laboring classes, can best be given by quoting from the official record in the matter of the Knights of Labor and the Chinese Immigration Bill.

March 8, 1886, Harrison said:

"I present a resolution adopted by the Fair-play Assembly of Knights of Labor, of Goshen, Ind., not formally addressed to the Senate, but evidently intended for its consideration, in relation to Chinese immigration and other bills pending in Congress affecting the laboring classes. I ask that the paper be received and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.-[Rec., p. 2168.]

"March 31, 1886.-Mr. Harrison presented a memorial of Knights of Labor of Wabash, Ind., remonstrating against the passage of the free-ship bill, which was referred to the Committee on Commerce.-[Rec., p. 2900.]

"April 1, 1886.-Mr. Harrison presented a memorial of Knights of Labor of Andrews, Ind., remonstrating against the passage of the free-ship bill, which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, and said: I present certain resolutions, certified by the recording secretary and under the seal of the assembly of Wabash Assembly, No. 2281, of the Knights of Labor, of Terre Haute, Ind.,

praying Congress to pass a law prohibiting aliens or their agents from securing vast tracts of the public domain. I believe this subject is under consideration by the Committee on Public Lands at this time, and I will ask the reference of the resolutions to that committee."

"Mr. Dolph.-A bill on the subject has been reported.

"Mr. Harrison.-I am advised by the Senator from Oregon that the bill has been reported. I ask leave to say at this time that I know of few measures of greater importance than this. I noticed recently in one of the Chicago papers the results of some inquiry upon this subject, and it seemed to indicate that vast tracts of our domain, not simply the public domain on the frontier, but in some of our newer States, are passing into the hands of wealthy foreigners. It seems that the land reforms in Ireland, and the movement in England in favor of the reduction of large estates and the distribution of the lands among persons who will cultivate them for their own use, are disturbing the investments of some Englishmen, and that some of them are looking to this country for the acquisition of vast tracts of land which may be held by them and let out to tenants, out of the rents of which they may live abroad. I think this evil requires early attention, and that Congress should, by law, restrain the acquisition of such tracts of land by aliens. Our policy should be small farms, worked by the men who own them. As the bill has been reported, I move that the resolutions lie on the table.-[Rec., p. 2982.]

"April 6, 1886.-Mr. Harrison presented memorials of Knights of Labor, of Elkhart, Jeffersonville, and Carbon, in the State of Indiana, remonstrating against the passage of the free-ship bill, which were referred to the Committee on Comalso a petition of Knights of Labor of Jeffersonville, Ind., praying that liberal appropriations be made for works of internal improvement, and especially for the construction of the Hennepin Canal, which was referred to the Committee on Commerce; also a petition of Knights of Labor of Carbon, Ind., praying that liberal appropriations be made for public works, and especially for the construction of a harbor of refuge at Sandy Bay, Rockport, Mass., which was referred to the Committee on Commerce; also presented a memorial of Knights of Labor at Carbon, Ind.-[Rec., p. 3136.]

"April 7, 1886.-Mr. Harrison presented memorials of Knights of Labor of Frankfort and South Bend, in the State of Indiana, remonstrating against the passage of the free-ship bill, which were referred to the Committee on Commerce. -[Rec., p. 3175.]

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April 10, 1886.-Mr. Harrison presented a memorial of Knights of Labor of Cardonia, Ind., remonstrating against the passage of the free-ship bill, which was referred to the Committee on Commerce. He said I present also the petition of C. H. Buthenbender and ten other officers and members of the three local assemblies of Knights of Labor at Fort Wayne, Ind., praying for the speedy passage of the bill providing for the arbitration of all labor disputes. The House bill on this subject, I understand, has been reported favorably by our committee on education and labor and is now upon the calendar. The petition will, therefore, under the rules, lie upon the table.

"Mr. Cullom.-There is another bill on the same subject which was referred to the Select Committee on Inter-State Commerce, and has not yet been reported; but probably the petition may as well lie on the table.

"Mr. Harrison.-As the petition relates especially to the House bill I have referred to, I suggest that it lie upon the table. I do not desire to anticipate the discussion of that measure, which will soon come before the Senate, but the startling occurrences of which we have accounts from day to day in the newspapers are turning the attention of all lovers of good order and of the prosperity of the country to the necessity of providing some method of harmonizing the interests of the working classes and of the employers of labor. Arbitration is the only method that seems to be open for the peaceful, and speedy, and just settlement of such disputes. Arbitration, of course, must precede strikes. It implies calmness, and that is not to be found when the contest is once inaugurated and passions are aroused. I think so far as we can contribute by any congressional legislation to securing the just settlement by arbitration of all labor troubles we shall contribute greatly to the peace and happiness of the country.-[Rec., p. 3349.]

"April 19, 1886.-Mr. Harrison presented a memorial of Knights of Labor of Snoddy's Mill, Ind., remonstrating against the passage of the free-ship bill; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce; also a memorial of the Knights of Labor of South Bend, Ind., remonstrating against the employment of convict labor on public works; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor.-[Rec., p. 3598.]

"April 21, 1886.-Mr. Harrison presented a memorial of Knights of Labor of Elkhart, Ind., remonstrating against the passage of the free-ship bill; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce: also presented a memorial of Knights of Labor of Elkhart, Ind., remonstrating against the employment of

convict labor on public works; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor.-[Rec., p. 3659.]

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'April 22, 1886.-Mr. Harrison presented a memorial of Knights of Labor of Logansport, Ind., remonstrating against the passage of the free-ship bill; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce.-[Rec., p. 3713.]

"April 30, 1886.-Mr. Harrison presented a memorial of Knights of Labor of Indianapolis, Ind., remonstrating against the employment on public works of prison-contract labor; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor.-[Rec., p. 3999.]"

Senator Harrison availed himself of the opportunity in acknowledging the receipt of the memorial from the Knights of Labor to declare that American ships should be built by American labor, and subsequently voted for the bill, which became a law, prohibiting importation of foreign labor under contracts made abroad.

IX.

Harrison's Career in the U. S. Senate-1881 to 1887-Good Work as Chairman of the Committee on Territories-The Admission of the Dakotas-Statesmanlike Speech in his Seat-The Tenure-of-Office Act-Position of the Democratic Party-The Civil Service CommissionAn Able Review-Sea-coast Defenses-A Good Record-Care in Official Work.

ARRISON'S term in the United States Senate expired March 3, 1887. He accomplished much good work as chairman of the Committee on Territories. He made himself master of the territorial subject by visiting at this period all the distant western territories, and secured the admission of the two Dakotas to the roll of States.

The following is an extract from one of his speeches in the Senate on the question of the admission of Dakota :

"Mr. President, I have never anywhere, or at any time, here or on the hustings, had but one voice upon this subject, and that was, that the man who in the hour of his country's need had bravely gone to the rescue, had exposed himself to shot and shell and saber stroke in defense of the flag, was entitled to choose his own politics, and, while I might object to his taste, I had no criticisms for him.

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Sir, who introduced all these personalities? Where has this tide of abuse which has been heaped upon citizens of Dakota had its strength? Not on this side of the chamber. But Senators on that side of the chamber, from the very beginning of this debate, have felt warranted in calling the men who had been conspicuous in this movement for the formation of a new State conspirators, ambitious and scheming politicians; and that course of vituperation has run through the whole debate, on the part of gentlemen on the other side of the chamber. What is the distinction between an ambitious politician and a states