The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-10-23
MEETING AT FROTHINGHAM.
Speeches by Charles Emory Smith and
Other Eloquent Orators.

Speeches by Charles Emory Smith and
Other Eloquent Orators.
AT Z o'clock last evening voters began
| to Werd their way into the rockingham
and three quarters of an hour later,
| When the candidates and the volunteer
escort of citizens arrived, the building
was crowded. At $40 when Bauer S
| band began to play an overture 1t was
practically impossible to put another
person into the building save in the
standing room space, except on the
stage, which was also fairly well filled,
chairs having been provided there for
the speakers and distinguished Re-
publicans. In the front row on the
stage were seated Congressman c. w.
Stone, Colonel Thomas Stewart Charles
Emory Smith, Lieutenant Governor
l.. A. Watres, William Schaffer of
Lancaster; Mayor w. l.. Connell, George
+. Huff. John r. Jones, John M. Har-
| ris and G. T.. Pryor
AT SIS Lieutenant Governor Watres
opened the meeting and stated that we
are now on the eve of one of the most
momentous elections in the history or
our country. He said that during the
| last presidential campaign the people
| were told that if they elected the Dem
ocratic nominees the grass would grow
about the mills of the land. They had
elected these candidates, as they had
right to do, and here in this city we see
| the prophecy literally fulfilled, for the
grass is now growing about some of our
mills. In concluding Mr.. Watres intro
| duced Charles Emory Smith, editor OF
| the Philadelphia Press, who was given
| magnificent ovation. 1t was several
| minutes before the waves of applause
subsidized SO that Mr.. Smith could be
heard.
His Opinion of Scranton.
81 am greatly indebted" said Mr.
Smith, "for the altogether too compli-
mentary remarks with which l have
been introduced / feel more deeply
grateful to you and your city than you
possibly can be to me. The Electric
City! In it today / enjoyed an educa-
tion most liberal; l saw it electric in its
| illumination, electric in it's spirit, cleo
trio in its progress and above all, cleo
trio in its Americanism. 1t showed me
what has been, is and will be the grand
and teeming prosperity of your great
community. ! found a new conception
Of the progress possible in even the ever
| improving state of Pennsylvania and
| have been made a disciple of the thrift
of the Lackawanna valley generally
and of the Electric City particularly.
"Yet with all your good things what
man or woman in this vast audience
would not turn back the hands on the
dial of time and stand again in Octo-
Der, 1892.
"Let me show you picture: Imagine
| if you can the business teeming and
| happily blest valley of the Conemaugh
in May, 1889. All nature smiled and was
| happy the clouds We're kissed by sweet
sunshine, blazing fires of industry
| dotted the hills green with the verdure
of spring, music welled up from the
throb and hum of machinery-all was
peace and prosperity. The populace
was happy, busy well employed, well
| paid and looked forward to the future
with light hearts and an assurance
| born Of contentment. Suddenly the
clouds gathered and a violent storm
hung suspended a short while over the
peaceful valley before the heavens
broke loose in one mad, impetuous fury.
In few hours where had been a thriV-
ing and God nurtured community there
appeared ~ seething death bounded
Hood bearing on its turbulent bosom
| one wild scene of havoc and destruc-
ton. Then ensued one of the greatest
catastrophes in the history ofany coun-
try, the details of which you are fami-
liar with and of which / will not bur-
den you.
Powerful Object Lesson.
In 1892 this glorious country of ours
was rich and contented in its progress
and unlimited prosperity Never had
wages been so sure and never had our
Stars and Stripes been so greatly re-
spected at home and abroad. The sun
as 1t traVersed in one brilliant arc from
| the Atlantic to over behind the Rockies
and sank in golden glory in the bosom
or the Pacific saw our nation three
millions of dollars richer than on the
day previous. Such great business ac-
tivity that permitted people as a nation
10 amass such gains from one day to
another had never been known in the
worlds history. What magnificent
sunburst of prosperity
Suddenly and without warning the
| clouds gathered and the storm burst
| as above the horrors of Conemaugh.
Almost In the twinkling of an eye fol-
lowed one of the most serious financial
| depresslons and Gripping of Industries
ever known. In 1889 a gallant and mag
TuSnOu
| to relieve and protect the sufferers of
Johnstown and in 1894 the same gallant
| son has been summoned to lead in the
fight for honor and reason. This stand
ard bearer Is one who Is to re-establish
the country and deliver 1t from de-
| preston. 1t was General Daniel II.
Hastings (deafening applause) in 1889
and 1t is fitting and proper that 1t is he
| In 1894 (cOntinup1 npnlausal
None Have Escaped.
Thanks to your large store of re-
sources and industry you have not suf-
| fered much. You were not completely
enmeshed in the full fiux of the change
which has cost, the country in wages
81, 100, 900, not considering the shrink
age in values. STILL you have not en-
tirely escaped; some of your furnaces
are not blazing with fires nor sur
rounded by busy men; some Of your
mines are not running full time But
1t is an experience you know as well
as /, and shall not elaborate upon It
further than to read a letter written
tonight and handed your chairman q
few moments ago. 1t relates an occur
renee in your own midst which / would
designate as an argument If such a
position were necessary"
Mr.. Smith read portion OF a letter
which stated that several Green Ridge
glass blowers yesterday left the city
in search of employment. They had no
hopes Of securing work here and SO
told the writer of the letter and also
stated that 700 men had been reduced
IA per cent. from the SO per day wages
of skilled glass blowers.
What is the cause?" continued Mr.
Smith. "The cause followed the Dem
ocratic victories of 1892 when the entire
economic policy of the government
was to be changed by Democratic leg.
islative bodies and Democratic exec
utive A record came of dishonor and
imbecilty in foreign affairs and de.
preston, sorrow and distress at home
1t was a shameful record of blundel
upon blunder, wrong upon wrong, the
one following closely on the heels oi
the other like the drunken experience
related of a friend by Charles Lamb
This friend took first drink of cir
to make him warm, a second to keeI
the first company, third to show the
second 1t was not in dual company, O