The Indianapolis journal., 1892-11-03
FRIEND OF RAILROAD MEN
President Harrison's Interest In Train.
men Proved by His Messages.
His Speech to Railroad Club Equally Fitting
Now-prepararions for the Big Rally
of Ralrcaders This Evening.
GEN. HARRISON To RAILRoADERs.
Speech He Made to Visiting Delegation
Enur Years Aro.

GEN. HARRISON TO RAILROADERs.
Speech He Made to Visiting Delegation
Four Years Ago.
President Harrison has always shown
himself friend of railroad men. Several
times during the last campaign he expressed
his sentiments In regard TO them. Shortly
after his nomination in 1888 he was visited
by delegation OF one thousand employees
Of the various railroads centering in this
city, and he paid the highest compliment
to their skill and courage. intelligence and
faithfulness, saying. among other things:
"Heroism has been found at the throttle
and the brake as well as on the battle
field. and as well worthy OF song and
marble. The trainman crushed between the
platform, who used his last breath, not for
prayer or message of love but to say to the
DaDic-stricken who gathered about him.
Put out the red light for the other train.'
inscribed his name very high upon the shaft
where the names of the faithful and braYe
are written" More than once during the
campaign he referred to the need of legis-
lation to provide for the safety of the men
who operate the roads. and that he did not
forget the Importance of this matter. nor
lose interest in this class of citizens, Is
shown by the fact that in every
message to Congress he has urged the
passage of laws to protect the lives of
railroad employee In his message of Dec.
y, 1881. he called attention TO the matter for
the third time, and reinforced his argu-
ment by figures showing the number of
railroad employees killed and injured dur
ing the year. This" he says, rs q cruel
and needless sacrifice. The governments is
spending nearly one million dollars annu-
ally to save the lives of shipwreoked sea-
men; every steam vessel Is rigidly inspect
ed and required to ADOPT tho most ap-
proved safety appliances. All this is good;
but how shall We excuse the lack of inter-
est and effort in behalf of this army of
merce. are being sacrificed every year by
the continued use of antiquated and dan
ger0us appliances"
If President Harrison could meet with
the railroad men who are TO hold O rally
tonight he would again express his inter
est In their welfare, but as he Is debarred
py circumstances from doing so, they will
doubtless be glad to read again the words
ne addressed to the Terre Haute Railroad
Cluo ON the occasion OF visit four years
ago. The speech is gwen below:
Mr. Downs, Gentlemen OF the Terre Haute
Railroad Club and Fellow w-citizens-I am amazed
and gratihed at the character OF this demonstra-
ton tonight: i do not lind words to express the
your faces and listen to the kindly greetings
which you have given me through your repre-
sentative; be has not spoken in too high praise
OF the railroad men OF the United States. The
character of the duties they are called to dis
charge requires great intelligence; in many de-
partments the best skill in the highest mechanic
arts, sd in ALL even in the lowest grade OF labor
IN connection with railroad management there
Is required, for the safety of the public who in
erust themselves to your care fidelity and watch
fnness, not only In the day. but In the darkness.
Ihe man who attends the switch, the trackman
VINO observes the condition OF the track-all
THESE have put into tneIr charge and keeping the
Hves OF men and women, and the
safety OF our commerce. Therefore it is
that the exigencies OF the service in which you
are engaged have operated to select and call into
the service OF our great railroad corporations a
picked body or men. L gratefully acknowledge
which am citizen. The great importance of
the enterprises with which you connected
have already suggested to our legislators that
they owe duties 10 you as well as TO the travelling
and mercantile public. The Congress Of the
United States has, under that provision of the
Constitution which commits TO its care all foreign
and Interstate commerce, undertaken TO regu-
late the great interstate railroads in the interest
| Of equal and fair competition, and in the equal
interest of all members of our communities do
1 not doubt that certain and necessary provisions
Tor the safety OF the men who operate these roads
| viii yet be made compulsory by public and gen.
nected with your calling are very great
and the public interest. as well as your
own 'hat they nS snSad fh oe @ sSs
Il
/ yet require that uniformity In the construction
| of railroad cars that will diminish the danger OF
NV WHO must pass 'ae So M, ,n nhs
either, that as these corporations not priv ate
corporations, but are recognized by the law to
| which have referred, and by the uniform de-
cisions OF our courts. as having public relations
| shall yet see legislation in the direction OF
providing some suitable tribunal Of arbitration
| for the settlement of differences between rail
| road men and the companies that engage theii
services; lGreat applause: | believe that In
@s to ana rsosms nAs win
| themselves out with exact justice tC
| the companies and with justice 70 the
| doubt-and Ihope you win never allow your
| selves TO doubt-that the great mass Of our peo
pie of all vocat0ns and callings, love justice and
| laboring men OF this land may safely trust every
| just reform in which they are interested TO pub
maT nv sursx hone @ uUon I tbeSe lines Which ar
| open to you by the ballotbox, to accomplish
under our American institutions all those righ
| things you have conceived necessary TO your
highest success and well being. Do not allow
| yourselves to doubt, for one moment. the friend
| ly sentiment OF the great masses of our people
Make your appeal wisely. and calmly, ant
boldly for every reform you desire, to that senti
ment of Justice which peryades our American
You come Tonight from one of our most beau
tiful Indiana cities. 1t was built on the Wabasl
in the expectation that that stream would fur
outside world. But the Wabash is small trib
utary to-day to the commerce of Terrc Haute
The railroads that span IL are the great vehicle
OF your commerce. They have largely super
seeded the water communication that was deeme,
so important In the first settlement. and, per
haps, was decisive in the location OF you
city. Terre Haute is conspicuous for Its indus
tries. The smoke of your factories goes up nigh
and day. The farms about your city have be
come gardens, and the cordial and harmoniou
relations between the railroad shop and the fac
tory and the farms that lie apcut have o con
spicuous illustration with you You have foun'
that that policy which built up these sheps
which maintains them, which secures th,
largest output yearly from the factories
which gives employment to the largest mum
ber of men, is the best thing not only for tn
workingmen who lind steady employment a
good wages. and for the farmers. who suppl,
their needs. tApplause.l You will not willngl.
be led TO believe that any policy that woul,
check the progress and the prosperity OF thes
enterprises is good for you or for the ccmmunit.
In which you live. Applause and cries OF No
never1 Ii will be hard to convince such an In
teligent body OF workingmen that p0lio
which would transfer from this country TO an,
other the work that might be done here Is goo'
for them. [Applause.] It can easily be demon
strared that IL our revenue laws were so ad
iusted that the imports from Great Britain
should be douled it would be good for the work
ingman of England. but think 1t would he har
10 demonstrate that it would be good for tn
workingmen of America. [Applause.l There i
wise sefshness; it begins at home, ard h
who has the care of his OWN family first. OF tn
community in which he lives OF the nation Q
which he is q citizen, Is wise In his generation.