did not take place until nearly 10 o'clock
The labor societies, representing bricklayers,
horse shoers, seamen and the various typo
graphical unions, selected Market street as
rendezvous and from there proceeded to the
Palmer house by circuitous route, along which
were large waiting crowds. The marching column
numbered about 1900, speaking strictly, and
carried variety of transparencies,
all of which bore the face of
Butler, supplemented with such sentiments as,
Labor needs statesman" ''If | am not for
you am against you;'' ''Butler to the factory
czars of LOWELL 1.-the workingmen welcome
Buter;' Toward the rear of the column was
borne mammoth spoon on which inscribed,
ssButler will feed you al'' The extreme rear
of the line was made up of q broom brigade.
displaying the device, Butler will sweep the
country.
AS the column approached the vicinity of the
Palmer house, the scene became an extraordin-
airy one. The electric lighted streets for many
blocks in every direction, were filled with mass
of people numbering fully twenty thousand, who
awaited the appearance of the Massachusetts
man. The great crowd may not have been
drawn out solely to see and hear Butler,
as the location was the focus OF all the interest
which centers about the approach of the nation
al convention, but the demonstration and the
knowledge that Butler to speak, caught and
retained the attention of the vast auditory.
General Butler was roundly cheered on his ap-
pearing, but his remarks were distinct to only
those near him.
A platform had been erected upon q dray
which was stationed in front of the hotel ent-
rance. As the hour grew late and the procession
did not appear it was suggested to the general
that he had better go out and keep the uproarious
crowd in order. Escorted by half dozen mem
bers of the trade and labor organization he
came out and forced his way through the turbu-
lent crowd to the PLATFORM where he greeted
with hoarse yells from the Threats OF the waiting
thousands.
The chairman of the committee introduced
him follows: 6 Fellow workingmen, l am
going to introduce to you one who scarcely needs
to be introduced to this audience, General But
Ter, of Massachusetts, ~ The crowd set up yell
which rolled out on the night air like the erup-
ton of giant gyser. When it subsidized, Gen.
Butler began his speech as follows:
Fellow citizens of Chicago and the northwest
ern states: Lend me your ears and be silent
that you may hear. 1t would be almost impossi-
unless perfect silence is preserved.
AT this point the head of the procession turned
the corner block away, and the music of bands
and the yells of the crowd cut off for the moment
any further delivery of the speech. In few
moments comparative quiet was restored, when
Gen. Butler resumed as follows
81 have received the address of welcome to
Chicago and the band is now coming" While
utterieg these last words the procession ad
vanced until its head reached the hotel entrance,
and the crowd was so dense further progress
was impossible. The mounted marshall who
led the column, attempted to force his horse
through the mob, but a number of
men seized the bride and
forcibly pushed him back. A gigantic policeman
endeavored to lead the horse, but the crowd
bounced the blue coated gentleman and wrested
his club from him. The terrific uproar continued
ten minutes, during which time Gen. Butler
stood, with head uncovered, waving his hand at
the mob and appealing for silence, when he
turned to the committee and said, 81 cannot
speak here tonight.
He left the platform surrounded by members
of the committee, and after desperate struggle
with the unruly gang, reached the hotel enter
ance and passed up to his room. An immense
crowd followed him, but only favored few
were admitted to the general apartments, The
members of the press were rigidly excluded from
the room and compelled to take curbstone seats
in the hall.
After the crowd had surged and banged at the
door awhile, it was opened to admit committee
from the trades, and labor organizations of Chica-
60 who welcomed him to Chicago and delivered
an address eulogizing his course patriot and
friend of the working men. Gen. Butler re-
sponded as follows:
'sGentlemen, such demonstration as this
coming from the common people, the substratum
of good government that upon which the founda-
ton of the government rests, is compliment
which would crafty any man, but when bear