The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-07-22
Now York Times, Republican.
and the W0rkin0men.

Now York Times, Republican.
Cleveland and the Workingmen.
There is as little evidence that the
workibgmen OF sais State are opposed to
Gov. Cleveland as there IS ground for
such opposition. It will be observed
that most representations to the effect
that bis cousse as Governor has been
unfriendly to the interests OF laboring
men, and that IS consequence they are
unfriendly to him, emanate from those
who have no right or authority to speak
for workingmen, but who have some
grievance Of their own against the fear
less Governor or some object to be pro-
NOTED by stirring up discontent. The
first and most persistent in declaring
that workiDgmen are not friendly to
Cleveland have been tho Tammany lead
ers. Their purpose was clear to the
simplest understanding. They had their
own reasons for opposing the Governor,
which have been sufficiently shown up in
the last few weeks. To give any show
OF strength to their opposition they were
forced 60 claim that he would lose votes
10 this State which some other Demo-
cratic candidate might get. What votes
would he lose? Tammany would not
directly admit that such votes as 1t could
control would be withheld from the
nominee because the Governor had made
an enemy OF Grady and refused 10 be
subssrvient to the wishes Of Kelly. such
an admission would be too honest and
straightforward to come from such q
source. In casting about for class of
voters which could with more or less
plausibility he represented as the Cover
nor, Tammany seized upon the lsboring
men as class for which grievance
might be manufactured.
What was the grievance to bef The
workingmen had asked for the establish.
ment OF Bureau OF Labor Statistics 1t
had been created, with the prompt ap-
proval Of the Governor, and be had ap.
pointed . Commissioner entirely SC.
ceptable 10 the labor organisations OF
the State The demand for the prohi.
bition OF cigarmaking in tenement houses
came from the workingmen The Gov
ernor signed the bill for that purpose
last year The act was declared invalid
by the Court OF Appeals, aud another
was passed which was intended to obvi-
ate the fatal objections raised, and this
was signed without hesitation. The
workingmen made q loud demand for
the abolition OF contract labor Ia the
prisons, and one which We have been
forced tpregard as mistaken; hut that
was favored by the Govern.
OF In bis message and 10 his signature
Of the Coms,ock bill. and his criticism
upon che measure for an investigating
10 his general Course
Gov Cleveland has shown no special re.
gard for this or that separate interest, but
has kept in view the general well-being
in which oil have share; but il there 10
any class to whose demands he has ex.
bibited q friendly leaning, it is the
working class.
Out OF what. then. was che pretended
grievance to be made? Tammany bit
upon just three Of the Governors yetoes
or iailures to sign bills in his two years
Of service, and boldly ventured to base
It's pretense on those. In 1882 there
was loud demand for ivt.cent fares on
the elevated railroads Of this city, at all
hours, based on belief that the receipts
OF the company would permit it. The
failure Of the Legislature TO pass the
Crane bill produced good deal Of iu.
digna,ion and bad no small effect upon
the fortunes Of Legislators, and last year
a similar bill was passed The Cover
nor heard arguments for and against it,
and gave the subject careful considera
tion. He concluded that, in view Of
previous legislation and the contract of
the Rapid Transit Commission with the
Elevated Railroad Companies, the fares
could not justly or constitutionally be
reduced unless the net receipts Of the
companies we're shown to exceed 10
per cent. on the capital actually expend.
ed. His reasoning convinced such an
earnest and fair-minded advocate OF the
reduction as Theodore Roosevelt. and
hi, conclusions we're subsequently &C.
quiesced in bv the anti-monopoly mem.
her Of the Railroad Commission, Mr..
O'Donnell. Moreover. the demand fer
reduced fares through all hours OF the
day did not come from the workingmen,
was not for their benefit, and its failure
has never been regarded as grievance
ny them.
The other two trumped mp grievances
we're the Governors failure to sign the
Mechanics Lien bill and the bill regula.
ting the hours OF Car drivers and con
ductors, passed at the late session. II
has been clearly shown that the former
was passed in shape that would have
wrought injury and not benefit to me-
chanics, and it was precisely on tha,
ground that the Governor refused to
sign l.. His act was favor to work
ingmen. There was never any evidence
OF demand for the conductors and Cal
drivers bill. 1t was introduced by 8
cheap demagoeue as bid for their f.
vor, but from them nothing was heard
on the subject. The bill simply required
that twelve hours. should be q days worh
for this particular class OF workers, With
out providing against q corresponding
reduction OF wages or preventing con-
tracts for overrun. In refusing to sigr
it the Governor said: II cannot think
this bill is in the interest OF the work
ingmep."
This. then. is the case made up, not by
the workingmen. but for them, and they
are quite promptly repudiating ii as none
OF theirs. 1t was made By Tammany il
the hope OF soaring off support frou
Cleveland at Chicago. It is taken uE
now only bv small demagogues Who wish
to gain notoriety or consequence as agi
tators and by supporters Of Gen. Butler
10 his Green back.Anti- Monopoly "rack.
et." 1t Is based on false pretense and
Misrepresentation, and the workingmer