St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-09-06
THE BUTLER MEETING.
Not Large But.Enthusiastic Despite the
Oppressive Heat.
The General Addresses Political Organization
of Workingmen of Minnesota.
A Sharp Rejoinder for His Critics and
Pithy Platform for His Party.

A Sharp RejOlnder for His Critics and
Pithy Platform for His Party.
The visit of Gen. B. r Butler to Minneapolis
has been one of considerable interest, although
1t created neither the enthusiasm nor the excite
ment contemplated. Curiosity to see the man
who has been much talked about and whose
face through the medium of cartoons in the
| illustrated papers had already become familiar
lied seemed to be the principal feeling which
| actuated the people. Altogether as an oya-
| ton ~ and grand ''outpouring of the masses"
| 1t was O very tame affair. The train arrived
early in the morning, so there was reception
at the depot, although something of
crowd had collected and some cheering
was INDUCED in. He was driven to the West
hotel, where apartments had boon reserved for
him, and during the day he received quite a
number Of citizens, who called to shake hands
with him and to ask his opinion about the polit-
| ical situation.
At $3.50 O'Clock he was driven to the fair
grounds in q carriage drawn by six splendid
horses. A band wagon and carriages containing
members of the reception committee constituted
the balance OF the procession, which failed to
attract much attention as 1t passed through the
city.
IN THE EVENING
About 200 membrs of the Trades assembly met
in front of the A. o. W. hall on Second avenue
south, and headed by Brooks band marched to
| the West hotel. When the general appeared
| there was loud cheers He was seated in q car
rage and the procession escorted him to Armory
| hall. Tho hall At his entrance was half full, and
he was again greeted by cheers, which lasted
several minutes The room was very
hot and close, and part of the
audience was obliged to stand, as q result the
crowd thinned very percoptibly towards the
close. The interest and Centhusiasm, however,
did not seem to fag, and he was often interrupted
by applause. He spoke nearly two hours, de-
livering the same speech nearly as he did at
Milwaukee and Chicago, which have been
printed in the GLOBE heretofore.
His first crack was particularly characteristic.
He said:
''What Is the condition Of things which brings
the laborlng people here tonight as they are
meeting all over?" find II everywhere SO. The
condition is that there has not been a fair dvis-
ion of the profits of labor You earn for all and
why do you not get your share OF the division.
Statistics show that tho average earnings of the
working man are 5000 psr annum; that the aver
age wages paid each are $500. We are aftor the
other 5000. The complaint is that there arc too
many who do not work and live upon the fat of
but Sooman in all his glory was not arrayed like
one OF these" The wealth OF the last fifteen
years has boen sufficient to make Us all well of
IL some had not got more than their share.
1 saw q statement In the Pioneer Press that
'tBen Butler wants to break up the government"
Snow where" he asked, ''did the man get that!''
81 have as much interest as that editor In the
preservation Of this country" He said az
made a speech In New York not 1T for a school
boy. Yes it was, for he would have printed it II
had not been. As 1t was, he printed lot of his
own comments which were not TT for q school
boy, for they false"
After arraiguing the Republican party as being
the tool of the monopolists, he related some of
his experiences a. the exponent of en-hours-
constitute day s-work, and the efforts that were
made against the measure In Massachusetts,.
The Republican party had refused TO enforce the
eight-hour law in the government shops, and had
pigeon-holed the labor contract bill.
During the first fifteen years OF its existence
the Republican party did we'll enough, but after
it had got through liberating tho working men of
the south 1t would do nothing to ameliorate the
condition of the other working men. 1t had been
tried and found wanting and there should be q
change.
AS to the Democratic party he admitted that
for the last twenty-five years it had had chance,
but he said he had gone 10 the Democratic con-
vention and told them he represented $4,000, 900
Of working men who would support that party II
II would promise to incorporate in its platform
certain measures calculated to benefit the labor
ingmen. They had refused utterly and he had
left them.
Here is the platform of the Peoples party short
enough for al to comprehend, ..and broad enough
to cover everything.
Equality OF rights;
Equality OF power;
Equality of burden;
Equality Of privileges.
This, he said, should be repeated by the
workilgmen at night q prayer.
Wendell Phillips when he advocated the eman-
cipaiion of slaves was driven by a mob in Boston
from the hall which he had hired for the purpose
OF delivering an address advocating this grand
scheme. Wendell Phillips then was condemned
by both parties and by the press and pulpit; he
was scoffed at and reviled. This year Wendell
Phillips died and was buried with great honors
Eulogies were sung in his praise, and why was
all this. Simply because Wendell Phillips had
advocated the liberation OF tbs slayes-the same
thing for which he was once condemned and
hooted at Thus he. Gen. Benjamin =. Butler,
proposes to plant the seed Of the rights Of the
laboring men and women, II he does not live to
see the tree grow from the seed he il planting
Concerning the position OF the working mon
in Minnesota. he said that he would not advise
fusion he did in Michigan. He urged them
to select men representing their ideas and vote
for them. The working men. he said, should
stand together. The trouble il that they do not
realize their strength. It will take only II, 00O,
600 votes to elect president, and there are H.,
O00, 900 laboring men in the United States, SO
that IL they hung together 1t would take more
| than half of 2S, 000, 900 to defeat them. He
urged organization and steadfastness of purpose.
| This done and they would not have
| to go to the Democratic party with 'swhat viii
! you do for US" The Democrats will come to
them. He said the s'grand old party cry is
played out. The Democrats and Republicans
merely fight for spoils, and there should be
something more than this in politics. Let the
ax.f0 ha- -oaGf hat he
paid for the same work in business life and there
will he nnna this strife Tor Offices He clnsed