Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 July 1888 — T[?]stimony to General Harrison’s Position. [ARTICLE]

T[?]stimony to General Harrison’s Position.

Hon. John Caven, who was Mayor of the city at the time of the railroad trouble, yesterday stated that the militia called out by Governor Williams on that occasion had no part in settling the difficulties. “It was moral force that did it.” he continued, ••although a blow would have precipitated a riot. I did not even send a policeman to the Union Depot, which was the center of the disturbance, but I swore in a number of railroad employes as special officers. I was censured a great deal by manv leading citizens and was called a coward for the bourse I pursued, but only a few weeks before I had applied the same methods to what are known as the bread riots and brought around a peaceable adjustment of the difficulties.” “Did you favor the appointment of a committee of safety?” “I appointed that committee myself. It was at a meeting of citizens when the committee was provided for. and it was decided that I should -select it. Its E”cy and mine in the main agreed.—l a conference with the superintendents of the various roads and then with the strikers. On Thursdayewening preceding the abandoinent of the strike tlie.'strikers.held a secret meeting in.the Etna Building. I went there and made a speech of an hour or more to the men. I told them they were violating the law, and appealed to’ them to desist, as I had assurances that the difficulties could be adjusted. I told them that they had no law to support them in what they, were doing and that a persistence in.their course would lead to grievous results. I was assisted by conservative mm among the strikers. At the close of my speech 1 left the hall, and within tea minutes a committee came to me stating that the strike had been abandoned. It was too late for a notice to that effect to appear in the morning papers, but it was published in the News of Friday afternoon. The next day the militia was disbanded.” “Were the militia at any time at the depot?” -* “They were at the Arsenal all the time, except on the day following the abandonment of the strike, when they were brought into the citv and disbanded. I did not see General Hairisom nor anyone else at the head of any men during the strike.” . "Did you approve the calling out of the militia?” “That was all right. It, was right to keep men in readiness for whatever might happen. They were called out by the Governor of the State, but as it happily oeeured, their services were not needed. fV ‘ - - “ What du vou, recollect about tire railroad strike of 1877?” asked a Journal reporter of Gen. Fred Kneffer. “I was one of the captains in the militia,” replied the General. “I was sent for one day to come to the old citv hall building, now Maennerchor Hall. I went an formed an organized .meeting, with Senator Joseph E. McDonald in the chair. The question before the meeting was the raising of a militia force to protect the city. My opinion was asked as ; to the matter, and I flatly said I could do nothing unless the authorities look steps ; to commission us as officers; otherwise I } would not stir.” “There was some talk about putting i down mobs, and- they virtually wanted ins to make another mob to suppress it. i I said that unless the Governor of-the j State, Governor Williams, a Democrat, ; would give me a commission I couldn’t j move in the matter at all; that I didn’t i propose to expose myself to prosecuItion." 1 “Another meeting was held shortly

afterwards in the office”of Judge GreAham, United States district judge, at which Senator McDonald and Governor Williams were present. Adjutant-general George W. Ruas was also present. The matter was talked over. The Governor and Adjutant-general said they wanted tip* militia, and would issue the commissions. The commissions were issued,and my commission bears the name of Governor'Williams. The militia were no more fit for fighting than I am for flying. They were |ittle better than Falataff’s recruits when it came to fighting. “The absurd Sentipel apjiears to have exclusive information as to the ferocious spirit it attributes to General Harrison. I was of the opinion at the time of the strike that it was the mildest-mannered militia that I ever saw in my life.\ It was a farce and a humbug from beginning to end. All this'talk about General Harrison in connection with the strike is simply hog-wash, gotten up for partisan use. Some of those who went into the movement were reluctant to do so because they thought that Governor Williams, Adjutant-General Russ and Senator McDonald .would turn the whole thing into political thunder, and we were all gentle as sucking doves. We were in the movement simply to protect the city and nothing else.”

When several bf the strikers were tried before Judge Drummond on an attachment for contempt, in interfering with property in charge of the United States Court, General Harrison made an appeal to the Judge in behalf of the men, W. H. H. Miller, when asked yesterday, if he recollected this occasion, replied: “Perfectly. The incident is as vivid in my remembrance? as if it hail occurred yesterday. Gen. Harrison told Judge Drummond that the men on trial were all good men, that they had merit on their side, and only erred as to means nsed in getting recognition of their claims. The General did not w ish them punished. He believed they had been ■oppressed and the only mistake made by them was in the course pursued. This influenced the Judge in remitting the sentences, and at the close of the trial the defendants came forward, took General Harrison’s hand, shook it cordially and thanked him for the appeal he had made in their behalf. They told him that if they had followed his advice no trouble would have occurred. As a member of the committee of safety, General Harrison was extremely moderate. When .others counseled force in settling the difficulties he strenouslv opposed such a course. He advised throughout a peaceable settlement, and when others wanted to lead the militia to the scene of the trouble he said emphatically, ‘I don’t propose to go out and shoot down my neighbors when there is no necessity for it.’ He then spoke in behalf of the strikers much as he did to Judge Drummond in his appeal to have their sentences remitted.”

The fact is, no part of General Harrison’s record is more consistent and more invulnerable than his record on the labor question. It is not that of a demagogue,or of a man seeking to make votes, or win applause, but that of a man of sincere convictions and friendly feelings for the cause. General Harrison has been all his life a hard worker. While in college he toiled during vacations to earn money to pav his way. As a young lawyer he began life as poor as the poorest,, without a dollar of patrimony and nothing but his hqad and hands and brave heart to depend upon. He knows what it is to struggle against adverse circumstances. He knows what it is to strive hard to make both ends meet on a slow and uncertain income. He knows what it is to labor assiduously, early and late, to meet the necessary expertises of a young and growing family. He was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth, though he inherited that which is infinitely better—a mental and moral equipment that’ have enabled him to make himself a man among men. If he had started in life as a locomotive engineer, a molder, a type setter or a day laborer, he wquld have taken the head of the class and kept it, just as he has in the law. The same qualities of character, and the same persrsteiitp hard, untiring labor that have carried him to the front in the legal profession would have done so in any other calling or trade. Do American workingmen despise a man becaufee he rises by his own honest, unaided efforts? Do they think less of a man because he fairly achieves distinction in his chosen profession? It is an insult to American workingm.en to impute such mean and groveling motives to them. General Harrison’s record on the labor question is honorable alike to him and the cause of American industry. It does not contain a sigle act, utterance or expression that lie or his friends should wish changed.