The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-20
From Chicago They Journey to
the Home of the Next
President.
RECEIVE A ROYAL WELCOME.
The Major Tells Why Men of All
Glasses Join the Battle Against
Reputation.

AhN1 ON3 OdlO, Cepl. 1S.-AlI Jay long
the tramp of visiting delegations was
heard in Canton, and all day long Major
Mckinley was able to say, 'How beauti-
full upon the mountains are the feet of
him that bringeth good tidings,'' for 10, 900
voters called TO greet him and to cheer
him and to promise him their.support.,
The greatest delegation Oh the day and
of the campaign was that of the railway
men. There were nearly 5000 in the dele
cation. They came on ten special trains
and travelled all night in common day
coaches in order to see Major Mckinley.
They were all workingmen-railwav en-
ployes-and there were no officials among
them. They marched up the streets in
splendid order, with their own bands. 1t
was stirring labor demonstration and
the spectators on the streets were liberal
in demonstrations of delight. Major Nc
Kinley was impressed with the great out
pouring OF Chicago railway employees, and
he made them a long speech notwith.
standing the TACT that he bad to stand in
the rain to do It, With the railway men
was a fine delegation of commercial teleg-
raphers,> nearly 200 in number. NJ. J.
Burke was their spokesman.
J. w. Dodge spoke for the railway men.
addresses. Major Mckinley said:
My fellow-citizens: 1t would be a hard
heart, indeed, which would not be moved by
this splendid demonstration. bid you each
and every one of you q sincere welcome to nv
home. count it among the greatest honors
OF my life to have 5000 representative men of
the great railroad lines of the country center
ing in Chicago come to this city to give me
their assurances that in the year 1896 they
stand by protection, reciprocity and sound
money. GGreat applausel These delegations,
coming long distances, present remarka BILE
phase in our political life and evidence the
deep solicitude they have for the welfare of
our country. Such a demonstration as this
would not be possible if the people OF the
country were not profoundly sensible of the
dangerous menace which is presented in the
National contest OF this year. Applause and
cries OF 1--WE are ali interested"I
You are here to-day, men of all parties and
ereeds, because you want to defeat the effort
which is now being Rssiduously made 10 de-
stroy the credit and currency of the country
and also because loving law and order you
want TO stamp out the spirit of lawlessness and
Reputation which now threaten it. Applause
and cries OF That's what we viii do."l
Your active interest in this contest for good
government, good morals and good money will
be helpful in every part of the country and in
spring to the friends of good government
everywhere. The railway is the mightiest fac
tor OF modern civilization. If one proof above
any other be asked for the superiority of the
United States above any other country OF
equal or approaching territory, know of no
better evidence than the fact that of the
427 900 miles of railroad in the world we have
nearly 100000 miles in this great Republic
Applause and cries of "Good"1
To trace their history during the past
twenty years would be to write the progress of
41n
associated. To say they have cost So. oOO-
100000 employ 100000 men, with 10000
locomotives, 1000 passenger cars and over
100000 other cars; that their capital stock
is $4,640,000,000, with funded debts OF
$4,000, 100000, yearly traffic earnings of
$1,000 900, net earnings of $3lS, 900, 900
and dividends of SS4 900 900 annually. con.
yeys but faint idea OF how fully they enter
into every line OF business and affect directly
or indirectly the great masses OF our people,
Not only are lives constantly in their keeping,
but every year they become more and more
essential to our subsistence, convenience and
comfort [Applausel
The greatest tribute which can be paid to
the railroad men of the country is that high
degree of care and attention and skill which
they give to the service, perfecting the most
delicate and responsible duties engaged in a
business IN which life and property are in
volved where heedlessness or Careless ness
will sacrifice either or both; and yet the per-
centage OF loss is merely nominal in both
cases. Not only is skill and endurance re-
quired in their exactfng duties, but the great
est watchfulness and fidelity, more often the
keenest intelligence to think and act instantly
under circumstances the most periIous and
trying. [Applause and cries of THAT'S right.
Major"l
have said that railroad men are cool and
collected, brave and vigilant in the discharge
nf ri d,tfn
"Hurrah for McKinley."l And surely greater
praise could not be given them than this
Faithful unto death" has been truly written
OF many brave engineer, conductor or brake
man who persisted rather than abandon his
train when that was possible, at the expense
OF others [Great applause and cries of That's
Tight"l
So worthy are these devoted servants of the
people, so waIchful, that railroad accidents
are said by competent authority to be neither
as frequent nor as fatal as other modes OF trans
portation. Your spokesman has justly OBJ
served that no body of Americans have greater
interests at stake in the pending political cam.
paign than the railroad men, who are every
where taking the liveliest terest in the proper
settlement OF the great principles involved in
1t. lApplause.] The triumph of free silver
would mean to you, as the adoption by Mexico
mas meant 10 the railway employees of that
country, decrease in the purchasing power of
bAAS AAOASg III which Ileg are palQ July one
nall with comparatively no increase in wages.
lCries OF 1--WE don't want 1t and we will not
have it'll Not only that, but it would mean
inevitably decreased employing and distress.
The 5O-cent-dollar employees OF the railroads
VIII no more add TO your salaries than the rail-
roads would add to their income by decreasing
the size Of their cars. lGreat cheering.l
The railway men deeply interested in
the prosperity of the country. [Cries OF "You
bet we are."l They know from experience
that when the country is prosperous railroads
are prosperous [cries of ayes, we do''l and
when railroads are prosperous they have
steady work and remunera;ive employment.
tApplause.l
They know when the business of the coun-
try is poor the business of railroads is poor
and the employees suffer both in time and pay.
LCries of That's right, major"l They are
interested, too, in good money [cheersl and
they are In favor OF law and order. [Great
applause and cries OF ayes, yes; hurrah for