The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-07-24
Pura Renuhlicanisr,,

The Union with commendable industry
and perseverance keeps pegging away at
the question whether or not the late social
lstic-labor. convention endorsed or struck
out the eight hour clause of the Toledo
platform. Il is matter of no conceiva-
BILE consequence unless the Union desires
to convict the veteran Of little political
huggermuggering, or, expects to reclaim
lost votes by showing few persons on
the Island that they are being successfully
humbugged in the general tom-foolery and
uproar of the third party management.
If the former be its object it evidently has
the best of the argument, though the
veteran, like huge cutie fish, is noted
for hiding in his own ink. IF however it
expects to make the people believe that
none but republicans are interested in the
affairs on the Island, and none but repub-
licans are capable of protecting the inter
ests of both government and employees.
its efforts are as weak and its conclusions
as tame as the Wanted proteetorate and
virtuous guardianship assumed by the
veteran himself.
The labored attempt to exonerate
the republican candidate for congress ia
this district from having any connection
with employment of labor on the Island is
setting up man of straw for the pleasure
of knocking it down. Anybody who knows
anything about Gen. Hederson would
never accuse or credit him with sufficient
interest 10 the welfare of laboring men to
exert himself to obtain them employment.
We have not the slightest idea he ever Sc
cured place or even asked for place to
be given to a single person on the Island
He never exerted himself to that exten;
for the benefit of any poor laboring man, sc
far as any one has ever heard of, and we
opine it would be case of extreme neces
sity ii any laboring man should so far re-
press his sense Of personal worth as to ask
his assistance for that purpose. The Gen
eral, as congressman, has strictly con.
fined his attention to securing appoint
ments for postmasters and revenue officers
in this district, in following the lead Of
ADLER men, and in voting as partizan, anG
nothing Else. tits doubtful whether tbs
General personally knows single person
Iemployed on the Island other than thu
Commandant and his officers. The mar
who could serve three years 10 congress
without making the personal acquaint
of the members of the only committee hav
ing in charge public affairs immediatel!
pertaining to his own district, we may safel,
conclude has no personal Acquaintance
with the laboring men at the government
works on the Island, aud is not likely t
exert himself to make their acquaintance
The tact of the Generals Indifference, 0
, his insignifance and ineficiency as mem
Der of congress, has nothing, however, t
do with the material allegation that circu
lars have been sent from republican head
quarters calling upon the employees on th
Island TO contribute money out of thei
wages to constitute campaign fund. Ger
Henderson is without doubt cognizant {
that fact, and while his shiftless easy wa
Of getting along may have prevented hi
being BILE to designate the names Of pei
sons, or to furnish lists. the levyiog OF
political assessment by the repubIica
committee he neither denies nor discountt
nances. The real gist of the matter, til
fact that the republican party is trying |
raise money to elect republicans to offie
D by assessments upon the laborers 10 go,
eminent employ is undeuiabIe and und,
+. MED, and Gen. Henderson letter and tt
Unions twaddle. and it's pretended hypt
critical superiority over democrats 10 il
political usages are in no sense an explains
ton or reply to the charges of blackmailil
employees, or any justification of the prat
tice.