The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-12
GEN. HARRISON AND AMERICAN LABOR,

GEN. HARRISON AND AMERICAN LABOR.
The Frankfort (Ind.) Banner publishes q
letter from Mr.. Martin Biorn, of that place,
relative to correspondence he had with Gen.
Harrison while the latter was in the Senate.
Mr. Biorn was at the time, and perhaps is
still, master workman Of the Knights of La
Dor assembly at Frankfort In his official
capacity and by direction Of the assembly he
wrote several letters requiring answers or re-
questing favors of General Harrison, and he
says the latter's answers were so prompt and
courteous that the assembly sent him O. vote
of thanks. The Frankfort Assembly, K. of
L., was much interested in the Chinese ques-
ton, and by its direction Mr.. Biorn had
some correspondence with Senator Harrison
on that subject receiving the following let
ters:
''UNITED STATES SENATE
''WAsHINGToN, May 10, 1885,.
mir. Martin Biorn:
my Dear Sir:-Your communication of
May IL has been received and carefully read.
am too busy to-day to enter into discus
sion OF the Chinese question. l agree with
you that they are not.a class OF immigrants
that are desirable. OF course, as far as
the actions of Congress are concerned, we are
under some limitations. Where treaty has
been made with some foreign power, we
must. of course. carry it out, until it can be
repealed or amended by proper proceedings.
The present law prohibits the coming in of
nd r hoya IN,
that those who came under the previous
treaty would be returned to their native land
to stay. / hope; sometime during the sum-
mer, to be at Frankfort, and will be glad to
talk with you. Yours truly. ~
Benz. HARRISON"
''USIrEp STATES sESSrr.
"WAsHINGToN, ID. c., May 20. 1856.
"Mr Martin Biorn: sio
envy Dear Sir-Your kind letter OF the
oath received / was sorry myself not to have
time to 60 more fully into the Chinese ques-
ton in my former letter, but the fact is / am
very busy. l have so many letters to write
that l am compelled to write very briefly.
While am writing we are considering in the
Senate a bill TO amend and make more
stringent the present law. ! will send you
copy of it. 1t will make the coming in of
Chinese laborers, in violation Of law, moro
difficult.
Il hope when visiting Frankfort this sum-
mer, as | expect to do, that may make the
acquaintance of yourself and such of your
friends as will do me the honor of calling on
me. Very truly yours, etF>
.BENJ. HARRISON"
Mr.. Biorn, to whom the letters were adj
dressed, is not Republican, and says he has
never met General Harrison personally. He
publishes the letters as matter of justice to
General Harrison. He says; 10
Although not Republican, l consider it
my duty as a good citizen to contribute my
mite in righting terrible wrong perpetrated
by few men in the ranks of organized labor.
Through misrepresent ation. Hon. Ben iamin
Harrison has been held up before the people
as man utterly devoid of sympathy with the
laborers. and thousands of honest toilers have
accepted these false statements through the
labor papers as gospel. |. for one, decline
with thanks the effort at nose ringing on the
part Of our leaders, and ask your assistance to
place certain documents before the public
documents that will speak in tones of thunder
to those who have been led 10 condemn Dir.
Harrison on the evidence of some unknown
dictator.
al have found Mr. Harrison, in his dealings
with rs as an organized body OF laborers, 20
be prompt and honorable in the full sense of
the words He has shown his honesty by his
work in the committees as well as on the
Senate floor, by voting for those very senti-
ments so briefly expressed in his letters. as
proven to our satisf action through the Con-
gressional Record. also learn from the same
organ, where MIR. Harrison has performed the
same service for other assemblies In our
State, and has made appropriate remarks in
favor OF their measures. And now / wish 10
ask those assemblies, who are keeping so
silent, Is it just for US to allow this blaekmsil
ing to 90 by unnoticed, without raising our
voice in behalf of him who defended our
measures so wellR think not. We are
not political body We ask
favorable consideration forau meas
ures in favor of the toiling millions,
independent of party. and we are in honor
bound 10 redress the wrongs of orr friends
In conclusion, viii state that | have the
originals of the letters publish; that have
never met Mr.. H.. aud that he has not been
consulted in this matter. Further. no stands
on a platform not Endorsed by me, and only q
strong sense of duty inpels me to place the
gentleman in his true light before the people
Of a supposed free country re
We do not consider that General Harrison =
record on the Chinese question needs any de-
Tense; but if it did these letters would show
his position and feeling on the subject
Written more than two years before his NOM
ination, and never intended for publication,
! they show that he regarded the Chinese as an
| undesirable class of immigrants, and was
anxious to do all that could be done under the
treaty in kaeninp them ont of the country