The Cortland Democrat, Friday, Friday,
September 2, 1892.
Cortland's
Soldiers Welcomed Home.
Word was received here last Saturday that
the Cortland boys who were called to Buffalo to
take part in protecting the lives and property of the people during the recent
strike of the switchmen in that city, would be here at 8 o'clock P. M. Accordingly
a very large crowd of people with two bands and a drum corps assembled at the
D. L. & W. depot to welcome them. The train did not come, and all sorts of
rumors were afloat in regard to the delay and time of their arrival.
When the special train bearing them finally
pulled into the depot at 10:15 many people had gone home, but there was still
several hundred people on hand.
A reception committee appointed at a citizens'
meeting consisting of President Price and Messrs. Birdlebough, Sager and Ballard,
welcomed the boys, and headed the parade which passed from the depot to Church-st.,
to Clinton-ave., to Main, and to the Armory. Many business places were
illuminated and Main-st. was one glare of fire works as the parade consisting
of the 45th Separate Company, G. A. R., Sons of Veterans with their drum corps
and [their] Cortland band, and Cortland City band marched along.
At the armory after a selection by the band,
President Price called the meeting to order after arms were stacked and
knapsacks thrown off. At the conclusion of a short address of welcome he introduced
Mr. B. T. Wright. Mr. Wright spoke in terms of the highest commendation of the conduct
of Cortland's soldiers in time of action, calling to mind how similar was their
call to action to that of those who went to war in '61, also how unlike their
duties and hardships, though not so long drawn out. He spoke of them as
comrades now, of the veterans of the war. He threw much humor into his remarks
which were short owing to the lateness of the hour.
As Mr. Wright took his seat Major Aaron Sager
proposed three cheers for the 45th which were given with a will, and returned
by the company.
President Price then asked to hear something
of the experience from one of the company and called upon Captain Dickinson.
The Captain thanked Cortland for the reception which was to them unexpected,
for they went "from a sense of duty and not for glory." He had
nothing but praise for the conduct of his men and after speaking of the
difficulties of fighting an unknown enemy, as they had been doing and relating
some camp hardships thought all would enjoy immediate rest better than
speeches, for their sleep was all broken up while gone, and the night before had
been four hours with their clothes on, he did not detain them.
Out of a membership of 68, the 45th turned
out 65 men, and the other three were out of town and not notified.
As relics the boys brought home a
Newfoundland pup to be called "strike" and kept in the armory, and a
sheep. The latter is to be sold to buy a collar for the dog. When asked how
they were obtained a knowing smile was the only reply. They were undoubtedly
trophies of the war.
The
Strike and the Authorities.
EDITOR DEMOCRAT: --The 45th Separate Company
of Cortland went to Buffalo in response to an order, issued by the constituted
military authorities of the state, which order they were not at liberty to disregard.
The company responded promptly to the call of duty, and so far as can be ascertained,
have in the discharge of their delicate and important duty at Buffalo,
commended themselves to the good will of the community in which they live, by
the moderation and good judgment they displayed.
Nevertheless there are, even in Cortland, individuals
unwise enough to blame the constituted authorities for calling out the militia,
and also those who criticise our citizen soldiery for responding to the call. This feeling is not only unwise, but extremely
unjust to the company. They simply did what their duty required them to do and
which they had no option to refuse.
This feeling as far as it exists has no doubt
arisen from the mistaken notion that the military, were called out to put down
the strike.
The fact is the military were not called out
for any such purpose, and neither the 45th Separate Company nor any other
Company have labored to that end. Neither does Governor Flower nor any officer
of the National Guard dispute the right of any man or body of men to strike.
The right of labor to organize and the
propriety of such organizations cannot be questioned.
The value of such organizations to laboring
men depends largely upon the judgment and discretion with which they are managed. While right of labor to organize is sacred,
it is not compulsory on any workman to do so, and the law affords equal
protection to labor, whether organized or unorganized.
Anarchists seek to accomplish their ends by
force, but honest workmen have no sympathy with them, and do not even admit
them to their unions.
Grand Master Sweeney testifies that when he
approved of the recent switchman's strike at Buffalo, he most emphatically
urged the striking switchmen to abstain from all acts of force and violence,
and after the strike was declared off, still insisted that the striking
switchmen had not destroyed the property of any railroad company, or used any
violence to its employes. Nevertheless certain persons in the city of Buffalo
did destroy property, and did assault workingmen, to such an extent that the
civil authorities of the city of Buffalo, and the county of Erie, were unable
to quell the disturbance and preserve order. It is not asserted that these
violations of law were committed by striking switchmen, but the fact remains
that the law was trampled upon, and the local authorities were unable to uphold
it. Such being the case it became the duty of the Governor and those under him
to furnish all the force necessary to maintain the law and preserve the peace
and good order.
The duty of the Governor promptly recognized
and faithfully discharged.
It has been said "that government is
best that best protects the life, liberty and property of its citizens."
Such protection the constituted authorities
have furnished through the National Guard, and for such prompt and timely
effort to maintain the law the constituted authorities are entitled to and are
receiving the commendation of all good citizens.
Cortland , Aug. 30th, 1892.
JUSTICE. [pen name]
Recommended—National
Guard of New York by Capt. E. E. Hardin (1895):
Labor
Day Parade and Picnic.
The Cortland Wagon Co. Mutual Aid, and the
Cortland City Band, never do anything by halves, consequently they propose to
have the largest and best street parade on Labor Day that has ever been seen in
this city.
Let all working people in whatever field of
activity they may be engaged, unify on that day, not for the purpose of
a strike on a riot, but for
sympathy and a day of mutual pleasure.
Come out from your stores and your shops,
from your work rooms and kitchens, leave the wearisome struggle for "food and
raiment" which is using up the best of so many lives, and for one day in
the year, enjoy your town, the society of your neighbors and friends
and your own families.
A most hearty invitation is extended to all
preachers and teachers, to all presidents and officers of the factories and
their employes, to all merchants and their clerks, to the bands of music, to
the pupils of the schools, to all labor organizations, and all who toll
with hand or brain, to join in the parade and enjoy the picnic at the Park. Come.
Cortland, N. Y., Sept. 1,
1892.
EDITOR DEMOCRAT:--The
executive committee on Labor Day celebration and picnic, held a meeting last
evening and appointed committees to visit at the factories and invite the
officers and employes to organize with a marshal, and with suitable banners
join the Cortland City Band and the C. W. C. M. A., in a monster parade on
Labor Day. Another committee will invite the village Board to lead the parade.
A committee was also appointed to invite the Board of Education with the
teachers and all the pupils of all the schools to come out and with flags and banners
show the people what an immense force the school system of the village is. We
propose to make this one of the features of the celebration.
All children under five years
of age will be admitted to the Park free and from five to ten years five cents
and all others ten cents.
COMMITTEE.
[We copy articles as they were printed, past rules of grammar
included—CC editor.]
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