The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-09-20
MAJOR M'K|MEY
TALKS 70 VISITORS
On the Issues of the Cam
paign
DELEGATES FROM EAST and WEST
Crowd the Cars and Overflow
the Theater
STAND IN DRILLING RAIN
Listening 10 Dreary Platidudes and
STAND IN DRILLING RAIN
Strange How Far Man Will Travua
How Long He Will SILVER and
How Loud He Will Cheer to
Avoid the G. B.
Associated Press Special wire

I.
the echoes Of yesterdays big demonstra-
ton at the home of Major Mckinley died
away, ere the distant rumblings OF
today's doings were heard. Barring the
local campaign opened yesterday. this
has been the biggest demonstration
since nomination day. There were ten
visiting delegations utilizing twenty-six
special trains and estimated from 10. 1000
to 5000 people. There was cold, drix-
cling rain all the forenoon and when It
ceased the temperature fell rapidly and
overcoats were In demand. After the
two receptions in the opera house in
the forenoon, one to the visitors from
Hutton, Verona, Oakmount and other
boroughs of Allegheny county and the
other to the employees of the Carnegie
city mills of Pittsburg. the speech MAX
ing was transferred to the Mckinley
lawn, part of it being done in the rain.
1t was the big delegation Of railroad
men, too large for any hall, which set
the example of defying the elements.
They, with the three or four hundred tel
egraphers who came with them, sur
rounded the little receiving stand on
the majors lawn and listened to and
cheered the assurances Of hearty sup
port delivered by their spokesman, ].
w. Dodge Of the Illinois Central. and
w. j. Burke on behalf Of the telegraph
ers.
Major Mckinley responded to the Chi
cago and Fort Wayne railroad men and
telegraphers as follows:
My FELLOW Citizens: 4 would be q
hard heart indeed which would not be
moved by this splendid demonstration.
I bid you each and every one of you
sincere welcome to my home. (Cheers.)
I count 1t among the greatest honors
Of my life to hive 5000 representative
men from the great railroad lines of the
this city to give me their assurance that
in the year 1896 they stand by protec-
ton, reciprocity and sound money. (Great
applause) These delegations coming
long distances present a remarkable,
phase Of our political life and evidence
of the deep solicitude they have for the
welfare Of our country. Such demon
stration 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 ma
tional contest of this year. (Cheers.)
You are here today-men of all parties
and creeds-because you want to de-
feat the effort which is now being asside
uously made to destroy the credit ana
currency of the country, and also be-
cause, loving law and order, you want -
stamp out the spirit of lawlessness and
reputation which is now threatening It.
Your active interest in this contest for
good politics, good government, good
morals and good money will be helpful
in every part of the country and inspir-
ing to the friends of good government
everywhere. The railway is the mightl-
est factor of modern civilization. If one
proof above any other had been asked,
for the superiority of the United States
above any other country of equal or
approaching territory, I know Of no
better evidence than the fact that Of the
427, 900 miles of railroad in the world we
have nearly 200, 900 miles in this coun-
try. (Applause.)
To trace their history during the past
twenty years would be to write the pro-
gress of the country itself. so intimately
have cost nine billions of dollars, employ
one million of men, with 10000 locomo-
tives. $1,000 passenger coaches and over
100000 other cars. that the capital
stock is 81. 640. 900, 900, with funded debts
of $4,000, 000,0 90, yearly traffic earnings Of
one billion,net earnings $31S,0 900, and
dividends sS4, 000,0 900 annually. conveys
but faint idea of how fully they enter
into every line of business and affect d.
rectly or indirectly the great masses Of
our people. Not only are lives constant
ly in their keeping, but every year they
more and more are essential to our SUBJ
sistence, convenience and comfort.
The major paid glowing compliment
to the bravery and fidelity of railroad
employees. Continuing, he said: have
said that railroad men are cool and coll
lected, brave and vigilant in the dis
charge of their duties, and surely great
er praise could not be given them than
this. Faithful unto DEATH has been
truly written of many brave engineer.
conductor or brakeman who persisted
rather than abandon his train. when ho
might. at the the expense of others.
In the great state of Illinois and the
great Chicago are nearly 1000 miles Of
railroad. I have read the official state
ment Of your railroad commissioners
and in the year ending July %. INA M