The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-10-06

r. III. uapen, AT tho time Wholesale merchant.
John u. Todd. real estate agent.
w. w. Sickles, preacher.
Marion Ward, druggist.
D.. III. Wiles. real estate agent and broker,
Howard Foltz, book keeper.
III. Schwinge. tea merchant.
j. A. Wildman, real estate agent and broker.
Isaac Herr. Evansville, editor.
In tho above list will be found the names of
those who make the following statements. No
one will dare to question their truthfulness.
az was second lieutenant of the HARRISON COM
pauy, said Horace Mckay, 'and l say posi-.
lively that every statement that man Gould
makes is unqualifedly false. / recollect that
we did not receive any guns until we arrived at
the arsenal grounds, whore We were mustered
into the State service by q mastering officer.
We went into camp at the arsenal grounds, and
as long 40 the strike continued we were not in
side the city limits. General Harrison, while
nominally captain OF the company, was not
with rs until the day We left camp. Eli +.
Ritter, first lieutenant Of the company, was IN
command. When the strike was over and we
received orders to march back to the
city, General Harrison gave orders to
see that none Of tho guns were loaded.
We marched down Ohio street to Me-
ridian, and then to the Circle, where We
were disbanded, our guns taken to the court
house and stored away upstairs. We were
never nearer the Union Depot than Circle street
at any time. To my knowledge. General Har-
rison never gave any orders for anyone 20 pro-
coed further than that / never heard General
Harrison at any time say that any violence should
be used. In fact, he Nactically had nothing at all
to do with the company. The organization OF
the company grew out of the trouble at Pitts
burg. There was fear that it might spread
here. this being . great railroad center, and the
movement was one of citizens to protect life
and property. There were az many Democrats
as Republicans in the company. /
myself went to see Governor Williams, and no
issued the arms TO the company. General
Harrison was only a subordinate in the citizens
movement, as Gen. Dan Macsuley had COM
maud of the forces. l am sure the company
could not be moved without authority from the
commanding officer. Goulds story about Gov.
ernor Williams threatening to disarm the COM
pany on account OF General Harrison wanting
to move on the strikers Ia a lie. As l said, the
strike was over when General Harrison Joined
the COMPANY. and /, for one. did not SEQ Gov
ernor Williams when We marched down to the
Circle. Every man who was 10 the company. l
feel sure. will Join me in saying that there Is
not a single truth in Gould's
81 was first lieutenant in that citizens COM
psny." said Capt. Eli z. Ritter last night, ''and
practically had mma of it. think | know
everything that transpired from the time we
were organized until We disbanded, and the
statements ihatiarelbeipg circulated against Gen
eral Harrison are wholly false. There isn't even
the least foundation for them, and the 'dollar-a-
day story We all know is n lie. General Harri-
son did not 60 into camp with the company. and
was not with as while We were organized until
the day when ne came out to march back 70 the
city. The strike was then over. General Har-
rison was q mem Der OF the citizens committee.
appointed TO arbitrate with the strikers, aud
while We were in camp he was with the
committee ATTEMPTING To adjust the differences
between the railroad companies aud the men. l
was in command of the company all the time
We were 10 camp, and no one ever suggested
that there should be any violence used, aud /
think no one even thought there would be any.
There had been trouble in Pittsburg; there were
q great many traInps, not railroad men, around
indianapolis. who were attempting 90 make
trouble, and the company was q movement of
the best citizens OF Indianapolis. representing
men Of all political parties. to protect life and
property. The statement that General Harri-
son started to the depot with the company, de-
termined to start trains by force. is untrue. The
company was never inside the city
limits after IL was mustered in.
then marched down to the Circle where we
we're disbanded. General Harrison at no time
ever suggested that any violence be used.
Captain Ritter belongs to the third party, aud
Is not . supporter Of General Harrison.
". A. Bell. editor Indiana School Journal.
when asked about the truthfulness OF Gould's
statement, sai& II was a member OF the volun-
teer company in 1877. ! have read the circular
that IL being circulated under the seal Of the
K. OF l., and I say that every line of it relating
to the strike OF 1877 is absolutely and ~willfully
false. There is no foundation for the state
ments in any possible degree. General Hsrri-
son never made any such expressions az are at
tributsd 10 him. The whole thought OF the or
ganization was the protection of life and prop
erty. 1t was Immediately after the trouble
in Pittsburg, and We feared that the
bad element here might make trouble. Gen.
Harrison had nothing to do with the company
except on the day we marched back to the city
from the arsenal. The strike was then over,
and of course. any talk about him wanting to
take the company to the depot il simply oosh- p"
NJ. ". Boyle, iumber-dealer. said: Il was
not one OF the company, but at the time l was a
member of the firm Of Boyle, Cox & Co.,
lumbar-deslers Our business was, of conrse.
suffering, and l was at the depot nearly the
whole OF every day of the strike. Frank
Landsrs was also q member of the firm. and 1
know nothing was ever said then about General
fact, Mr. Landrrs and others were impatient be-
cause General Harrison's company did not take
action. All | know about the company Is that
it never appeared at the depot"
''The company" said John NJ Todd. "formsd
on Delaware street and marched directly to the
arsenal, where IL renamed for two days and a
night. It was in command OF Eli z. Ritter. who
bad been chosen fret lieutenant at the same
Time that General Harrison had been chosen
captain. General Harrison was selected shortly
after to act with the arbitration committee, and
was not with the company at the arsenal. H.
did not join it until it marched TO the Cir.
Gle, where the members stacked arms
and were soon after disbanded. The Gov
ernor never headed US off nor
did General Harrison make any blood-thirsty
remarks. do not mem Der that he uttered a
word. When We left the arsenal every mem Der
Of the company understood that the strike was
over"
DR.. Allison Maxwell said: "The statement OF
Ed Gould is a lie out OF whole cloth. We never
went near the depot When we left the arsenal
we all understood that the strike was ended.
We uever saw the Mayor, nor did Harrison evel
| say q word about starting the cars by force. Gould
also lied about Harrison making So D day.
What monev was due him as captain he turned
over to the Light Infantry. as was done by my
self and nearly every other msmber of the com
pany.'
Judge D. W. Howe said that Gould's state.
meut was false. 1.-The company" he continued,
.'orderstood the strike to be ended when il lef,
tho arsenal. There had not been q word said
about going to the depot and the Governor or
Der Of seeing General Harrison, or bearing him
say anything about forcing the men 10 90 te
work
As a supplement to these straightforward and
| uudeniable presentations of facts several gentle
men who were councilmen at that time add their
testimony. "Many Of the things said DR.. l. G.
| Walker. who was president of the Council then
| occurring in competition wit. the strike ! hav'
| forgotten. remember, however, that one Of
my sons was a member OF q militia company or
| ganizsd to protect property. Yes. / recall that