Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-09-05
Justice to Mr.. Hale.

hutIOT FTec xTeSS.
Much has been said the past few weeks
by the democratic and greenback papers
Of this State, dero9atory to Hon. Eugene
Hale. the Representative Of this Congress
sional District. Most of the complaints so
far have been Of . general character.
Whenever and wherever these charges be-
come specific, Mr.. Hale will be Obliged to
meet them or suffer the consequences. Mr..
Hale has been nominated for reelection.
His ability and experience eminently quail.
ity him for the position: but it Is said that
Mr.. Hale has neglected and disregsrded
the rights and interests Of the laboring men
of this district. This Is a serious charge
and II II can be proved. not by mere asser-
tions. but by clear and indisputable facts,
let him stand aside and make room for
another.
Let justice be done. II mistakes and er-
rors are TO be raked up, let not the faithful
performance Of duty be forgotten, or set at
nsught. And the following statement Is
here made for the purpose Of doing justice
to Mr.. Hale in q matter In which all the
men employed throughout the country un-
der what was known as the "iifteen per
cent. contracts" were interested. The De-
partment at Washington claimed that un-
der those contracts the eight honr law was
imperative and void, aud the workmen
were required 10 work ten hours for day.
The workmen believed such construction
forced and unjust: and they complained,
ard clamored for a redress OF their griey-
ances; but no redress. no change, was OBJ
tained; finally after consultation smong
the men employed on the government Jobs
la Knox County. funds were raised aud
committee VAS sent to Washington in
June, iss2. 10 lay the question before the
Treasury Department. -. u. Jones and
Geo. W. White Of RocklAnd. together with
one other gentleman, who Is now a non
resident OF the state. were appointed a.
that committee.
Ca arriving at Washington. the commit
tee found that senator Morrill, was sick.
and senator Hsmlin was al home attend
ing his brothers funeral. The members Of
the committee next called on Mr.. Hale.
then ss now a member OF the House. from
the Finh District. and made hlm acqnslnt-
Ell with the object for which they had yisl-
ted Washington. Mr.. Hale At once placed
himself AZ the disposal OF the committee
aud accompanied them to the Of'ice OF the
Supervising Architect. The matter was
talked over With Mr.. Mullet, but no salts
faction was obtained from him; then. at
the suggestion of Mr.. Hale, visit was
made TO the White House, sud President
Grant was talked with. On learning the
object OF the committee, the President
wrote q note TO Mr. Boutwell,, then Secre-
tary OF the Treasury, requesting him to
giye the committee a hearing upon the
question at iSsue. On visiting Mr.. Bout
well, Mr.. Hale, by his presence aud voice,
lent every assistance In his power TO en-
force The subject upon the atteation of the
Secretary OF the Treasury.
The rnmmttrpe remained only fwpDty-
-four hours In Washington, leaving the mat
ter on their departure wholly In Mr.. Hale's
hands. How faithfully and promptly he
attended 10 the duty assigned him. Is
shown in the fact that In less than one
week from the date OF the committees
visit to Washington, an order was issued
from the office OF the Secretary OF the
Treasury complying with the demand Of
the workingmen, aud making eight hours
a full days work. It may be proper TO
state that one or more committees from
other States. with the same object in view,
had been to Washington piror to our visit
without accomplishing anything, and It is
doubtful whether we should have met with
any better success had Mr.. Hale given US
the cold shoulder and treated Us with neg
lect, as the public would naturally infer
he hsd done, from the false statements
made BY his political opponents. One OF
that committee Is out OF the State, as be-
fore stated, the other metnber, Mr.. Jones,
now resides at Vinshaven, and have
had no opportunity to confer with him,
but he Is an honorable man and am sure
he will have no desire to controvert the
facts have here stated.
GRO w. WHITE
Rockland, Aug. 10, 1873.