National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-07-21
CRITICISING A CRITIC.
A Biting Letter from . Nottingham Who
Claims that Mr.. Edmonston Misrepresents
the Laboring Observation-Disclosures the Mo-
tive OF His Uttcrances.

TO INC Edn0T.
Mr.. Gabriel Edmonston, of the District of
Columbia, cx.president OF the Carpenters
union, and delegate Of the Brotherhood of Car
pcnters and Joiners of America to the National
Labor congress, held In New York Aug. 81,
1888; also carpenter ofthe democratic house of
representatives, which position he secured last
December by the influence of labor organlll-
lions without regard to politics, tries to bellttle
the action of the Federation of Labor In this
district In passing resolutions condemnatary of
the democratic nominee for president of the
United States
He says to a Star reporter that II was against
the rules of the unions to NEEDLE with politics
at all. II this is So Mr.. Edmonston, why did
you misrepresent the brotherhood OF Carpen-
tiers and Joiners of America In presenting to
the national labor congress- held in New York
Aug. II, 1888, the following resolution
Resolved, That n committee be appointed TO
attend the next national conventions of the
two great political parties aud In the name Of
the organized workmen of the United States
demand tho incorporation In their platform of
principles their position on the enforcement OF
the eight-hour law, the incorporation of ma
tional trade organizations, and the establish.
ment Of national bureau of labor statistics.
Why did you misreprosont the men who sent
you to that labor congress and vote for the fol-
"Resoiucd on he Federation Of Trades and Labor
Unions Of the United States and C1ilddu IN Congress
assembled That the thanks of this assembly are
| due ana are hereby 10 HON.
| w. Voorhees, United States senator from the
state of Indiana, and Omar ID. Conger, United
| States senator from the state OF Michigan, for
| their very eloquent and manly defense upon
| the floor of tho United States senate, Feb u,
1888, of tho rights, privileges, and objects OF
| trades unions.
Resolved, That we recognize In Senators yoor-
hecs and Conger true and tried friends Of the
| cause of labor, and us such we recommend
| them to our Acknowledgment.
Why did you sign u report of the legislative
committee of that labor congress recommend
| ing the following2
which have expressed themselves as friendly
to the federation: Hon. T. Murchl for his Of
| forts In congress- Hon. Mr.. Klotz, OF Pennsyl
vania, for energetic work In behalf of the bill
to incorporate national trade unions Hon. Ly-
| man A. Brant, for his service to our cause IN
the Michigan legislature; Hon. J. b. MEGA
mant, chief the Pennsylvania bureau of in
dustrial statistics, for copies of bills In relation
to convict labor; also many able supporters
in every direction who have aided us In our
| work" y
If you, Mr.. Edmonston, as a delegate to the
Federation of Organized Trades and Labor
unions hud the right TO vote (and did vote) &c
approve the action of certain men active In
| politics. you must concede the same right tC
the Federation OF Labor to disapproye of men
| especially when they are stencil in the nos
trils In the workingmen OF this country
You say In your interview with the Star re
porter that you believed that large malorlt,
| OF tne WOCklngincli Woull Nolc iOr butlcr II
preference to either Cleveland or Blaine
Though would not" you say. No, my den
fellow, don't think you would. You are II
the same boat with large number OF citizen
of the district who would vote If they could
but they can't, so there is no use of your talk
ing about what you would not do when yol
know you hay @ no vote.
| 1t Is plain to see, however, that M demo
cratic cmplOyc of the house OF representatives
you are using your position and influence II
second vice president of the Federation o
Trades and Labor unions In upholding u maj
nominated by the democratic party, who ha
been for years an ayowed enemy TO the labor
ing men of this country. You voted In tn
labor congress ut New York for the following
eight hour resolutions:
Resolved That the Federation of Trades an,
Labor unions recommend to international, M
tional. and local unions the necessity of short
ening the hours of labor to eight hours pc
day; that the Federation of Organized Trade
and Labor unions considers the question q
shortening the hours of labor as paramount
TO all other questions AT present, and demand
. the enforcement OF the eight-hour law ON al
} general and state government work:
Can you support Mr. Cleveland, who vetoe
: II bill lessening the hours of the poor ca
drivers and conductors, of New York no
twelve hours after voting for the above res'
buttons? Can You support Mr.. Cleveland VIII
vetoed the bill to prevent the making of cigar
J In tenement houses, when you know 300
cigar.makers IN New York wanted this bill t
: become law? Tan you support the man VIII
when you know that act was to strike at u
, wOrkingmen? Can you support man VII
vetoed the bill against the employment I
children under II years OF age? II you ca
. swallow this dose of yetoes and wrongs again
1 the laboring classes Cthey, who put you In 20,
present position as carpenter of the house
Representatives., do II, but for Gods sake don
try to intict It on any one else. HONESTLY.