The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-07-04
Ben Harrison and the workingmen


Ben Harrison and the WOrkingmen.
IL is a striking commentary upon Gen.
HARRIsoS's boosted popularity in the state
and city where he has lived for thirty
years or more, that his home organ finds
1t necessary within a week after his nomi-
nation for the presidency to devote the
greater part OF its space to attempts to
prove that he has not been antagonistic to
organized labor. For several DAYS the
Journal has been full of matter OF this
character. In yesterdays issue several
columns were occupied with a recital OF
the events connected with the great labor
strike of 1877, when Gen. HARRIsoN's
attitude was such as to arouse the just
resentment OF the oppressed railroad en-
ployes who were engaged in life and
death struggle for their rights. The Jour
nal parades vast number of absolutely
irrelevant details, the obvious purpose be-
ing to confuse and befog the minds OF the
laboring men as to the part Gen. HARRISON
actually played at that trying time. But
the wOrkingmen of this city and state
know where Gen. HARRISON stood. They
know that his influence and his active Ell
forts were all against them. They know
that he organized and commanded COM
Pany of home guards who, as the Ne7rs re-
marked on the 9th of July, 1887, were
armed with the new breech-loading rife,
a most formidable and efficient weapon"
They know that as a member OF sub
committee of the committee on public
safety he ostentatiously declined to meet
and confer with a committee of the strik-
ers, upon the ground that his committee
had been formed to uphold the law and
that it could have no relations or negotia-
tions with claw breakers" They recall
distinctly the violent speech he delivered
in the criminal court room at a public
meeting held during these troubles, which
created so much indignation among the
workingmen that one OF their lead
ers, who was present, arose and
said: "Gen. HARRISON, we will remember
YOU for this" Remember him they have,
all these years, and remember
him they will next November
Gen. HARRIsoNs speech upon that occa-
sion was not reported in the newspapers,
but there are scores OF workingmen in
Indianapolis to-day who heard it, and up
on whom it made an impression which
the Journals diffuse explanations and apol-
igies cannot now remove. The whole tenn
per and spirit of the speech was intensely
offensive to laboring men, and they can
neither forget nor forgive it.
1t is absurd to suppose that organized
labor in Indiana has regarded Gen. HAIR
RIsoN all these years as its determined
enemy without any cause. 1t is absurd
10 suppose that in a community like this,
where man OF Gen. HARRIsoN's promi-
nence is constantly under the eye of all
the people, he should be looked upon by
wage workers with distrust and
suspicion, and to a great extent with
open aversion. without having said or
done anything to occasion it. This is pre-
posterous. 1t is imposing too severe a tax
upon the credulity of the average voter to
ask him to believe such a thing. Such
gross misconceptions of a mans character
and conduct do not so easily take root
among those before whom he goes in and
out every day for years. There cannot beso
much smoke without good deal OF fire.
Workingmen, no more than other men,
conceive dislike for a neighbor unless he
has done something to justify it. If the
workingmen OF Indiana are ''prejudiced"
against Gen. HARRISON, as some of his
friends claim, it is ridiculous to say that
they are so without reason. If the Tepub-
lican candidate had always been the out
spoken friend of labor that his organ
pictures him, he would naturally be strong
in its affections and confidence to-day.
That he is phenomenally unpopular in
the ranks Of labor is sufficient evidence
that he has not been regarded as its
friend, and has not, in fact, been its friend
Aside from his attitude during the strike
of II, Gen. HAREIsoNs record is not that
OF friend OF labor. His public career has
been that OF an advocate, supporter and
apologist OF corporations and monop-
olies. His business is, and has been for
many years, that OF railroad attorney.
In the senate of the United States he was
known as one Of the railroad senator's"
His record in that body is singularly bar
rem, but such as it is it is uniformly fav-
orable 10 monopolies His numerous
votes against the restriction of Chinese
legislation, the real significance of which
the Journal vainly attempts TO disguise,
fixed bis status upon one of the
most important questions Of the day TO
the labor interests OF the country. The
Journal insists that because he presented
few memorials and petitions from labor
organizations in the senate he is 10 be
considered their friend and champion
This is cheeky, indeed. Everyone who
knows everything about it, knows that it
is the duty Of every senator and repre-
sentative in congress TO lay before that
body any petition, memorial or remon-
STRANGE, whatever It's character OF object,
coming from any OF his constituents, pro-
vided that it is couched IN respect
ful language. No senator or repre-
sentative ever thinks OF refusing
10 present any kind OF a petition to con-