Little Falls weekly transcript., 1894-07-13
A. R. u..MASS MEETING. | ;
Remarks by Some of the
ID Citizens on the Strike.
Some Want Peace While
/. Others Would FightIt
~ @r* - OUT a y f>%

"A mass meeting OF the American
Railway Union and citizens was held
at the opera house Tuesday evening
and addresses were made ny lOcal
speakers. 1t was the intention TO
have speaker from Minneapolis
but the train was several hours late
SO the audience had dispersed When
he arrived.
Rev. George r. Geer, of the NJ. r.
church, addressed the meeting at
some length. His theory OF the
settlement OF matters OF this klnd
between the employer and .the en-
ploye was arbitration. He thOugnt
the strikers should bide their time,
and by the ballot elect men who
would enact laws compelling men to
submit matters OF this kind to ar
bitratiOn.
Mayor Staples was then called on,
and his idea seemed to be arbitration
and the government control OK rail-
roads. The objection was then
made that it would then be Il great
political machine, operated by the
party then in power. This objection
he thought could be overcome by
not allowing the men who worked
ON the railroads to vote. He closed
by advising the railroad employees
at Little Falls to resume work ana
remedy by the ballot what they
could not by striking.
Editor Hanes, OF the sHerald, toi-
lowed in few remaeks and took
issue with Mr.. Staples on disiran-
chising the railroad men should the
government have control of the rail-
roads. He thought that the civil
service laws would govern this
matter. The speaker thought men
had a perfect right to strike SO long
as they did not use violence. He
was in favor OF arbitration and the
govern ment control OF railroads.
Attorney E. S. Smith then folio wed
with short speech. He said they
all knew how he stood on the strike
question as he had expressed him
self fully Sunday. The speaker
roasted President Cleveland to a
turn for ordering out troops in
Illinois. He also roasted some
OF = the judges, and in fact most
everybody i'll authority excepting
the Almighty. He gave his opinion
OF George M. Pullman and expressed
hopes for his future that would have
made Herr Most turn green with
envy. 1t was not a speech that
would restrain men from doing, viU-
lence or aid in bringing about a har-
monious feeling ina tin'eiwhen men
all over the country are agitated.
Fortunately the men who are on a
strike here are intelligent and take a
speech of this kind at it's true value.
Attorney J. H. Rhodes was called
for and it was with reluctance that
he consented to speak. He stated
that his remarks might not please
some, but he was in the habit ofsay-
ing what he thought. He did not
think that Mr.. Pullman was as
black as he had been painted; he
deplored the present condition OF
things, but did not think the presi-
dent should be condemned for his
action in ordering out the soldiers
in Illinois to put down mob rule.
Some of his remarks lead people to
think it was somewhat Of a. political
speech, for he spoke of the reasons
why wages were being cut down
and attributed it to the policy OF the
present administration. EIe thought
the president was doing his best and
that every president had done SO.
The way things are going the times
would be harder yet, but in time he
hoped every thing would be righted.
The men were cautioned to refrain
from violence as they had done in
the past and they would have the
respect and sympathy Of the people