The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-08-16
Sec'y Dem Go. CeHtrai Com0"Hee.

Sec'y Democratic County Central Commit
tee, Ottawa, H.:
DEAR SiR:--YOur favor under date Of July
Dist, has just been received and | hasten to
reply.
The printed clippings enclosed in your
letter giving "rea~on~ why the laborng men
of Will county cannot support Grover Cleve-
land for President and claiming that they
were issued by the trades unions of West
ern New York, is certainly entitled to con-
sideration.
That these reasons ~ were issued in cir
cular form and profusely distributed at Chi
cago during the sessions Of the late Demo-
cratic National Convention, is true; but that
they were issued by any convention OF the
trades unions of Western New York, is alb
soutely false.
With not intent or desire TO impugn the
motives of the gentlemen whose names ap-
pear as signers Of this circular, ! am, never
theless, constrained to say in the interests of
truth, that not one half Of the number were
present ut the conference" and those who
really did take part in il were in no sense
acting by any official authority, but simply
and entirely, in personal sense; and feel
certain that not one of them will for a mo-
Inent claim otherwise.
If their allegations had been true, there
could have been no surprise felt at their ac-
ton; but when it is considered that several
of the reasons assigned, are not only false,
md withom foundation, then charity suggests
that their action be attributed to ignorance
of the real facts in relation TO Governor
Cleveland's attitude on labor legislation.
Our State Committee has just issued II cir
cuar, a copy of which | enclose, answering
in detail every one Of the ten reasons as
signed by these gentlemen; and | charge,
without fear of successful contradiction, that
not one Of them will take issue with The alb
solute truihfulness Of the entire circular.
Now there are very many reasons why
laboring men should, and in my Judgment
will, support Governor Cleveland for Prcsi-
dent Perhaps, ! need hardly say that, by
virtue ofmy official position, have naturally
watched labor legislation with no little in
;erest and am prepared TO state as an IRE
futable fact, that there has been n greater
number of important and distinctive labor
measures passed and signed during Governor
Cleveand's une1pired term Of Office, than in
the past twenty years preceding his cleo
nous circular will pretend TO deny ii
Neither will they or any man familiar
with the facts deny but that,
lst.-- He signed the bill creating bureau
Of labor statistics so long demanded by the
workingmen.
2nd.-lie signed the tenement house cigar
bill, prohibiting the manufacture of cigars
N tenement houses, and that, too, in the face
Of a most formidable opposition.
3rd.--Iie signed the bill prohibiting the
further manufacture of wooden hats in prison
under the contract system, and like the last
mentioned bill, he did it in the face of all
the powerful influence brought to bear by
the prison contractors ring.
4th.-IIe signed the bill abolishing the
contract system in the state prisons. Right
here, | desire to state that at the election in
November, 1883, the question of abolishing
or maintaining the system was submitted TO
The people--not in the form of an amend
ment, but simply for the purpose of giving
the people an opportunity to express their
sentiments. The friends and opponents Of
the system displayed unusual activity in the
contest and larger vote was cast upon the
issue than was ever polled by the electors
VI tHt stttc Ill COHHtCtlou WIFI any phollC
question submitted to the popular verdict.
The largest aggregate vote ever cast on u
constitutional question was that Of 1876 on
the amendment of article g. section 3 as fol-
lows:
For $50, 30
Against. .,........ DS,O5O
Total. ......... ........... 62s,1Id
The full official convict labor vote AT the
Secretary of States Office is as follows:
For abolition. ..............,.... 4OO, oSZ
Against. acknowledgements. 80. zoo, Ht6
Majority for. .......... 80. 3S,2l6
In other words, the total vote upon the
convict contract labor question was larger
by A. 978 than any cast upon any PROPOSE
ton ever submitted to the people Of the state
Of New York.
An analysis Of the vote shows that the
majority for the abolition of the system was
got entirely in Democratic counties, while
the votes against the abolition, were wholly
cast in the Republican counties Of the state.
No sooner had the fact been aseertained,
than a united republican press Of the state
took the ground that as the vote was simply
IN expression and in no sense mandatory,
therefore, the republican legislature was not
ia ,,'sox IN take any action on the ques-