The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1892-07-23
ALL HAPPY IN HIS EMPLOY
Democratic Nominee tor Vice Presi-
dent Honored by Workingmen.
Wage-Earners Have Called A. E
Stevenson Friend for Years.


Deep Respect and Affectionate Re-
gard for Him-He Believes in the
Rights of AL Toilers to Combine for
the:Honest Protection Of their Inter-
ests-A Significant Visit.
BLOOMINGTON, ILL.,, July 16-At s
o'clock this evening the miners en-
ployed by the Mclean County Coal
Company, of this city, to the number
of 800, called at the home of A. f.
Stevenson, democratic nominee for
Vice President Mr.. Stevenson has
for quarter of century been a
stakeholder of the company,
and for about one year, since
the death of his brother-in-l law,
the late Matthew T. Scott, of this
city, been President of the company.
Mr.. Stevenson was at home and cor
daily greeted the miners. who in
clude men of many nationalities.
While the group was assembled
upon the lawn Mr.. Thomas Radford,
for many years pit boss of the mine,
addressed Mr.. Stevenson as follows:
Mr.. Radford said:
eve have called upon you this
evening to extend our most hearty
congratulations for the honor so re-
Gently bestowed upon you. To be
nominated for the office of Vice Pres
ident, the second highest position in
the gift of the people, is an honor of
which one may well feel proud, and as
citizens ofthe town in which you live
we are proud of the fact that this hon
or was bestowed upon one with whom
we have been so closely allied in
business way for so many years. 1t
is with much qualification that we
can look back over the past years
that we have been in the employ of
the Mclean County Coal Company,
for in all these years no payday has
ever passed that we have not been
paid our wages in full, but few dis
agreements have ever arisen and
these have been quickly and AMIGA
bly, settled and we can remember no
instance where you have treated us
unfairly, and many happy homes have
been erected in Stevensville that
would never have been there except
for the kindness and consideration
shown many of US both by yourself
and your brothers.
These things we have not forgotten,
and we are here this evening to ex-
tend in the warmest terms our hearty
congratulations. feeling assured that
in you we have friend, one that
will stand for right and one that has
the laboring interest at heart,
Il have been asked by my fellow
laborers to make this acknowledge
ment to you, and we have come this
evening for that purpose, not as any
political organization, for we repre-
sent both of the great political par
ties, but as your friends and co-labor
ers, to extend our hands and our
best wishes for your success always"
In response Mr. Stevenson spoke
as follows:
1T has been my good fortune on
more than one occasion to witness
manifestations of the kindly feel
ipgs entertained towards me by my
neighbors and fellow -townsmen, but
| can say TO you in perfect candor
that your visit tonight and your
words of kindness have touched me
more deeply than | have ever been
touched before. 1t is indeed graft
flying, now that the most cordial re-
lations exist between the officers of
our company and all Of those who
are employed in its service AS has
been truly said by your Chairman
but few disagreements have ever oc-
Cured between yourselves and the
company and these have been AMIGA
bly, settled. During the time have
been President of the company no
disagreement or misunderstanding
of any kind has arisen.
II was more than gratified at the
remark of Mr.. Radford that | had
not only treated you with justice, but
always with kindness. / have GER
tainly aimed to do so. Mr.. Radford
has referred to the fact that many Of
you have homes of your own in the
village of Stevensonville, paid for out
of your earnings at the mine. 1t has
been source ofgreat pleasure to my
brothers and myself that our efforts
to enable each Of you to procure
comfortable home has met with
such gratifying success. The most
kindly and cordial feelings should
ever exist between the employer and
employed. All disagreements should
be settled either by conference or by
arbitration. 1t has been my firm
conviction for years that organiza
ton looking solely to the lettering
of the protection of their rights is a
necessity to the wage earners. will
detain you moment with an addi-
tional suggestion. 1t is this: By
appropriate legislation when needed,
but especially by the management of
all industrial enterprises of the coun
try, the hours of toll should be less
ened. This would give to the wage
Garner more time for the enjoyment
of his home and the society of his
family. Again, gentlemen, l thank
you for this visit, and l take pleas
ure in rendering you the hospitality
of my home"
Both the address of Mr.. Radford
and Mr. Stevenson's response were
heartily applauded by the miners
and the large assemblage of other
people who had gathered about the
Stevenson homestead The hospi-
talities of Mr. Stevensons home were
freely dispensed, and the occasion
was one of the deepest interest
throughout and indicated the deep
respect and affectionate regard which
the laboring masses feel for Mr..
Stevenson.