The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-09-26

treatment at the hands Of capital under
the Mckinley tarin than ever before in
double the length Of time in the fistory
OF this government. They snow that
within two years after the 9Th of OctO5er,
1890. when the Mckinley tariff became a
law. more than five hundred strikes in re-
sistauce to wage reductions took place in
ne various states of this union; that up
roar and contention between protected
capital and impoverished labor ragged al
most continuously from day to day, while
the homes Of humble toll Were filled with
distress often with want. and some
times with cOld-bloOdad, brutal murder.
The manufacturer, when fully protected,
always feels free. without hesitation or
remOrSe, and at his own will and pleas
ure, TO reduce the workingman'S wages,
but who ever heard Of him Offering to re-
duce the tarif-raiEed prices of his manu-
featured goods, necessaries of life, which
the wOrkingman is compelled to buy OF
him2 When George Pullman. i little While
ago, made his heavy, starvation reduction
in the wages of his working people, it
never occurred 10 him 10 make a similar
reduction. or even the reduction of a
single f2rthing in The rents he Was merci-
lessly collecting from them as his op-
pressed and Impoverished tenants. The
truth is | no more believe that labor
strikes occur in this country without the
strong prOV0c2tCn of rank injustice first
given by arrogant monopoly, that / be-
lieve that Indian outbreaks take place on
our frontiers except when caused By the
white mans lawless aCgresSiOns and rob-
berries. American lablrers are not an
archists and law-brea6ers. Their man
hood, instincts and training do not lead
In the direction of riots and disorder.
II they have organiza lions and labor
unions among themselves for their mutual
protection and advancement, so have IA
tiOnal bankers. millionaire manufacturers
1
kind and degree. If there are fedora lions
Of labor for the purpose Of securing
honest pay and fair treatment, 50 there
are also declarations of wealth for the
purpose of fixing and controlling the
wages of labor, and OF governing Legs
lation of the country besides. What the
American labOrer most needs is not the
abomination of tariff protection, the
bloody reign Of McKlnleyiSm, but a
strong and carefully prepared enactment
in the body Of our laws giving legal
security in the courts, and before boards
Of arbitration, TO honorable, law-abid-
Ing labor of all kinds in its dealings with
selfish, graSping and intolerant capital.
Such an enactment of justice and equal
ity is in the near future If the demo cratic
party continues to hold the power of
legislation. When it comes peace and
prosperity will prevail in all the hacita-
tons Of honest industry from one ocean
TO the other.
The Conclusion.
But now, as my remarks are drawing
a c.ose. perhaps some one in my audi
ences, some kind friend. democrat or re-
publican, no matter which, here tonight,
wants to inquire again, and something
more IN detail, what the Fifty-third
democratic congress has done thus far.
Let me answer in the splendid language
Of Speaker Crisp:
"While We have not done all we hoped to
do, we have done more in the past year to
redress the wrongs of the people, we
have done more for their re.les, than was
ever done by any party in the same
length of time in any country under the
sun. These are bod words, yet 1 hold
myself at al times ready to defend them.
Coming into power a. a time Of panic,
when business was at a stand-stil., when
labor was unemployed, when our treas
ury was empty, with courage and fidel-
ity we entered upon struggle with The
enemies of the people. We emerged from
that struggle victorious in this:
1--WE have repealed the Mckinley law
1--WE have greatly reduced taxation.
1--WE have made living cheaper.
eve have made all money taxable.
1--WE have taxed surplus incomes.
1--WE have restored freedom Of elections.
and we have declared undying hostility
10 all trusts and mOnopolies organized
for the oppression of the peop.e. On
these foundations we build our house.;
on these issues we go before the people.
For them we have fought the good
fight to them we have kept the faith,
and we have no fear"
Turning from national affairs, however,
at this point to the affairs Of our own
great and beloved state, am ready to
make answer as to what the democratic
party has also done for the people of In
diana. During the last ten years demo-
cratic legislatures in Indiana have en-
acted the following laws for the benefit
and protection Of wage workers and en-
ployed laborers:
1. The law protecting labor organiza-
tons.
2. The law giving laborers a lien upon
the product Of their labor for wages and
material furnished.
3. The law creating a mechanics lien.
4. The law making a days work in
pubic employment consist of eight hours.
5. The law providing for the ventila-
ton Of mines and the safety Of miners.
6. The law prohibiting the black.isting
Of employees.
Z. The law protecting workingmen
from being cheated and imposed upon In