The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-11-08
SPECIAL to The Herald.l

Mercur, Utah, Nov. This city
never saw more enthusiastic even
ing, or a larger meeting than that
which greeted Hon. B. n. Roberts in
the Mercur Opera House tonight.
Every seat was filled, standing room
was at premium and hundreds were
turned away because they could not
get inside. Mr.. Roberts and Herald
man, who left Salt Lake on a special
train at 4 O'Clock, arrived in the city
at s, and found the town ablaze with
enthusiasm, a monster parade, headed
by the Mercur brass band. being in
progress at the time. Mr.. Roberts ap-
pearance was greeted with great en-
Lhnsiasm.
The great meeting was presided over
by Judge A. II. Dunlap, the first
speaker being State Senator William
G. Nebeker, who confined his remarks
to local issues, making no effort at a
discussion of national questions. Speak
ing of the eight-hour law, Senator Neb-
eker called attention to the fact that
Governor Wells was antagonist1c to the
entire code, if the state prison guards,
who work u hours per day, were not
exempted from the eight-hour sched-
ule. The legislature was Democratic
and the governor was a Republican.
Mr.. Nebeker dwelt On the deceptive po-
sition taken by the Republican candi-
dates in the matter Of the mining law,
sheep business, etc. Mr.. Nebeker made
a profound impression on the audience.
Mr.. Roberts, who spoke next, was at
tentively listened TO, and frequently
applauded. He prefaced his speech
proper by the statement that he be-
lieved the Democracy would win in this
state. An indirect allusion to the fact
that Mr.. Eldredge had fought shy of
the mining camps provoked much mer-
riment At the outset the speaker
called attention to the abilities of Hon.
r. II. Baskin, the candidate for the Su-
preme bench, and urged a special ef-
fort in this direction. The speaker
urged the election of the legislative
candidate, because on the political
complexion of the legislature depends
the politics Of the senator to be elected
at the coming session. If a friend of
bimetallism is elected, he will be
Democrat, if an enemy is chosen he will
be a Republican. The urgency which
demands the election of a Democratic
senator also demands the election of
Democratic member of congress, be-
cause the reasons are the same.
FOR THE EIGHT-HOUR DAY.
After discussing the issues which are
not issues, protection, reciprocity and
woman suffrage, Mr. Roberts reached
the eight-hour matter, which had been
brought up by Farley P. Christensen
and others, aided by the Tribune, Mr.
Roberts said: Some attention has
been directed to my record on the
eight-hour law, and a newspaper,
which, when the eight-hour law was
before the legislature, derided it, ridi-
culed it, and asked what use there was
for it, and denounced it, declares I am
opposed to the eight-hour principle.
During the constitutional convention
an effort was made to get all sorts of
legislation introduced into the docu-
ment. 1 opposed this sort OF proceed
ure as numbering the constitution and
exercising the functions properly be-
longing to the legislature. Captain
Egan of Bingham introduced an article
of considerable length, which I deemed
TO cumbrous. 1t provided for an eight
hour day. Later in the session Mr..
Kearns introduced an eight-hour sec
ton, and for that section I voted, and
my vote is on record.
1T is unfair to say that I am op-
posed to labor. From my boyhood I
have worked for a living. 1 am not
unfamiliar with this locality, where, as
a boy, for three years 1 worked for a
tice and learned the honorable calling
of a blacksmith, and for years worked
at the forge. Later in life l became de-
sirols of learning something from
books, and became a student in our
Utah educational institutions. say to
you that, although my position on the
eight-hour law is not an issue, I am
not opposed to It, / would be glad to
see the grand division of labor's time
eight hours for work, eight hours for
association and recreation and eight
hours for rest and sleep. And I say
to you that ! am willing to pledge my
self to work for the accomplishment
Of this great principle"
Mr.. Roberts exposition of the money
question and the standing of the two
parties in relation to the same was a
most mastery one, and his discussion
Of the plan which proposes TO turn
over TO the banks the power to issue
money made lasting impression on
the voters. His earnest denunciation
of the McCleary bill was most
scathing one, and provoked applause
and cheering.
Mr.. Roberts asked the people to sup
port the Democratic ticket. Not that
I may be elected. for my personality
amounts to nothing. Men are like the
leaves on the trees. The interests of
this people are greater than any man.
The issue is greater than this nation,
for il is the cry OF universal humanity
I ask you to come and Join us and cast
your votes for the Democratic party
The effect of Mr.. Roberts speech was
great, and the voters viii reciprocate
tomorrow. Mercur viii go Demo-
cratic.