The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-11-05
THE ELALT-ON

past-the majority OF the Labor Re-
form candidates have been overwhein-
iugly defeated, am this too by the
cocardice, the treachery, the reaality OF
the very men most deeply interested in
their success. As it has been custo-
mary, however, 70 explain specifically
the causes which have led to defeat in
the favorite for the Derby, the yacht
race, the pugilistic encounter, the base
bah match, or the Presidential contest,
following this custom, we propose to
briefly state few facts, which few, il
any, wIll have the hardihood to deny,
leaving our readers TO draw their own
deductions.
In the nomination of Mr.. Wentworth
tor Congress, the primary and in fact
the only object the Labor Reform Elk
eeutive Committee had in view-was
the placing Of a third and distinctive
ticket in the field. At that time both
the Republican and Democratic par.
ties had selected their standard bear
ers-nelther OF whom there was reason
to suppose had any sympathy with the
resolutions Of the Labor Union. Pre-
vious to his selection, Mr.. Wentworth
had mequivocally stated that every
principle therein laid down received
his unqualified endorsement, and that,
# elected, he would by voice and vote,
ann to secure their enactment into law
Believing under these circumstances
that he was undoubtedly The strongest
candidate which they could place be-
fore the peOple--and that the demoraii-
.dtlon M both existing parties was the
6estdtrdtuH Of the hour--it was con-
cludcd by unanimous vote, that his
name should be placed at the head Of
the Reform Ticket The hue and cry
subsequently raised by a pack Of I'M
mltigated scamps that Mr.. WentworLh
was in reality the Democratic nominee,
because Of Mr.. Hoyne's withdra val
FIVE days after the meeting Of the Dem
ocratic Convention--was an unadulter-
ated, unmitigatcl falsehood, and origi-
mated solely for the purpose Of destroy
ing the issues before the people
With regard to the manner in which
the campaign was conducted there is
certainly ground for complaint. Had
Mr.. Wentworth, instead Of indulging
IN personalities and inyectives against
his competitor, confined the can
vass 70 a discussion Of those princi-
pies upon which his nomination was
secured-the cause would have been
benefited thereby. The private vir-
tines or vices of either Mr.. Farwell or
Mr.. Wentworth were foreign to the
issue, and should never have been
brought before the public.
The open corruption practieed, also
added materially to the result. 1t is
no exsggeration TO say that never in the
history of Chicago has such a shame
less campaign been conducted. Men
were bought and sold, so much per
head, as though they bad been drove
Of hogs. This we assert is no Islander.
Honey, and money alone elected Mr.. Far
DeA, and money, and money alone icos he
price Of The manhood of thousands who
aided to secure that election and this
too in the face Of the stringent provi-
sions recently incorporated into our
State Constitution against bribery, bar
tering and selling 1t remains to be
seen whether .he people, after having
ratified that instrument, are wiling to
see its provisions thus fagrantly vio-
lated
The state Of the weather from three
to SIX o'clock. mad doubtless a great
deal u do with the result-as il was
from four to six o'clOcl; that the
strength Of the Reform Ticket would
have been tested, and, unfortunately, 4
drenching rain prevailed all that time,
which fact taken in connection with
the apathy Of the working men, kept
thousands Of voters from the polls.
But over and above all these consid-
erstons, towers the one to which we
have already referred the tyedchsry,
eo''ard'ce and yenaity of those most
interested in its success. Were it
not that we do not wish TO pollute the
columns of 'he ADVOCATE, we could
prove our charg by narrating propos-
itions and conversations, which were
made by some of those who h. a IN 10
the eleventh hour protested to coon.
crate with and promised 10 support the
labor nominees If the result gives
them satisfaction, We do not envy their
feelings of one fact, however, they
may rest assured, they have vet to reep
the reward Of their treachery. The
candidates presented for their suffraees
were for the most part--rcpresentatiye
trade ultORists- selected rom
their own ranks-men of ability, intel
iigence, integrity, and unimpeachable
character, whose lives have been de-
voted to the interests e heir fellows,