Weekly Chillicothe crisis., 1884-07-10
IN HONOR OF BEN.
$4,000 People Greet Him at Chicago
His Speech In Which He Tells Why
He Is Delegate to Demo-
cratic Convention.

Butler arrived at Chicago last Satur-
day evening. He stops at the Palmer
House. About ten o'clock Saturday
night II crowd, estimated by the assoc-
ate press reporter at twenty thousand
and by the special reporter of the Post
Dispatch at twenty-five thousand had
assembled in the streets along the hotel
to hear him speak. lie took the plat
form 10 speak but after sentence or
two tie band, heading n procession OF
labor organizations came in sight and |
made ii impossible for him to proceed. |
The procession was in his honor and
there being, as estimated by the Globe
Democrat 5 reporter, seven thousand in
the procession, of course he could not
well wait for them all to come up and
could not speak until they did Gomez up,
so he retired to his headquarters and
there received Il committee of working
men, to whom he spoke rs follows:
"Grntlcmcn: Such demonstration
rs this, coming from the common peo-
pie, the substratum of good Govern
mcnt, that upon which the foundation
Of the Government rests, is Il cumpli-
mcnt which would crafty any man, but
when bear in mind that you come on
this, the only holiday night in the week,
from your various homes and occupa-
tlonS TO pay me the highest compliment
which could be paid to man,to give him
your Endorsement, your appreciation,
yOnr laudatiOns and assurances of your
support, i feel that il would move Il heart
of stone. Laboring men have right
to organize and demand the proper rec
Ognition of their rights and proper pro-
lection of their interests in every Gov
crnmcntal action To illustrate their
power when unified. will tell you that
there are over 100 0memberS of the pres
ent Congress who could have been de-
feated in their districts by change of
800 votes. The laboring man should
insist that n tribunal should be created
before which whatever difficulties that
may arise between labor and capital
could be fairly adjudicated, 1t has
been said there is n conflict between la
hOr and capital that is not sound
Their interests are identical. But when
contests are forced by the few strong
upon the many weak those contests
should not be rs heretofore, between the
few, with great strength on one side
and the many with only numbers on the
: other side. Such contests iniure both
!, sides and confer no substantial benefit
on either. The people should vote for
nothing that is wrong, and should sub
nit to nothing that is not right. You
exercise great power and should organ
: iAe so as TO use it cflectually. For my
self | have this to say in response to the
, question: why are you here at Dem
ocratic Convention?' | represent the
Democracy of Massachusetts, nineteen
out of every twenty Of whom are work.
ingmcn. Thank God, only represent
!, workingmen. We have a right to come
here and ask them to be with us. II
they are not, they are not Democrats.
!, They are only Democrats in name, and
| warn YOU not TO he deceived by mere
:, phrases, by mere platform, constructed
= W utVelNt bHt pcuplc lut al HOUI anu
TO be forgotten Immediately after the
. election. Examine the candidates,
- search the records and ask whether or
not the man seeking your support by
i his life, by his conduct, by his career, is
" entitled TO be considered friend of the
- laborer regardless of the platform upon
i which he stands or the party name that
y he wears and only support the man
= whose record answers that question as
- YOU want to have it answered, as your
, interests demand that it should be an
~ swered. In conclusion. gentlemen, |
" beg to tender you my most grateful
y thanks, not only for yourselves, but fol
!, the countless thousands you represent
% | repeat, am profoundly moved by this
y great demonstration of the people from
=, whom you are and Of whom you have
> spoken so kindly, nay, so iiatteringly
Gentlemen, accept the assurance of my
l. profound consideration.
There was a roar Of applause, the del
egation withdrew, and so ended the ova
lt ton TO Butler.