The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1888-11-01
THE RAILROAD STRIKE.
HON. I rAoMAs M'sneeAv TELLS
WHAT Nc REMEMBERS.

General issrrison's Connection with the
Railroad rronbiss at Indianspolis In
1877 Truthfuliy Told. i,sg.et
In his speech last week, Hon. Thomas
Nc 5heehy shed some light on the lies 70
circulated BY free trade
agents.
Mr.. McShcehy is young man and an
eloquent and effective speaker. He was
a former member of the Indiana general
assembly, and at the time Of the great
railway strike at indianapolis was
newspaper reporter Of experience and
ability, lived in indianapolis and saw
and knew much Of that trouble--a sub
ject on which this fan the most expert
enced Democratic campaign liars have
been industriously engaged for. the pur-
pose Of misrepresenting Gen. Harrison's
manly position at that time.
In opening, Mr.. Mcsheehy spoke Of the
position OF the Democratic party from
1864 to 1853, q time when Know othing-
ism was rampant, and proved to the sat-
isfnction Of his hearers that the Demo-
cratic party was party of sham and
fraud when II said IL had always been
the friend Of the men WHO were born on
tho Emerald Isle, - for the cities where
the greatest outrages on Irish and Ger
man born citizens were committed were
not Republican, as alleged by Democrats,
but were Democratic. Despite this his.
torical fact, Irish-Americans were told
that the Democracy had always been
their friend, but yet these outrages were
perpetrated where Republicanism never
held power, and never did since. Mr..
.McSheehy then took up Cleveland's
record on pensions, and scored him
roundly for unnecessary and unjust
vetoes OF private pension bills, and dis
reputable innuendocs against brave
Union soldiers who were fighting to save
the Union while Cleveland was hiring
substitute. A brilliant sketch Of gallant
Ben. Harrison's military record was con-
trasted with Cleveland's employment Of
a paid substitute, arousing the greatest
enthusiasm.
"When I was east" proceeded Mr.
McSheehy, ~ heard some Democratic
accusations against Gen. Harrison as to
his position toward the workingmen of
indianapolis during tn" great railway
strikes Of 1875. had the honor to live
in Indianapolis TINT year. I was ON a
newspaper, and it was my business to
keep myself and the paper informed as to
the details Of the strike. The railway
men had taken possession Of the railway
property and prevented any passenger
trains leaving the Union depot for some
days, only mail cars with locomotive
were allowed to be run. You will re-
member that Democratic governor---J.
d. Williams, better known az 'Eluc
Jeans Williams elected ia 1870
He was governor In 1877 during the
strike. When his attention was officially
called to the fact that the railway men
hnd seized property, prevented the oper-
atiOn Of all trains, and bloodshed was
imminent, he issued proclamation in
which he stated that he had no stat,
militia at command, he was compelled to
call upon the loyal and pcacc-loving citi-
gems of Indianapolis to arm themselves,
organize militia companies and put down
the riot. He didn't stop there. He went
further, and issued military comm issions
to prominent men. Among them was
one to Gen. Harrison. Gen. Harrison
said 1t would afford him pleasure to obey
orders from the chief executive of the
state, but Tint while he would do SO, he
was Of the opinion that peaceful arbitra-
tion was the proper way to settle the
difficulty, and much betser than terror
izing the men by going armed with shot
guns to the Union depot [applausel and
precipitating possible hsoodshed. This
is true, for I was there and know all
| about 1t. Now, military company was
perhaps organized, and Gen. Harrison's
na,ne Inay appear - the nominal COM
mnntler of the COMPANY; but what was
the rssult What was the outcomes
Because OF Gen. Harrisou's wise sugges-
tion Mayor Cavan, Of Indianapolis,
called a meeting of the citizens-a meet
ing that was commended by Governor
Williams. Al the meeting It was do
cdded TO hoA ooaksrsncs with the
stsakera A COMMITTEES OF the strikers
was sent for. They appeared, and before
the conference adjourned II was arranged
chat the strikers themselves, who wore
accused Of an intentioa TO destroy prop
erty and shed blood, were appointed e
guard the railway property, ~ sugessted
by Mayor Cavan and Endorsed by Gen.
Harrison. Another committee, of which
Hoa- ]. e. Mcdonald was a. member,
was appointed TO confer with the railway
officials, and the result was that all the
difficulties were amiosbly settled; not q
shot wns fired, not dollars worth ol
properly was destroyed; and Il was I'll
dus to the wise counsel a Gen. Harrison.
fCheers.] He organized military COM
panyi Bosh! He was commissioned by
. Democratic governor. He could moi
prevent that, could hei tCries Of mo,
no."l He did not suggest what was done.
He knew that was done after II was pub
lished-nst before. The organization oi
the militi& was contrary to his judgment
and against his wishes, but after 1t wa
done his wise counsel caused the axbitrs-
tion Of the troubles, and everything VA
peacefully and bloodlessly settled.