The Labor enquirer., 1883-05-19
OUR ONLY HOPE.

parties but broken promises, uecepClon
and every form of injustice and mean
ness, Through coalition of the work
ingmen of New York, Missouri and Call
fornia with one of the old parties GER
tain men were elected to the state offices
of those states and the passage OF law
secured creating a bureau of labor sta
tistics in each. These laws positively
declare that the chief of the bureau thus
created shall be identified with the in
terests of labor" To show how little
the Interests of labor" are considered
by the politicians who are such great
friends of the cause during the cam
paign and Oh election day, and how
coolly promises are broken and obliga-
tions trampled under foot, we have but
to notice the action of the governors of
the three states mentioned above in the
appointment of chiefs of the bureaus.
In the face of long and weighty petitions
presented to the Governor Cleveland,
asking that he appoint man who stands
without rival in the state of New York
as far as information On the labor ques-
ton goes, and whose reputation for In
tegritv is without blot, that functionary
APPOINTED a man with nothing in his
record but well-earned reputation as
a blackleg, blasphemer and libertine. 1t
is true he was one Of the democratic
strikers in the last campaign and is
identified with labor" through running
a rat newspaper in Hornellsville. AS
between Henry George and Charles F..
Peck the contrast is as great as between
heaven and hell
Crittenden, of Missouri, appointed a
drunken gambler named Newman,
whose proper place, according to the
verdict of the decent people Of the state,
is in the penitentiary. His recommen-
dation was that he worked" for Critten-
den's election. The workingmen of
Missouri were supported by the busi-
ness men and the entire respectable ele-
ment in recommending for the appoint
ment a gentleman Of unblemlshed
character, who is in everV way qualified
to fill the place. But honesty, integrity,
ability and the peoples wishes had to
stand aside to make room for an unprin-
cipled bum, who had worked for the
ticket" So disgusted are the working
men of Missouri, and so well satisfied
that the bureau, as it stands, will be used
to their detriment, that they are asking
that it be abolished.
The governor of California has made
his appointment in the same manner as
his eastern brothers, giving the office as
a reward for party fealty, totally lgnor-
ing the stipulations of the act, and
further insulting and degrading people
who are already crying out that their
burdens are more than they can bear.
Is it necessary to add anything beyond
the statement of the foregoing facts to
show the workingmen that they need
expect nothing at the hands of the old
parties, whose leaders have no intention
of ever doing us justice, and whose con-
duct with us pales into insignihcance the
treachery of Judas Is it not time we
should arise, throw of the scales that
have so long dimmed our vision, and
consign to the oblivion they have shown
themselves so fitted to grace the party
thieves and tricksters who have lied to
and deceived us from the beginning of
their leadership?
An opportunity to strike for liberty is
offered now; let us improve it. Let us
replevin our government in a service of
an equal-rights platform, and establish
our case before the bar of justice by the
unimpeachable evidence of the ballot.