St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-09-04
BUTLER AT CHICAGO.
He Makes the Stereotyped Speech to
the Workingmen.
But Adds That He Won't be Secretary
of State.

CHICAGO, Sept. 3.-Gen. Butler arrived
here this afternoon from Michigan.
Owing to the fact that the train came at an
unexpected hour the committee to meet him
was not at the depot. He proceeded to the
hotel, and spent the time till evening in
consultation with his supporters on the ques-
ton of the proposed fusion with the Demo-
Gratis on the electoral ticket in Illinois. The
result has not transpired
About 5000 people gathered in Battery D
armory this evening for the purpose listening
to an address by Gen.
Butler. He appeared shortly
after O'Clock, and was received with cheers.
He said most of the people, both in the Re-
publican and Democratic parties, were
honest, and there were bad men in both.
The Saviour of mankind, in choosing twelve
apostles, found one who had devil and was
a thief. The doings of the Republican party
of late had shown that there were consider
able number of corrupt men in it. The
Democratic and Green back parties within
the past twenty-five years had had no chance
to be tempted, and therefore it could not be
known whether they were corrupt. The Re-
publican party had made a
good record in saving the Union and
freeing 1000, 900 slaves, but that was past
record, like that on the tombstone. The
Democratic party had made a good record
under jackson. and if Jackson were alive to-
day he would vote for him with all his heart.
At the last election something over S, S,000,-
900 votes were cast. At the coming election
there would be 10000 900. The working
men of the nation numbered $4,000, 000.
What was to prevent them from choosing
the presidents If they voted with either of
the old parties or divided their votes between
them, the workingmen's votes would be
thrown away. The speaker was laboriug to
keep the other parties from ssucceeding in
their scramble for office. If his hearers
would vote for him their votes would not be
thrown away even if they did not succeed in
electing their candidate, Men were in the
habit OF coming to him, and asking him if
he really expected to be elected. His reply
was he did not care. He was sent here to
the Democratic convention to ask that body
what they were going to do for the laboring
men. 1t would not promise to do anything,
wanted the working men to vote
together, no matter whether their candidate
was elected or not II they did this they
would not have to ask the old parties next
convention what they would give the work
ing man. They would come to him and ask
what he wanted. The speaker then pro-
ceeded to speak of the demands which he
had made at the Democratic convention in
AoH 80 loI,x, sI,,,
sued by him in former speeches, and fol-
lowed with similar references to the action of
tie tariff laws, and the importation of labor
under contract. He then proceeded to speak
of the labor agitation in Massachu-
sets, begun by him many years
ago. Tney succeeded in electing
nine men to the state legislature, Nobody
thought they could do anything. All thought
they were throwing away their votes. But
these nine men controlled the legislation of
the state, and reduced the hours of labor to
the basis which exists to-day. The union of
the laboring men of the little town of Lowell
made possible the election of the great
Charles Sumner. He would have it a crimi-
nal offense for any one to make man work
more than sixty hours week. Eight hours
as days labor was an experiment. Con-
gress had passed the law making eight
hours days labor for the gov
ernment This was intended to prove
the question whether a man could do as
much in eight hours as he could in ten.
! From that day to this, he said, the Republi-
can party had not had manliness or stamina
| enough to enforce it.
He advised his hearers not to get up ex-
tensive ratification meetings. The working
men did not need brass band to vote. He
hoped they would not dress themselves in
uniform as anybodys' guards, and make
monkeys of themselves. No honest man
needed any guards. He was al
the head of this movement and would
see how its interests were pushed
forward. 1t had been charged that he wa;
doing this that he might be somebody else;
secretary of the treasury. What did he wan
of secretary shipl He had secretaries of hi:
own; some of them capable of filing cabi
net positions. In this movement he haC
simply and only the good of the working
man in view.
Gen. Butler excused himself from speak
ing further, saying his voice had been some
what impaired by constant speaking, and ht
had further engagements.