Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-11-01
cLSyELA.p.s RECORD.
What the Patriotic Working-WOmen I
the Country Think of 1t.

election, IN which he 1orceo MS re-
nomination for a second term. we
deem it duty we owe to the In
dustrians of the country to review his
record. that they may determine
whether it is to their interest as
bread-winners to give him their fran
chise.
We shall show that he is the avowed
enemy of the cause of labor, the
friend of mOnopolies, great corpora
lions, money kings and syndicates; a
defender of and sustainer of Wall
street brokers, and the champion of
National banks against the interests
of the people
Four years ago Mr.. Cleveland de-
clared that the eligibility of Presi-
dent for reelection was a menace to
good government. Now he stands as
a second-term candidate. who I'M
scrupulousIy used official patronage to
have himself renominated, debating
even the very platform on which the
issue should be made. Such a thing
was never heard of before in American
history, but his subservient office-hold-
ers had no other alternative but to
obey, and the consequence is-that the
foe Of the wage men and women asks q
reelection
Independent of his own bad standing
in the estimation OF the sons and
daughters of toll of this country, the
platform be. has dictated as the guide
of his party is not only inimical, but
an insult to the intelligence of the
wage-earners and bread winners of
the land
Four years ago Mr.. Cleveland was
elected as a friend of the protective
tariff although that was not a dis
tinct issue of the campaign, but it was
deemed necessary to obtain the
services of Samuel j. Randall to can
vass doubtful States-because he was
an avowed protectionist-and but for
his known honesty and confidence in
which he was held by the people,
many protectionists would have cast
their votes for the opposing candidate,
and Mr.. Oeveland's defeat assured.
In looking upon the picture now, we
find Grover Cleveland issuing mes
sage to Congress in favor of free trade,
and, as a natural consequence thereof,
Samuel J. Randall in disgrace-ig-
nored by the very man who owed his
elevation to the Presidency to Mr..
RandalTs statement: THAT the Dem
ocrats were as staunch protectioaists
as the Republicans.
The time will soon be here when the
people of this country will pronounce
their verdict upon the Administration,
but it is our duty to review many of his
acts which bear with heavy hand upon
the poorer classes.
What has Grover Cleveland ever
done for the wage-women OF this
country?
Soon after his election to the Presi-
dency, Mrs. Charlotte Smith. president
of the Woman's National Industrial
League, called upon him, at his resi-
dence in Albany. when he pledged his
honor as Governor of New York, as
President-elect, and as man, to look
after, protect and defend the industrial
women of the country! Has he done
it? 1t is waste of time to ask the
question.
He not only violated that promise,
but by practicing a cruel and unjust
system has prevented wage-women
from reaping the benefit of laws passed
by Congress for their benefit.
Look at the bill to establish Bureau
of Labor Statistics! That act was &C
complished by the zeal of woman, and
when established, she was ignored in its
formation-its agencies and all its Off
ces being filled by men-mostly dudes
and an alleged notwithstanding and
excepting one or more females. who
had no acquaintance with Senators or
members in the States they claimed to
hail from.
To show his hatred for the soldier
who fought for the flag in person
while Cleveland sent substitute-he
visits his anger upon the widows and
orphans of such, and INDUCES in mock
cry and bil!ingsgate when vetoing the
petty pension which Congress in a spirit
of magnanimity gives them. To show
his total Indifference to the soldier.
and the traditions which the war left
behind-of his valor and patriotism
he goes fishing on Decoration Day when
hundreds of thousands of his country
men are bedecking the graves of our
fallen braves in the National ceme-
teries.
The wage-women as well as wage
men of this country owe nothing to
Grover Cleveland and his Administra-
ton save merited contempt
In this connection we can not refrain
from mentioning one other subject
about this Administration, and that is
ahis: His war upon women. He sent
substitute to face the bayonets and the
bullets in the war of the rebellion. and
now permits his substitutes in the de-
par:ments at Washington to rob the
wage-women of the petty towel-wash-
ing, and his Secretary of the Treasury
to defraud poor charwomen out of
their furloughs given them by Con-
gress, and to discharge them because
they have the bravery to belong to
Woman's League, to protect them in
their rights. Their houses have been
searched, their beds peered under,
their domestic relations made the sub
ject of official inquiry. Verify, the
Administration of Grover Cleveland is
a manly. model onei One making war