The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-23
PROTEST AGAINST BURKE
Meeting of Indignant Workingmen at
Masonic Hall Rebnke the President.
Fiery Speeches of DenuncisiiOn and Ringing
Resolutions-Leader Deery Gets
Scared About His Party.
MACHINE FOR DOWNING.
City Liquor League sianeuvering to Perp
uare It's Control

Notwithstanding the fact that numerous
protests were forwarded by telegraph to
President Cleveland condemning the ap-
pointment OF Frank b. Burke, which pro-
tests were sent in due time to have been
received at the executive mansion before
final action was taken upon the appoint
ment the Senate yesterday confirmed
his nomination. The labor organize
tions had In the meantime called an
Indignation meeting TO be held at Masonic
Hall for the purpose of entering q
protest In no uncertain terms against
the confirmation. The dispatches from
Washington Published In tho evening pa
pers announcing the confirmation by the
Senate caused the bottom to drop out of the
meeting. which had been extensively adj
vertised through the medium of hand bills
circulated upon the streets. Although 1t
was generally understood that the Object
ACCOMPLISHED by the assemblage. about $50
lab0ringmen answered the call. The
scarcity of numbers was more than offset
by the unanimity of opinion expressed and
the bitterness of the denunclstlOn.
The meeting. which was set for o'clock,
was not called to order until nearly 8. j.
Nj. Gruelle raped for order. and explained
the object of the assembling in the follow
ing remarks:
The object of this meeting is to protest against
the appointment of Frank b.. Burke United
States attorney for the district of Indiana. The
man against whose appointment We are here to
protest is known to be one that has antagonized
labor organizations In every way that he could
He not only opposed organized labor, but he
opposed in the Legislature our city charter the
Australian ballot law, and everything proposed
in the way of legislation for the benefit of the
people at large, and favored all the vile and
vicious measures that came before that body
has now been confirmed. it would be policy for
Us TO placate the appointee, and make him our
friend or at least be friendly towards him.
The very thought of concllation seemed
to throw Mr.. Grueile into paroxysm of
wrath, and he throw down the gauntlet to
the foes of the wOrkingman wherever they
might be. and expressed q decided antag-
onism to any proposition looking to
humble submission without protest. TO
what he thought n direct insult to organ.
lied labor. 1t was then announced that,
owing TO che fact that several labor unions
which Were meeting had business OF i'm.
portance before them which prevented
their attendance. some one had suggested
that the meeting be postponed until the
latter part of the week. The proposition
was submitted to the house, and negatived
without dissenting vote. A. Is. Loeben-
berg was then elected chairman, and
among other things said:
This meeting has been called for the purpose
of expressing our feelings upon the appointment
OF Frank B. Burke as United States attorney for
the district OF Indiana. What your feelings may
be do not know, but my feelings are easily ex-
pressed. Organized labor should not forget its
friends or its foes. believe in the old adage
AR eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth" In
the appointment OF Burke a direct insult has
been offered organized labor In that the appoint
ment was made and confirmed over the protest
OF $4,000 workingmen in the State of Indiana.
1t may be too late now TO protest, bat IL is not
too laie TO make ourselves felt at the polls and
believe that it is high time that the Tall Syoa-
more OF the Wabash" was cut down.
The last sentiment expressed by the
speaker was received with loud and pro-
longed applause. The chairman then intro
duced ID. +. Kennedy. who said:
recognize that this is delicate position. but
1 shall say what think regardless OF bias from
party politics, and say IL in way that will leave
| no doubt as to my meaning. Organized laoor rep
| resents good citizenship and insists that IL is
| part OF the community. and will have say in
| the affairs relating TO the government OF the
community. What are We confronted whit We
| find the most obnoxious men pressed forward
| into places of dignity. honor and trust In In
| man who, in the Legislature had grossly mis-
| represented his constituents, had be-
self the representative of corporations, is
| appointed 10 d high position over the
protest of those whom he is TO serve He not
only misrepresented his own constituents, but
he interposed his obnoxious objections in our
own city affairs and attempted TO defeat the
Iscarict act in the Legislature. he now becomes
| the attorney of the people. II he has before be-
trayed the people in the Legislature will he now
represent them or the corporations, as in his
| past lifei | believe, and you all. Republicans
ana Democrats. believe that our President wants
good men TO represent the people, but IL is inl-
| possible Tor him TO know oil the men whom he
| appoints, and he is compelled TO rely upon the
word OF others TO great extent. That it appears
| Is what he has done in this case. 1t seems
| to me we can do wiser thing and can do no
less than enter our vigorous protest against this
| appointment. Let them know that We are on
their track. and the selling OF the peoples rights
| and bartering OF their liberties to corporations
shall and must stop. II Burke Is to be cur attOr-
ney for four years. let it not be. except over our
| earnest protest. What language can man use
| to depict the character Of one like Burke, who
| berrayed the confidence or the people he repre-
| sented and sold them out TO their enemies. the
| corporations, and was in consequence vetoed
1 and turned down by the people! He ranks in
| history beside Benedict Arnold and Judas
| lscariOt 1t ia time TO face such men; let them
| know that we know them as they are, and paint
| them in the blackness they deserve. think we
| ought TO pass resolutions tonight and put him
| on record and let the resolutions be sent to
| Washington and to ''the Tall Sycamore OF the
| Wabd sh." / think will shake the Tall Syca-
more worse than any cyclone that ever passed
| over this State.
| The suggestion for the adoption of reso-
| lutions was quickly CONQUERED in, and the
| committee retired TO draft the resolutions.
| During the absence of tho committee Jas.
| III. Deery. in response to call from the
/ chair. spoke briefly upon the appointment.
/ prise to him. the same as IL was to every
| body who was familiar with Burke's rec
ORD In the Legislature, but now that he is
| the district attorney he thought it policy
| to placate him. Like all others he thought
| Voorhees, the man to be held responsible
for the appointm Deery's policy was
| emphaticalIy repudiated by the assem-
blage, who were determined upon protest.
| ing and that without equivocation. The
committee on resolutions then reported the
| following:
| Whereas, In opposition to the expressed wishes
| of organized labor OF this State, Frank Burke
/ has heen appointed United States attorney for
! the district of Indiana and
| Whereas. As legislator he proved to BE a
tool OF corporations. the advocate Of all that was
vicious and the opponent OF all that was good In
| popular government, therefore, be it
| Resolved, That we denOunce the said appoint.
| ment n insult TO labor and regard it dis
| couragement TO those WHO are seeking TO i'm.
prove governmental conditions.
| Resolved, That we acquit President Cleveland
| of Intentional wrong in the matter. believing
| that he was grossly imposed upon by Voorhees,
| aud Congressman Brown, and express the hope
that he will rectify the wrong done by recalling
the appointment or removing the appointee
| ROBERT NJ. ARMSTRONG. j. f. ZlEGLER.
| OTTO HOFFMAN.
A COPY of the resolutions was ordered
given TO the press and copy sent TO Presi.
| dent Cleveland. Senator Voorhees, and
! Congressman Brown. During the progress
of the meeting n communication was re.
| ceived from Carpenters Union. No. 299. ex.
pressing affirmation of the object OF the
| meeting and regrets at inability TO attend
on account Of business of Importance before
| the union