New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-27
WISDOM FOR THE WORKERS
COOPER UNION CROWDED WITH WORKING
MEN.
RoUsrNG SPEECHES BY A. r. WHITNEY GEORGE
GUNToN AND ELIHU RooT-THE NEED
OF BALLOT REFORM

GUNT0N AND ELIHU ROOT-THE NEED
OF BALLOT REFORM.
The large hall Of Cooper Union was once agaiA
crowded last evening by enthusiastic Republicans
who both chcered and sang until they were
hoarse for Harrison and Morton, Protection and
victory Not during this campaign, 90 any politi-
cal side, has meeting large or small been held
composed Of persons who were moro dstinctively
laboring men. They had the garb, the general
appearance, and the undoubted intelligence of
the average American citizen who earns his live
hh0od by manual labor The meeting was under
the auspices Of the workngmcn's Protective
Club, and was organized mainly by the efforts
of A. K Whitney, who presided in the absencc Of
the Rev. X. lIcber Newton, who was expected
to occupy that position, out sent instead letter
OF apology full Of encouragement This Is an ex-
tract from it,:
1t is TO the interest Of wage-w to bs
tempted by the cry Of cheap goods" TO DO aught that
will cheaper labor want to see the conditions Of
higher manhood among workers. and dread TO
throw down dyke which shuts out from tho
deluge OF European cheap labor. have no faith In
millennium Of unrestricted competition with owabor
tries.
Chairman Whitney stirred the hearts Of the
multitude in brief but eloquent speech. lie
said:
Victory is in the afr. have never in any other
working people (applause much independence ard
desire their liberty OF action in poll
tics as in other matters from the has' and tosses'
tRenewed appause.) l have been among the working
people for the last four months Thre organizations
in NewYork City containing thirysx thousand persons
ali OF whom woiEiDgmen. loud applause will
trust those men will trust myself for countrys
good for the Of the people, for the prosperity Of
the commonwealth. (Apparse) feel happy Tns
Democratic party have found their Burchard. Lord
sackyille is all right. Immense laughter and ap
plause)
George Gunton was the first speaker. He said
in part:
In this campaign the issue Is broader, deeper,
vital than any that has existed in any country any
time. The Republican policy is distinctivey American.
The Democratic policy is distinctivey English. DO not
that the Engishman is meaner than another
that the political economy and Industrial doctrine
England has been developing is free trade. foreign
markets and cheap labor while the American system is
protection, home markets and dear labo- (Applause)
publicly identified myself hitherto with any party
but one, and that with the labor move
prolonged appause), and here tonight only
because the issue of ths campaign is emphatcaly labor
ISSUE (Reneyed appause) The Democrats In one form
another have always been IN favor Of free trade. II
there is Democrat present. he tell me OF any Demo-
<atic newspaper except The Sum- that Is supporting
Cleveland and Thurman and protection at the same umcf
"a man in the audience here shouted out: 1 csn.")
Them resumed the speaker tell the Of that paper
goodness sake, and will give you five dollars (Im
laughter after which the man again shouted Inc
Journal OF CommerceD You don't read that paper or
you would be ashamed to say (Appause.) They
call the Democrats theorists The term is altogether TOO
dignifei theory scientific logical explanation
The Democrats do not give that They presens
series Of assumptions without anywhere explaining the
facts (Applause)
Elihu Root was the next speaker. In q brief
and telling speech he dwelt upon the State and
local issues, saying
To register election day VIC look to the
ballot protects the ballot to-dayf There two
difficulties for and for me about casting tho
ballot. We vote printed
ballot. It is impracticabe impossible to vote
written one or to get counted II cast It. The Sae
does furnish to printed ballot and we cannot
keep private printing OF our own The agents
who are sent to polls give you and TO me tho
ballot we wish to prove false. When get to the
polls we do not find the ballot we wish We
deauded and those agents are irresponsible During
the past year Republican majority in the Legislature
has passed ballot reform bill which says that the state
at States expense shall furnish to every voter the
tallot he asks for (appause). the Democratic Gov
ernor vetoed it, (Groans and hisses Ninetynine out OF
every hundred Of the fifteen thousand tramp lodging house
votes registered this city during the last election had
their names enrolled for the purpose Of selling their
votes These men marched the polls rolling their
ballots I'D in their hands. and they paid when tho
ballots are safely deposited. Thus your vote and mine
are neutrazed and count for nothing The law should
be amended render impossible for anybody 70
see what ballot casts. tApplause) Ine
Republican party is in favor OF that reform
General appause There would be no buying OF votes
then for no one would pay for VOTE not knowing Tor
whom it cast For twenty-five years the Democrauo
party stood against an honest ballot ana they sand
against IL 10 day. Under Democratic rule In this city
there has been extravaganza and useless expenditure we
have given to the people year Republican eand
dates for Mayor and for county Offices set OF men
absolutely irreproachabe and hope you will give them
cordial support and thereby elect them Arpiause)