New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-10-16
PRICE THREE CENTS!
MKINLEY TO WORKINGMEN.
A SPEECH TO OLD FRIENDS IN BLoUsEs
AND OVERALLs WHO CALL UPON HIM.
MINDS OF HIS NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
THEN AND NOw-CALLERs FRca
PENNSYLVANIA AND


Major Mckinley received n spontaneous call
yesterday from several thousand workingmen OF
Canton, who came wearing blouses and overalls
and carrying their dinner pals. In response 10
their greeting Major Mckinley delivered one OF
the most noteworthy speeches of the campaign.
He also addressed delegations from Pennsyl'
vania and from New-YOrk State.
Canton Ohio Oct l5.-The commanding feature
of the day at Canton was the spontaneous labor
demonstration In honor of Major Mckinley which
took place late in the afternoon. Four thousand
Canton workingmen called on Major Mckinney. IL
was all done quietly and without ostentatlon. HUM
dreds of the came just as they lett the miiS'
the foundres and the shops attired In blue pouses
and overalls, and carrying their tin dinner pals.
They arranged the call themselves. and 1t was IN no
sense the work OF politicians or political managers
They were heartily appauded.
MAJOR MKINLEY'S SPEECH.
Major Mckinley spoke from the porch, and said:
II have witnessed on the front Of this porch
many scenes which have touched my heart put
none which have more deeply moved me than
this gathering Of the worl<ingmen or canton.
Fringed about this assemblage are the wives
and the little ones whom you love much, and
for whom you want an opportunity to work.
bid YOU all hearty and sincere welcome to my
home. have known most Of you for almost
lifetime. One OF the spokesmen was or the
earliest Of my friends when 1 came to the city
OF Canton, while in this audience there are thou'
sands of well-known and familiar faces to me.
/ have been speaking to these people on political
questions for twenty nine years. My first dis
cussion OF that character was In 1861, and since
that time annually have been honored In hav-
ing YOUR attention and hearing on the evening
before the election, whether State or National
In that period many important questions were
discussed and some of them have been per-
manenty settled. and you helped to settle them
Universal suffrage. the honest payment OF the
public debt the resumption OF specie payments
the restoration of the Union upon a solid and
enduring basis. the invioiabty OF the credit
and obligations of the Government, all nave
been passed upon affirmatively and have been
accepted and acquiesced in by every part OF our
common country
Some Of these questions which we supposet
were settled and forever settled. are reopened
In this campaign. The currency, which. since
1879. has been on safe and sound basis. is now
assailed by our political adversaries 1t In
wolves the old question Of the honest payment OF
the public debt and the pensions OF our soldiers
ard OF all public obligations which the people
long ago determined on the side Of good faith.
good morals and common honesty But with
that settlement some people are not satisfied.
So we are called upon to pass on this question.
STILL ANOTHER QUESTION.
There is still another questionable question
Of protection against free trade or tariff reform.
(Cheering) In 1892 free trade against pro-
lection was the paramount issue OF the cam.
palgn and free trade triumphed before the
great tribunal Of the American people. and this
year we bring the question to you again we
ask you to review, to express your reconsldereo
and better and more mature Judgment upon
that issue after three years OF dreadful expert
ence I spoke in the city Of Canton on Monday
evening. November 3. 1892 and in that speech
T appealed TO my fellow citizens at home as had
appealed TO them elsewhere, not to overturn the
protective policy which had brought us such
universal prosperity, and which at that very
moment was spreading its blessings and pene'
fits throughout the entire country and In every
industrial centre. and In the course OF tnat
speech | said what was true then ana what ~
true now This is what said four years ago:
But again. the Democrats say that II We
have FREQ trade we could buy cheaper than We
do at present. Yes. might while the struggle
between American and foreign industries was
going on, but when the former are wiped out,
the price would go up TO whatever figure might
be dictated by the foreign manufacturer. and IN
the mean time labor will be scantily employed
and at reduced wages. Free trade cheapens
the article by cheapening the artisan; protec-
tion reduces the price of a product by giving
the artisan Just reward for his labor and re-
ceivng its reward In his higher skill and In.
dustry Free trade cheapens the product by
cheapening the producers protection cheapens
the product through the skill, the genius and
the industry Of the producer. (Applauseo But.
nv countrymen, nothing is cheap at any price
that comes from abroad; that entails idlenesS
upon the American people. The maximum OK
free trade is buy where you can buy the cheap
est. will give You a maxim worth loWV times
more than that Buy where you can pay the
easiest Tremendous cheer!ng) Buy where
labor receives it's highest reward. and that Is In
the United States of America or was four years
ago"
said another thing then: "If. by your ballots
Won adopt his free trade policy while things
NAV be cheaper in the United States, you VIII
have less labor and less wages with which to
| buy them"
Was right. men Of Canton? Cries OF "Yes!)
Those were the words spoken to you four years
ago. and were my best and most mature con-
vctons I do not believe in my relations with
many of you for more than quarter OF GEN.
tury that have undertaken to mislead deceive
or msguide you Cries Of you never have!O
My opinion may have been wrong; but they were
| honest opinions. and none were more honest
than those expressed to you in 1892. How far
they were truly and worthily spoken you can
judge.
FROM PREDICTION TO FULFILMENT.
We have passed from the field Of prediction
into the kingdom of fuIflment. daughter and
applause) We have passed the period Of proph-
ecy since then, and have experienced in our
own homes. In own employments and In
our lives the result Of partial free trade and
tariff tinkering. You know the conditions In