The Indianapolis journal., 1886-04-12
PowDERLY ANB POLITICS.
The Talk About the Master Workman TO
Governor of Pennsylvania.


Governor of Pennsylvania.
Scranton fPa.) Special.
The talk of Powderly for Governor is being
discussed quite freely in Scranton political
circles. Mr.. Powderlys sudden rush into prom
inence has aroused the jealousy of many local
politicians. They are endeavoring to belittle
Mr.. Powderly and everything that he has ac-
complished: Last Sunday little Sunday paper
called the Free Press printed an outrageous
story to the effect that Powderly was simply
shamming sick to avoid the responsibility of
settling the strikes in the West The paper is
owned by Mayor Beamish, who once served
term in the penitentiary for helping himself
to the school funds of the county. The first in
quiry would have demonstrated the falsity Of
the story about Powderlys condition. It's publ-
cation is in keeping with the policy pursued by q
number of politicians ever since Mr.. Powderly
has come into prominence.
1t is not thought that Mr.. Powderly has given
the subject of the governorshp of this State
moments attention. Such Democrats as ex-
Congressman Connolly, however, believe that
Mr.. Powderly would make very strong can
didate, and there is unquestionably strong un-
dercurrent Of sentiment in his favor.
But it is doubtful whether he would accept
the nomination in any event. Mr.. Powdery is
not fond of politics. His sentiments on the sub
ject were very clearly and forcibly expressed in
a letter written on the 4th of last January. He
was urged to become candidate again for
mayor. After declaring that he was not can
longer represent the people. 1t is true that a
few earnest men gather around the polls at the
primaries, but the great majority stay at home
or else await the coming of q nelghbor who has
been at the polls all evening, and ask of him
WELL how did it 60 tonight Who got the dele
gatesp
II am told that the people want me for mayor,
yet am asked to come out and force the people
to nominate me. If the people want certain
man for mayor they have right to ask him to
hv viz hIry1 nnv IN
wants the nomination for an Office he has the
right to enter the list to compete for the prize.
'srhe man who aspires to Office now must stoop
to great many things that strictly religious
people do not dream Of He must start out after
dark, of course. go to the Thirty first ward and
set up the beer in Tom, Dick and Harry's saloons
He must sign every petition subscription that
may be handed him. He must button-hole and
be button holed; he must resort to doubse-deal-
ing, lying, conniving, gin-swillng and backbiting
of every variety.
'.The professional politician will hold up his
hands in holy horror and say 'Powderly is
slandering he people But say no. am not
talking of .hs people, but to the people who sit
at home and permit three four men in each
ward to represent or misrepresent them / will
be told that in speaking so plainly am digging
my political grave. Well, if speaking the truth
will dig my political grave / am satisfied not
only to dig the grave but to shovel the earth in
after the corpse is decently laid away. In fact,
/ have been told that unless submit to the die
tation of certain men / can have no nomination
will take no nomination that involves sac
rifce OF my manhood.
1.-THE people-pot the politicians, but the peo-
ple-on three separate occasions gave me as
many nominations and each time elected me to
the Office of mayor These nominations came
fresh from the people; they were offered to me
by men with honest hearts and clean hands, and
their acceptance involved no sacrifice of prin-
ciple or manhood, and If ever nomination
comes to me again it must come in the same
way / am not an ofice-seeker, and can win my
way and earn my living outside of politics.
II do not think that man who asplres to a
position of honor and trust should be obliged to
wade knee-deep in political mud in order to get
anomination. On the other hand, the candidate
who procures nomination by bribery or other
corrupt means should be buried fathoms deep in
the mire which his methods assist in creating
eff, while working at my trade in the ma
| chine shop, man applied for situation and
offered to pay the foreman or superintendent q
certain amount for the privilege OF working he
would be despised by every man in the shop.
| and the employer who asked for or received a
| reward for giving out q situation would be re-
garded as man of no principle. He, too, would
| be desplsed.
"The people of the city of Scranton occupy
the position of employer in this instance, and
| they should select good, competent man as en-
ploye for the next four years. Iy making the
selection, no part OF the people should accept a
bribe, nor should the employe be asked for it; ii
/ he performs his duty it is reward enough for the
| people to demand"
Mr. Powderly concluded his letter with re-
| quest that the people turn out at the primaries
/ as they would on election day, and also takes oc-
casion to add that he is not candidate for con.
/ gresslonal honors
/ Many believe, however, that he would accept
the gubernatorial nomination if it came to him
| in the proper way. and that he would sweep the
| State.
THE warmer Weather often has a adenresaino and