Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 August 1888 — FORAKER TO THE WORKINGMEN. [ARTICLE]

FORAKER TO THE WORKINGMEN.

ftotrie Good rointj. M<t<lp by the Speaker , »wl HU Hearers at Colutuou*. At a ratification meeting held at Columbns, 0., Governor Forakcr made a happy speech, which was received with great enthusiasm and many pertinent coiil* Keats by the large audience, composed principally of Workingmen: ■ ■ . .' ■ We have just as good mechanics in America as they have anywhere else oli the face of the earth .[renewed cheering]; men of brains; men who aro capable .because of their mental abilities and capacity to manage any kind of business. We Mye Just as good for the manufacture of any kind of product can bo found in any country, [Applause, and a voice, “Better, too.”] Bother, too, yes, that Is Well said. Wo have gold and iron and wool and lumber and liemp nud-f'vcrything else, and we are going to geep them in spite of the Democratic party. {Applause.] Having all these things, wo would not need any protective tariff except only for one tiling, and that is that they make their laboring men work for less in England than we do in this Country. [Applause, and a . voice, “And - live on nothing.”] And live oil liothipffY NoW, let me Illustrate. Let me call your attention to thig. This is a serious business. The reason you are here in the rain and mud to-night manifesting this enthusiasm is that you appreciate that the question of wages is at. stake in the country. Are there any brickmakers in this audience? [Cries of • Yes.”] Are there any blacksmiths? Cries of “Yes.”] Are there any coopers? Cries of “Yes,”] Are there any cabinetmakers? [Cries of “Yes,”-] Arc there common laborers? [Cries of “Yes.”] The woods arc 'full of them. [Great laughter and applause.] Now let me tell you what free trade means. —It-means to-compete wifti England, and to compete with England we have either to shut up our factories and all these industries that we have been carrying on, or else we have to reduce our laborers to the same standard of wages that they have erected in that country. [Applause.] Now let me tell you what a brickmaker gets in England. A brickmaker in England gets $4 a week. -Who wants to work for $3..54 a week? Anybody here? [Cries of “No, no.”) All of you that want tq work for $&54 a week as brickmakers, hold up your hands. [Applause, atid a voice, “Have to go over to England to gef one.”] In America, instead of recemng. jttj.o4rt week; a -fairkmaker-gets on an average over tli® country, as shown by the official statistics, sll.Bti. The bricklayer in England gets $8 a week, while here the average is s2l a week. How many men who are get; ing s2l a weed: want to he cut down to $8 a week by anybody? [Cries bf“Nobody.”] Thqn nobody is going to vote for Grover Cleveland, [Great applause.] Carpenters over in England get $7.50, as against sls a week here. Common laborers- in England get the magnificent sum of $4.10 per week. You know what you are getting, Ido not want to pursue the table -further. I have picked out from these figures,-taken from official statistics, enough to indicate To you what must necessarily be the effect upon us of the unwise policy of Grttver Cleveland, as Set forth in his. message and indorsed by the Democratic, platform, to which they have dragged Judge Thurman from the grave almost.- [Applause,] Ido not want to ssyn'nyi king bad about the judge. He is an dtaiue-nt citizen of Columbus. He is a good/ellow socially. Let us keep him here. /[Renewed laughter and applause.] We can get along without him at Washington, and we can get along at Washington without Grover Cleveland. ' [Applause.] Let us keep Thurman at home, and send Cleveland [home. [Renewed laughter and- cheering.] That, is the best possible work that can be done by the Republicans of this country, in the year of our Lord 1888. r Now, my fellow eitizchs, I congratulate you upon the successful- convention at Chicago; that it worked out such a niag : nific.ent result; that you have candidates nominated whom, you can support with such cordiality —Candidates whose entire records and personal makeup can appeal with such strength and force .to the patriotism of the country and to the common business sense of The country. [Applause.]. Let hs go to work and elccL“fiiem. _ [Reiiowecl a{[pTaus[‘.]