Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-07-26

lence OF character are suMclent sate-
guards. He has nothing to conceal.
Last week a delegation of railroad
meR, numbering 847 voters, called on
him at his house. Mr. Shaw. yardmas-
ter of the Bee Line, headed the delega-
ton, and, taking position beside Gen.
Harrison, pulled the pin, as the boys
called it, and started the speechmaking.
He told who the boys were, and why
they had come to sec the general. Some,
he said were conductors, some brake
men. some engineers, some tiremen, and
some clerks. Some baggagemen." call
ed out a man in the crowd. Yes, some
are baggagemen. some are mechanics,
some are yardmen, some are officers, and
some are in other capacities" The po-
sition Of the republican party toward
labor was extolled.
When Gen. Harrison got orders to
pull out" a number Of the boys shouted
to him that he was expected ito run re-
gardless Of anything on the track"
Some one called out that 'the republic
can ticket didn't need to carry any red
lights, for nobody could 60 fast enough
to run into it." Another invited the gen
eral to inspect his sand tank because he
was to do some DANCED good running
and his wheels shouldn't slip" You'd
better try your brakes, too; we don't
want you to run past the White House"
exclaimed a man who wore the badge of
the Brotherhood of Engineers. That's
so, general" another added; "the White
House is a telegraph station. Well have
some orders there for you,
General Harrison said
"Gentlemen: Your visit is very crafty
ing to me and is full of significance and
interest. If 1 read Alright the language Of
your lanterns you have signaled the re-
publican train TO 90 ahead. You have con-
Guided that it is freighted with the inter-
ests and hope of the American working
men and must have the right of way. The
train has been inspected; you have given
it your skilled and intelligent approval;
the track has been cleared and the switch
es spiked down. Have | read your signs
Alright? lChoers and cries of you have j
You represent, ! understand, every de-
partment o railroad labor-tne office, the
train, the shop, the yard and the road.
You are the responsible aud intelligent
agents Of a vast system that, from clum-
sy beginning, has grown to be as fine as
the parts of the latest locomotive engine
The necessities and responsibilities of the
business of transportation have demanded
a body Of picked men-lnYentlve and Skill
ed, faithful and courageous, sober and ed
ucated-and the call has been answered,
as your presence her tonight demons
trates HerOism has been found at the
throttle and the brake rs well as on the
battlefield and Is as well worthy of stone
and marble The trainman, crushed be-
tween the platforms, who used his last
breath. not for prayer or u message of
love, but TO say 10 the panic-strlcken who
gathered 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 writ
ten.
"This early and very large gathering of
republican railroad men suggests to me
that you have opinions upon public ques-
lions which are the product of your own
observation and study. Some one will
say that the railroad business is non
protected industry because it has to do
with transportation and not with produc-
ton but only suggest what has already
occurred to your own minds when | say
that IS a very deceptive statement. You
know there is a relation between the
wages of skilled and unskilled labor as
truly as between the prices OF two grades
of cotton cloth; that if the first is cut
down the other, too, must come down.
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 any policy
that transfers production from the Amer
can to the English or German shop works
an injury to all American workmen. But
lift 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 al
ways have, that our legislation may be
of that sort that will secure to them the
highest possible prosperity am glad to
be assured tonight that the principles OF
our party and all things affecting its can
didate can be safely left to the thoughtful
consideration Of the American workmen.
They will know the truth and accept it;
they will reject the false and slanderous.
And now let me say in conclusion that
my door will always be open to any OF you
20 talk with me about
anything that interests you or that you
think will interest me. | regret that
/ Mrs. Harrison is prevented by a temporary
sickness from joining with me in receiy-
ing you this evening.
At the conclusion of Gen. Harrison s
remarks the members of the delegation
passed through the house each pausing
to shake hands with the General