Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-08-03
Is This Man Fit to Control the M ilitary
Power of the Nation.
From the Wheeling Register,]

RooDHoUsE, ILL.,, July 16.-There are in
this town great many engineers working
for the Chicago and Alton railroad. Among
these can be found several who have seen
service all over the country. Learning that
there were several engineers here who were
in Indianapolis during the labor troubles
of 1877, your correspondent took the op-
portunity to interview some of them con-
corning Ben Harrison's part in that famous
strike. The first man seen was Ben Zahm,
who is at present an engineer running an
engine in and out of this place. He is a
good, sober, industrious workman and
man upon whom his brother engineers put
very high estimate. He is a man who
reads and thinks, and one who has helped
materially to make the Brotherhood of Lo-
connective Engineers the strong, conserva-
tive organization that won the respect of
all.
Mr.. Zahm, being asked to state what he
knew about the part Harrison played in
the Indianapolis trouble in 1877, said: Gin
1877, I was running an engine in and out
of Indianapolis, and when the fremen
struck, I, with the other engineers, was
forced to lie idle. AS the strike embraced
great many workmen in different callings,
it was feared that there might be some
set of men as I ever saw. In order to
insure preservation of the peace, the may
or called a citizens meeting about the
fourth day of the trouble. The object of
this meeting was to bring the strikers and
citizens more closely together, that they
might understand each other the better
and thereby insure the safety of property.
To this end the strikers were specially in
vited to attend, which they did in body.
Among the prominent men present were
Gov. Williams-'old Blue JEANS as he
was called-the Sheriff of the county and
the Mayor of the city. Speeches of con-
ciliatory tone were made by many present
and everything moved along as intended
until Ben Harrison got up to make
speech. We all knew that Harrison was
railroad attorney and that all his sympa-
thies were against the men who dared to
strike, but we did not think that he would
show them at that time. I remember his
speech as well as though I heard it but
Yesterday.
''He began by statement of the enorm-
GUS loss occasioned by the blockade of
railroad traffic, and Immediately proceeded
to charge the whole loss to the strikers,
and denounced them in terms as strong as
he could use. A thought of the laboring
he could set out in glowing colors the in
convenience to those millionaires who
could better afford to lose thousands than
could the firemen single days wages.
Harrison stood there as the champion of
gold, as the attorney of corporate wealth
He stood there amazed at the audacity of
men who dared to oppose the encroach-
ments of the wealth that hired them. AS
he thought the whole state of the case over
he became angry and indignant, and final
ly attacked the authorities for not using
violence. l now quote his exact language:
If was Governor of this State or Sheriff
of this county, I would have every train
running, if I had to wade in blood up to
my finger tips
GAS he finished the above sentence he
stretched his arms to their full length
above his head.
''The strikers, already grown FESTIVE I'M
der his abuse, got up and left the hall in a
body. A great part of the audience left
with them, SO the close of Harrlson's
speech was left entirely to those who paid
him.
1.-THE strikers adjourned to the Firemens
Hall, being followed by Gov. Williams, the
Sheriff, and the Mayor. A meeting was
held in this hall. Everything passed off
quietly, and a number of strikers were
sworn in as special policemen, and as the
result the best of order was maintained in
Indianapolis.
''Ben Harrison will be defeated in India
ma by 81, 900 votes. The laboring men there
know him. They know his record, they
know his sympathies, they know his make
up and his heart, and they reciprocate the
love he had for them in 1877"