The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-07
M'KINLEY TO TOILERS
SPEECHES THAT EVERY WORKING
MAN MAY READ WITH PROFIT.
Reasons Why Those Who Labor in
Factory, Field and Elsewhere
Want an Honest Dollar.

vanians. About 5000 came from Beaver
Falls and other towns. and 5000 from Pitts
burg. The Major made speeches to both
delegations. Congressman w. A. Stone,
chairman of the Pittsburg deIega-
ton, presented Mr.. w. A. Carney, a
rolling mill man, noted in the councils of
labor organizations, who spoke. When
quiet was restored Major Mckinley said:
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentlemen
honor to have this large body of citizens
from the counties OF Allegheny, West
yes, and from the whole State of Pennsyl-
Vania-(laughter) turn aside from their ac-
customed occupations and pay me this
visit. (ApplauSe.) This asSemblage thor
oughly typifies the national idea of a great
American commonwealth, in this, it repre-
SCENTS the equality of all, which lies at the
basis OF popular government. 1t empha-
sizes the American spirit. Here are work
ing men in every department of industry,
tive born and naturalized citizen-all equal
in privilege and power before the law; all
alike interested in the government of the
country and all with equal voice in con-
trolling and shaping the destinies of our
great Republic. Here is a striking protest
against the unworthy effort on the part Of
those who would divide our citizenship into
classes and a striking condemnation of
such un-American appeal to passion AMI
stamp with falsehood and indignant disap-
prevail the effort to array class against
class than this great demonstration before
me to-day. L have no sympathy with suci1
appeals-have you? (Cries of MOI no!D
Patriotism is nobler sentiment. 1t ex
ats, but never degrades. Instead of seek
ing to work the masses, it would be
worthier on the part of all of US to try to
get work for the masses. tremendous
cheering and cries of Hurrah for McKin-
ley!D
"Workingmen,, Mr. Carney, that you
should have called on me this day set
apart by your great commonwealth to cele-
brate the worth and dignity and power of
labor is great honor which l duly and
'Hurrah for McKinleyD Labor day is a ma
tional holiday, is a high and just recogni-
ton of the oldest and most honorable of
all callings-a calling which is at the foun-
dation of every industry and of our ma
tional progress. lCries OF That's sou This
labor and an honorable distinction bestowed
upon those who toll. Labor day, by act of
congratulate you that most of the States
have accorded to labor day separate and
distinct which places it in point of legal
recognition with the memorable events of
our own and the worlds history.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
You are here to-day, not from idle
curiosity nor from any motive personal to
myself but you are here because we are
all citizens of common country, who in
few weeks will be called on through our
constitutional forms to determine what
party shall control the government for the
next four years, and, what is more impor-
tant by what principles and policies such
party shall be governed. Enthusiastic
cheering and cries of We want the Pepub-
lican party!o The Republican party
stands to-day, it has always stood, OPP
posed to the continuation of an industrial
policy which cripples the industries at
home robs labor of it's just rewards and
supplies insufficient revenues to run the
eovernment. 1Cries of .Goodv 'Good!) 1t
stands opposed to any change in our imam
cial policy which would put US upon sill
That's right!D Involved in the contest,
too is that fundamental question of wheth-
er we are to have government by Jaw.
The Republican party stands now, as al
ways. for the maintenance of law and Or
der and domestic tranquility. Great ap"
plause and cries of That's rightly
There are two things which deeply and
personally interest the Workingmen Ihey
work at good wages They are not salts
fed with irregular work at Inadequate
American standard applied to both. With
steady work they want to be paid in sound
money (Cries of Good, good!) They do
not want to lose any part of their hard
earnings through poor dollars (applause),
and they don't want TO be paid in dollars
whose value can only be ascertained by
the daily market reports. Great applause.)
Whatever work they now have is paid in
good money and therefore no complaint is
with the money, but they are not satisfied
with the Scant work or the reduced wages.
(Cries of That's right, Major:O They are
satisfied with the present dollar BILL but
they are not satisfied with the present
tariff bill. tremendous cheering and
blowing of tin horns.) We have learned
from experience that we cannot increase
work at home by giving 1t to the people
abroad (cries of That's right!D. and it is
poor policy to keep our own men in idle
ness while we furnish employment to those
outside country, who owe no al
knowledge no loyalty to that flag point
ing to an American flag. Great applause.)
Some people seem to think that a cheap
dollar is the best thing for the working
man. The wage earnerS are creditors.
Their wages are paid to-day in money
whose purchasing power is good for one
in the world. Their dollars are as good as
anybodys dollars, and equal to every
body's dollars-just as they should be. tAp-
plause) Nobody anywhere gets better
ones, but you do not have chance under
the present system to get work to earn
If a dollar worth less than one hundred
cents is a legal tender the workngmen
will never get any other kind. Cries of
That's right!) They will always get the
poorest which will pass current, and when
the price of the products they buy ad-
vances who will be cheated? Cloud cries
of The working maniD Who will raise the
working mans wages to meet the rise in
Give us a Republican administra ton with
Mckinley for President followed by
cheering and blowing of tin horns.) He
cannot do it unaided and by himself; he
does not wholly control the pay roll of his
employees. He must get somebody else's
consent before his wages can be raised
and he knows from experience that the
last thing to be advanced and the hardest
thing to have advanced are his wages.
(Cries of That's right,)
we might just well understand that
we cannot fix by law the wages of labor
That is a matter Of mutual contract be-
tween employer and employee. But we can
fix by law the kind of money in which
wages are paid and we will never decree
that they shall be paid in anything short
of the best dollars in purchasing power
recognized throughout the civilized world
Tremendous cheering and blowing of
horns.) When a man is out of job he is
usually out of money Qaughter) and 10
live he must draw upon his savings if he
has any. Is not that SO. workingmen of
Pennsylvania? (CrieS of 'Yes!) If not up
on his savings then upon his credit
WHAT WORKINGMEN WANT
What the idle workingman wants is a
job. That means money to him. The
minis, if they were thrown wide open to
the coinage of every character of metal
and were multiplied a hundred fold in ca
pacity. would neither furnish the work
ingman job, restore his exhausted saw
ings or give him credit. Great applause
and cries. You are right, Major.) Moth
ing. my feliow-citizens. will accomplish
that but work-work at fair wages-and
that will only come through confidence,
restored by wise financial and industrial
policy. CHEERS and cries of 'Hurrah for
Mckinley!)
Remember that money is never willing
w a Is Ia ic hzc.a