The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-09-20

and faithful to employer and the public.
And. my fellow citizens, 1 am glad to say
the wages of the railroad men are larger
by double in this country than in any
other country of the world. (Great APP
plause.)
''Your spokesman has justly observed
that no body OF Americans have their
interests at stake in the pending cam
paign like the railroad men. who are
everywhere taking the liveliest interest
in the proper settlement of the great
principles involved in it. (Applause).
The triumph of free silver would mean
to you. as the adoption by Mexico has
meant to the railroad employees of that
country, a decrease in the purchasing
power of the money in which are paid
with comparatively no increase in
wages. Not only that. but it would
mean inevitable decrease of employ
ment and general distress. A 50-cent
dollar, employees of the railroads of the
country, will no more add to your earn
ings than the railroad would add to their
traffic by diminishing the size of their
cars. Great applause).
Railway men," said the major, "are
xealous, like all other good citizens, for
the honor of the country and they mean
to maintain unsullied the proud name
Of America. They do not believe either
in public or private dishonor. They
want the government to pay its debts
in the best currency known to the COM
mercial world and they want the rail-
road companies to pay them in currency
that will pass current everywhere for
its face value without discount or de-
probation. I cannot conceive of any
more potent force in our politics than
men who traverse this country from one
end of 1t to the other and to feel that
large percentage Of that force is en-
listed in the Republican cause and fight
ing for the sake of Republican princi-
Piles. is an assurance of victory which
will gladden. every patriotic heart"
(Great applause.)
Mr.. Mckinley cut his address short
in order to greet other delegations that
were crowding one another.
Turning from the railroad men to the
delegation of telegraphers, the nomi-
nee addressed the latter body briefly,re-
viewing the history of the telegraph.
and commenting upon its marvellous
development in the present day. In
conclusion, he thanked the telegraph
ers for their assurances of support.
During the meeting delegates from the
Carnegie City mills, 1900 strong, came
in, and their reception was also held in
the opera house. L. T. Brown, superin-
tendent of the mills, introduced the
party, and Major Mckinley responded
as follows:
Mr.. Brown and My Fellow Citizens:
Nothing moves me more deeply than to
have the assurances of support which 1
am daily receiving from the men who toll
in the United States. To have as allies
in this great contest for the honor and
prosperity Of the country the working
men Of the United States is, indeed, a
crown to any cause. You have but one
aim in the use of your ballots, and that
is to secure the highest and greatest
good to the people of the United States.
(Applause.) That is what the ballot is
for. and it is for the accomplishment of
that that you will use that ballot this
year. We have had in this country an
experience under two contending ma
tional policies. Most of the men who sit
before me today never had any expert
ence under but one policy until within
the last four years. You have now tried
them both. You have tried the protec-
tive policy Of the Republican party, ana
you have tried the free trade revenue
tariff policy of the Democratic party.
Which do you like best? (Cries of PRO
tection.'D If it is protection you prefer,
there is Just one way to get it, and that
is to vote for it. Uned the Republican
protective policy we enjoyed for more
than thirty years the most marvellous
prosperity that had ever been given to
any nation Of the world. We not only had
individual prosperity but we had nation
al prosperity. and during all these thir-
ty years we were building up great in
dustries to furnish employment to
American labor at American wages; ali
the time we were doing that, we were
collecting under that policy ample reve-
nue. for current expenses and a surplus
revenue to pay off the public debt CAP
plause.) And from 1879 down to 1893 this
government had been debt-paying and
not debt-making government. Gap
plause) But I need not discuss to Penn
sylvania audiences this great American
principle. You are familiar with it. 1t
Is written in your hearts. 1t has been
exemplified in your happy homes; it has
brought cheer and contentment to your
families-and you know it, and knowing
It. you will vote this year with full
knowledge
Then, my countrymen, we have pre- .
scented to US very dangerous peril to
the country, proposition to enter upon
the free and independent and unlimited
coinage of silver and the issuance of ir.
redeemable paper money That PROPOSE
ton simply means that as our labor has
been degraded, SO our currency will be
degraded by free silver and inflated cur
rency. AS we are against free trade, we
will be against free silver. applause. ,
Now, just one word more: What we want
In this country is that every man who
wants to work shall have an opportunity
to work, and then, when he has per-
formed an honest days work for his en-
ployer, we mean he shall be paid in hon.
est dollars. tremendous applause.)
Major Mckinley closed by again thank
Ing his visitors for the compliment paid
him by their call.
The crowd was SO large, and other
delegations crowded so fast that the
usual program of handshaking had to be
eliminated. Those nearest Major Nc