The Labor enquirer., 1883-09-15
Organize at the Polls.

E. Dyke.
Organize at the Polls.
Editor Labor Enquirer
DENVER, CoLo., Sept. -, lS83.-Havlng
read your articles referring to the COM
ing election, in which you show the
workingmen of Denver and elsewhere
throughout the county the necessity of
taking an active part IN the coming cam
paign, l most heartily indorse your
opinions and if the workmen of this
county fail to support and cherish the
principles which they tried to inCulcate
last spring, they will unmanfully neglect
their duties as American citizens and in
telligent workmen, besides unintentiOn-
ally forfeiting a part of the franchise
granted them by this country; 1t is a
fact beyond contradiction, it has been
proven by past experience, that our
emancipation as wage workers shall be
fastened and come only through our po
ltical action If we want the assistance
of county or state officials, which at all
times is very important, it is necessary
to concentrate our strength, use all law
full and honorable means, by agitation or
otherwise, to induce all wOrkmen to join
us. Let us elect men from our ranks to
fill these Offices; men Of honesty, men
who have proven by their past actions
that they are possessed of the necessary
qualifications, virtue and integrity to fill
the offices with respect to themselves
and honor to those who elected them.
Many are under the impression that it is
immaterial to the workman who fill the
offices. l would say in contradiction to
that idea, that it is of the greatest impor-
tance to have every office, from consta-
Bile to governor, filled by men who are
friendly to labor, recognizing her wants
and comprehending the. advisability of
treating her representatives with due
respect If the head officers of our state
had been friendly to labor, or had
proper comprehension of the word JUS
tice, the great Leadville strike would not
have been farce nor a violent outbreak,
as some think it was; desperate mennot
hesitating to commit any act they chose,
perpetratlng the most hideous crimes,
and blaming it on the miners. State,
county and city officials were we'll aware
of the fact, but were contented to let the
unwarranted blame rest on the heads of
innocent individuals.
Is not the labor element of Denver
liable at any day to have conflict Of
similar nature with some of the monOp-
olies which are in power here? You
are Then it is your duty to prepare for
such; organize your clubs, elect your
delegates to general convention, and
there in session nominate men who will
not trample on your rights. You will be
richly rewarded, for l can assure you
there will be many bills presented to
our next legislature having a temporary,
if not permanent effect, for the better
protection of the laborer.
Among them will be the eight hour
bill, that being the leading demand to-
dav of wOrkmen throughout the coun-
try. They think eight hours sufficient
for days labor. Yes, and looking back
over past events | cannot resist the con-
clusion, that if we stood by the declara-
tions which We have often made, not
needing those seeking notoriety, and by
doing so planting the seed of dlssersion
our midst, our demands would not at
present be indifferently thrown aside.
Instead, our petitions or requests would
be considerably dealt with, given that
hearing and just consideration which
the party deserved that presented such.
We would have the eight hour law, but
not in its present form--a dead letter
The cs.h- rial penalties would be at
tached, leaving no chance for infringe
ment:. We should never auenate our
faithfulness from our leaders until We
haye substantial reasons, properly re-
zceived after close investigation, that they
have Intentionally ignored our interest,
thereby forfeiting all rights to our
support.
would say to the readers of THE
ENQUIRER, if there are any of your fell
.loy.workmen too poor to buy this pa
per, present him yours when you have
read it, The act will be a charitable
one, and assist in bringing one mores
student to the class of labor students.A
Should there besa man in your midst
whom Won know to be obstinate, or
man in whom you know the animal pro-
pensities to predominant, as is the case