Wichita eagle., 1888-07-14

INDIANAPOLIS, July l3.-There was COM
parative quiet about the Harrison resi-
dence today which continued until O'Clock
tonight, when delegation of 900 railroad
men, led by A. d. Shaw, yardmaster of
the Bee Line, made call. Mr.. Shaw ad-
dressed General Harrison in brief speech
and in response the latter said;
Gentlemen-Your visit is very gratifying
to me and is full of significance and in
terest. If | read Alright the language of
your lanterns, you have signalled the Re-
publican train to go ahead. Applause,
and cries of land she is going tool You
have concluded that it is freighted with
the interests and hopes Of the working
men of America and must have the right
of way. [Cheers, and cries that S true" and
I'VE don't have to take water on this trip"
The train has been inspected, you have
given it your skilled and intelligent APP
prevail, the track has been cleared and the
switches spiked down. Have i read your
signals Alright? fCheers and cries of you
have" and there's no fiat wheels under
this train" You represent, understand,
every department of railroad labor, the
Office, the train, the shop, the shop, the yard
and the road. You are responsible and in
telligent agents of a vast system that from
a rude and clumsy beginning has grown to
be as fine and well adapted as the parts of
the locomotive engine. The necessities and
responsibilities of the business of trans
portation have demanded a body of picked
men, inventive and skillful, faithful and
courageous, sober and educated, and
the call has been answered, as your
presence here tonight demonstrates.
lCheers. Heroism has been found
at the throttle and the brake, as well as on
the battle field, and as well worthy of song
L.
tween the platforms, who used his last
breath, not for prayer or message of love,
but to say to the panic-stricken who gath
cred around him, put out the red light
for the other train" inscribed his name
very high upon the shaft where the names
of the faithful and brave are written. \
voice: Give him three cheers for that
Great and enthusiastic cheeringl. This
narly and very large gathering of Repub-
llcan railroad men suggests to me that you
have opinions upon public questions which
are the product OF your own observations
and study. Some one will say that the
railroad business is a non protected indus
try, because it has to do with tranSporta-
ton and not with production. But | only
suggest what has already occurred to your
own minds when / say that is a very de-
ceptive statement. There is relation
between the wages of skilled and unskilied
labor, as truly as between the prices OF
two grades of cotton cloth; that if the
first is cut down, the other, too, must to
come down. [Cries of that's Just SOL
You know also that if labor is thrown out
OF one line or avenue by so much the more
will the others be crowded; that policy
that transfers production from the Amerf-
ran to the English or German shops works
J. an injury to a i American work n gmen.
:Great cheering. But if it could be
shown that your wages were unaffected
by our system of protective duties, am
sure that your fellowship with your fellow
toilers in other industries would lead you
to desire, as | do and always have, that
our legislation may be of that sort that
will secure 10 them the highest possible
prosperity. [Applause.l Wages that
not only supply the necessities of
life, but leave. a substantial margin
for comfort and for the savings banks. No
mans wages should be so low that he can
not make provision in his days of Yigor
for the incapacity of accident or the feeble
ness of old age. Great cheering | am
glad to be assured tonight that the princi-
piles of our party and all things affecting
ats candidates can be safely left to the
thoughtful consideration of the American
workingmen; they will know the truth
and accept it; they will reject the false and
slanderous [Applause.l And now, let
me say in conclusion, that my door will
always be open to any of you who may
desire TO talk with me about anything that
interests you or that you think will in
terest lGreat cheering. | regret that
Mrs. Harrison is prevented by a temporary
sickness from joining with me in receiving
you this evening. Great cheering
At the conclusion Of General Harrison's
speech the members of the delegation
passed through the house pauslnC to
shake hands with the general