The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-09-05


his clients although he had slipped on the jury.
Ills entsacted dollar day. Heated dollar
day. Ii isimprobable that he used language
expressive of his feelings and employments?
Indeed is not absurd to contend that he did not
use such language? lie was out of politics and in
the law business Exclusively
Now again did he use expressions to the
effect that he would shoot" resort to the
militia, fuse the bayonet," or words of like
import? He had already, as we have seen, put
himself on the side of the 'Pinkert0n policy"
lie was captain OF a company of men whom he
had organized He armed them with new
breech-loading Springfield riaes-a most formid-
able and efficient weapon" BY his course what
did he say? What are new breech-loading
Springfield ri1es-most formidable and efficient
weapons" for?
Did Capt Harrison intend feeding the strik-
ers biscuit out OF the muzzle of a musket? He
is called "cod" and distant but he would
hardly undertake act OF charity at so long a
range as that? Was he intending TO storm"
the men with golden coins? No such ammuni-
ton was seen at the arsenal. 1t was not fur
nished by the state.
The cartridge boxes contained bullets In
drilling his company he taught his men to fire
at the word of command. Did he prepare to
"shoot?" Did he think "shoot?" Did he act
"shootp Did he talk "shoOt" And even if
he said nothing upon that subject, does it
weaken the case against him? IL is said the
DdAhliS uoB HtNtI DlNtSs Dul AlNn TIE HIS
tiff of the household sneaks stealthily
around, it is time to get over the fence.
His men carried the bayonets. Were thew
to cut bread with? Are they implempents
of the bake-shop or the bakery?
Were they carried by Mr. Harrison as a sort of
solace, or as threat to the strikers? Do those
facts conceded, uncontradicted, prove anything?
is not further evidence accumulative and uu-
Necessary? Manga burglar has become convicted
upon mere proof of his possessing his unlawful
implements. 1t would not be necessary or even
expected to prove he said he was going to COM
init burglary, but in support of the claim that
Mr.. Harrison delivered himself of cruel and in
human utterances on that occasion, that his
speech was that of hired, heartless attorney,
that he disregarded the crying appeals of labor,
crushed and scOurged by the lashes of cor
porate power, / will submit next the evidence
OF a few OF the participants in that strike.
These witnesses speak from personal contact.
Their statements have been furnished from
reliable sources. All were members of COM
mittees or in some way connected with the
strike. They are the words of honest men;
all, believe, members of organized labor.
They possess the confidence of their comrades
and are entitled to the credit of truthful citi-
zens. While willing in the broadcast sense TO
assist in making Mr.. Harrison stand squarely
on his record, they have not desired to rush
into print" and have only permitted the use
Of their knowledge through feeling of duty in
making a truthful history, and that the ground
less rehearsals OF those governed 10y selfish
political interest shall not be permitted to
falSify and distort the facts. If occasion de-
manded the testimony here submitted
could be multiplied almost without end.
Many of the men are scattered; some are
dead, but a large number yet remain, who
upon call, will add their versions to corrObO-
rate those already secured. In submitting
these statements we get the opinions OF the
railroad men themselves and what they thought
of Harrisons speech. OF course the Journal,
always Mr.. Harrison's organ, approved it.
They believed IN its sentiments. Workingmen
do not. That paper on July 90 contained this
opinion of Mr.. HarriSon'S speech:
Gen Harrison made an eloquent, and logical speech
replete with logical lore and sound, good sense.
But the Journals estimate of what good
speech is when it comes to the interests of
laboringmen is best shown by an editorial ap-
pearing in its columns July so, 1877. 1t
said:
That was good speech made by the colonel of a
volunteer company in Chicago just before they
moved on the mob. The men having loaded, he
said: "NOw boys, keep cool, and don't fire until you
get the word from your company commander; No
may get, don't ere until you told then fire low
aim at the belt. Forward, by fours, march,"
With this light upon the views of the Journal
rs TO what good speech is, we can readily see
how they would consider Gen. Harrison's
speech TO the railroad strikers in this city as
eloquent and logical"
Again Martin J. Murphy talked with.
Martin j. Murphy, residing at l59 Buchanan
ST., indianapolis, Ind, when asked for a re-
view of the strike period of 1877, said:
was a fireman in the l., B. &W. yards at the time
the strike began. The first start OF the trouble
the discharge Of certain men on the Pennsylvania
system, but the general cause account of the
repeated reduction of wages. There were two
three grades of men at the time getting 81 day,
and think on one road the section men were only
getting % cents day. The fight to restore
wages and stop further reductions About the con-
ference meeting in the old council chamber were
invited TO be preseDt-we didn't request it ourselves
AS now recall H. Gov. Porter addressed the entire
meeting He was followed by Harrison. For some
days before this Harrison had been getting up
militia companies, and then had lot Of
men quartered at the arsenal. In his speech
he spoke about this. and used very
plain language about what they would do with IL
didn't come 10 time, yet can't Just recall the
words. know he offended the mon BY them. lie
said by striking we had forfeited all claims to the
roads, and didn't have any right TO ask for any
dress. He used the term of "law-breakers," and
"violators of the law" several times. He was all
oue-sided, so much so that everyone he didn {
intend 10 give the boys any show. He said the
roads couldn't pay any higher wages, as the books
OF tbs company would show, and asked our COM
mittee to 60 down and inspect them. So long
were "lsw-breakers' nothing could be done. In