The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-08-13
Major CaIkins, sIisstatements.

CHICAGO, Aug. Chicago Times: Permit
me to call attention TO the inaccurate or
false statements in regard to the official acts
of Governor Cleveland made by Major
Calkins. Republican nominee for Governor
Of the State OF Indiana, in his speech. deliv-
cred at Richmond, Ind, on the 3lst ult., and
published in your paper OF to-day. quote
from the speech, to-wit:
He should not be supported for other reasons.
He vetoed important bills passed by the last Legs
latuIe of New York, among which were those to
protect children OF tender age from excessive labor
IN charitable and reform institutions. He vetoed
the bill reducing the fare on elevated railways.
thereby expressing the working classes, who de-
sired to live in the suburbs, away from tenement
labor of car-drivers. He vetoed law giving me-
cnrDCs equal lien upon real estate fer the labor
and material which they furnished 10 enhance It's
value.
Now, if Major Calkins had examined the
published laws of New YORK, instead of re-
peaiing false and reckless statements he
pOuld have found that Governor Cleveland
not only did not veto, but that he signed the
bill To protect children of tender age from
excessive labor in charitable and reform in
situations.
The N echanic's lien law was vetoed in the
interest of the workingmen. Instead of Civ
ing the mechanic the first lien, rs was the
object of the bill. by an oversight in the
drafting of it it gave to all parties having
claims, whether mechanics or not, the first
lien, thus reducing the mechanics to a level
with all claimants. Moreover. it repealed in
distinct terms number of mechanics lien
laws already on the statute books.
Walter y. Thayer, Esq, President of the
State New York; Trades Assembly, in let
ter dated July u, 1884, and published in the
Albany Argus, says: "As to the lien law it
is generally acknowledged now that he did
ussa kindness IN vetoiOg that bill. because,
through errors of orr own in drafting the
ba y a. urnntH a hpAn
a positive Injury to us" Mr.. Thayer in his
letter enumerates The following bills in the
interest OF workingmen as passed by the
Legislature and signed By Governor Cleve-
land, to wit:
Abohshng the manufacture of hats in
State prisons; creating a bureau Of iaoor
statistics; the tenement-house cigar bill
(twice) the abolition Of convict contract
labor. and bill making workingmen pre-
ferred creditors in case OF assignment or fail
ure OF the firm or corporation by which they
are employed.
The bill reducing the hours Of labor of
conductors and drivers made it uulawful TO
exact from conductors or drivers of cars
drawn by horses more than twelve hours
labor for days work. There was nothing
10 prevent voluntary agreement between
the parties to work more than twelve hours,
thus inviting litigation in each case as TO
whether the work had been "exacted," or
voluntarily rendered II did not apply to
cases where the men were paid by the srip
1t did not apply to conductors of cars drawn
bv steam or by mules, or drivers OF sta es.
The Albany Evening Journal Republican
described the bill in the following terms:
at is purely piece of buncombe legisls-
ton, and patent lie in its very title.
As have already taken so much space
| that can not ask for room to explain the
veto of the bill reducing fares on the ele.
waited railways, allow me to say that only
| cents fares are charged during certain of the
morning aud evening, hours in which the
great body of workingmen ride to and from
| their homes Governor Cleveland, in hi:
veto message, clearly justified his action in
vetoipg the bill.