Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-07-06
Gen. Harrison in the Smike Riots Of
1871.

THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE DEPENDED
AGAINST "a FOOLISH DEMOCRATIC ATTACK 90
From the Springfield Republican
The Indiana Democrats are making "a
very unworthy attempt u prejudice work
ing men against Mr. Harrison because ol
his stand in relation to the railroad strikers
Of 1871 which was entirely creditablc
The circumstances have not yet been for
gotten in this country, which for a time
saw mob law invoked in dozen cities and
along railroads from Maryland to the Miss
i,>ippi in the false giise Of vindicatiug the
rights Of labor In that season uf general
alarm the strikers took possession, July -
If the lndianapoi, depot, aud would let
none but mail trains depart The mayor
had tno few policemen should such a riot
cusue a, that at pitt,hurg two days before
lie called therefore mas, meeting OF cit
lrn> tp organize for the protection of prop
rrty. 1t was held and nearly every clti
ZEN was there. without distinction Of party
4 committee of public safety was appoint
ed, one from each ward. Measure, were
taken not only to protect property, hu!
toward arbitration ul the strike BcuIam
m Harrison was mcmhrr of tins commit
tee. so was Franklin lAndrr,. altprwaru
Democratic candidate for governor and %
conference was held with the strikers
lnuicr-. Mcdonald aud Harrison mad,
excellent ,peerhc, all recognized the men
right t., strike, but warned them that the,
had mo- right to prevent others from work
Ia Ita
tu obtain AN increase of wages. eNprc~siu.
hl, belief they We're too low. liut ~ thu
peace was ~tlll threatened the cummIttr,
pn public safety wa, organized, senator
.lu~rph h. MrDnunld Glen. benjamin Ilar
risou Conrad Baker tirn " = Gresham
Geu + \ Morris Gen Daniel Met aulr'
and Grn John Love being principal mem
hcr- and "a large number ot citizens en-
rpllri themselves under order. Of the com
mittce
Goy Williams. Blue Jeans" Williams
issued sound aud firm proclamation, and
al the suggestion of the committee Of putt
lir safety, appointed tirn Harrison to com
maud the volunteer militia hut IA he Wa
already a captain Of one of the companies
organized to prevent rlntiug. Harrison de
clmed and tiru Met tauley was appointed
Gresham was commander If another com
pauy. liarrlson's company vas detailed t.
protect the nited States armnry He put
thl, important point in state Of defence
1t j, certain that Harrison acted IN IA thor
oughly humane aud proper spirit all
through lie rcpclird any suggestion oi
attacking the striker, unless it should be-
come necessary, aud when the strike end
ed. he eNcrted himself to have the arrested
strikers treated leniently About 200 hat
been sentenced to 10 days Imprisonment
for contempt of court Gen Harrison
went to Judge nrummund, suggesting that
the law had been sufficiently yiudicated 10y
the pronouncing Of this sentence, and ask
ins that the men Ice released Those who
had already begun their terms we're re-
leased, the others we're discharged, and
nothing more was heard Of the pro,rcu
tious The indianapolis Sentinel acts mot
only very mwnrthly IN attacking Gen
Harrison, but in party sense very tp"l
iShy, since the most prominent Democrats
IN the state Were as much engaged in the
preservation of order a. Harrison. 1t Wa
simply citizens duty. There is Il chars,
that Harrison used some cuntcmptuous eN
prrssions about Workingmen, but thi, is
not worth needing