The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-09-13

and at the same time diIoIu .no o.
dental protection necessary 10 amer at
;can labor. We have ..advccated et
aiI times a reduction of taxation, mu-
";c;nal. State and federal, IN order
.,,ot the burdens of the people mould
ha lessened. Home rule and local
self. yovernment have always been
Cardinal principles of Democracy IN
Tammapy Hail. We have dl1Iereo
Nth the State executive in the aI!-
nlication of these important pr'ncl-
ples of government. because IN our
Judgment, the truest Democracy ~
where tie least possible power co.,
slstent with the proper execution o,
the laws is taken from the people ano
lodged with their representatives.
We have at all times opposed cen
~tralization of power as dangerous 10
our Reput lican institutions and nave
not hesitated to condemn unneces-
sarv. unjust and undemOcratlc lnter-
ferences with the state legislature
and the execution of u munlcipal
affairs. Our opposition to the abrldge-
ments of pOwer of the aldermen of the
CITY would have been Just as deter,
mined had the common councll
been as strongly Republican as 1t was
Democratic, and no alleged repre-
sentative of a public meeting presld-
ed over by a Republican advocating
the passage of this and other undem-
ocratic measures under the deluding
crv of reform could blind us to the
true intent and object of such leg
islation. We championed the cause
of anti-monOpoly in 1881, and the en-
suing campaign of 1882, that resulted
in the triumphant election of the pres
ent governor of our State. It is true
discussions among our ~adversaries,
the Republicans, had much to 90
with the great majority he received:
But the Intense feeling in the breast
of thousands or workingmen against
the Republican party for its cor
ruption and monopolistic legislation
caused thousands of these voters to
ally themselves with the Democratic
party, Their by protesting against
such legislation. 1t is no exagger-
alton to say it seemed to them that
the drift of existing laws was tending
to debase rather than elevate labor;
that the whole engineering of the
government was being used I O foster
the interests of employer and capital
lists at the expense of tOiling millions.
That these opinions were founded on
substantial aud incOntrOvertable
grounds, and were not emanations of
the minds of dreaming demagogues
who sought to dupe their ignorant,
but confiding followers, candid OBJ
servers must admit In q neighbor-
ing Republican State the right of the
people to peacefully assemble was
invaded and the militia of the
was used tyranni-
cally to enforce the unreasonable
of capital. The press of the
country opposed labor strikes, but
no harsh criticism appeared
against capitalists and corporations
who closed their factories against
working men or operatives on the
plea of over production, so that the
returns of capital might net be dimin-
ished. In this condition of affairs
the eyes of wage-earners were turned
to the Democratic party and they
willingly cast their lot with it. They
expected to receive a reward fortheir
and their labor in such
legislation as would amellorate their |
The people of the city
to nave elevated railroad
corporations, confined to legitimate
for capital invested in valua-
BILE franchises, which was conferred
On them by the city and State. AT
ter a prolonged struggle with all the
influences that capital can employ la
DOR secured a victory in the legislature
'nly to be thwarted by a veto in the
chamber. They sought
he adoption of a law which would
It once prevent the prison authorities
If the state from contracting crimi-
lal labor, so as to bring it into COM
with honest industry. The
Measure passed the Assembly but
vas defeated in the Senate by an
Republican and recreant
who ignored pledges
made in their party platforms. BY
he efforts of the Tammany organl-
alton, through one of its Senators,
act was passed and signed by the
Governor to submit the question of
he abolition of the contract system
n State prisons to the voters of the
tate and the people sustained the
aeasure by a majority of 13S, OGO
otes, Notwithstanding hundreds of
thousands of ballots against the
roDosition were secretly distributed
Y party managers and members of
he Democratic State Central Com
littee in order to defeat this Demo-
measure.
A bill limiting the hours of labor
t car-drlvers and conductors passed
ne Legislature. 1t was met with the
veto and killed, thereby
ountenancing the bardships of hon
st and overworked men. Laborers {
nd mechanics of the State sought to {
l0tect themselves from loss at the
of dishonest contractors and :
Employers, and caused to Re passed ]
q act by the legislature giving the
en- OF mechanics and laborers pri
rity over all others. This also sui {
red the same fate. We might add s
enumerate other instances. but {
e have shown sufficient to have !
arranted even stronger opposition
1 u part to the nominee of the e
~ HoAIy NANA We lllACo AT =
nicago. Being an integral portion
the great Democratic party, we d
I'VE always IN our capacity as dele !!
ties exercised the right to advocate
en- Whomwe know to be trusted by r
le people or to oppose the nomina Q
On OF those who were not and it I
as in the exercise of this right and +
the conscientious discharge of this o Q
'ty that we took occasion at Chi L
go 20 advise against the nomina- a
which was made by the nation e.
convention. Our opposition was CT
from personal feeling and arose
'in our intimate knowledge of the
OF the toiling masses of
r state. AS the course of Governor j
eVeiand IN regard to their labor M
IS the most charitable view to take Ii
hlS RlS0 iS fSDk H. IN