The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-27
4 CARD FROM HR. FIELD.
The Labor Psrty's Ex-Candldate Answer
His Oetrnctora

integrity. The card in question ID signed
by one Leyshon, and in it he claims 70 give
review Of the independent labor move
mont. and, had the truth been adhered to,
/ would have no objection to the same.
For the present do not care to
answer the Leyshon letter in detail.
but do desire to state that have
neither in this instance nor at any other
time in my life betrayed any confidence
that was reposed in me. The primary OBJ
ject OF the convention was to consider the
advancement OF tho cause Of labor, and the
question Of politics was to be contingent
upon the results Of our deliberations, and it
was 90 stated in the cali.
was the representative Of the Brother
hood OF Locomotive Firemen, which is
non. political organization, and whom it was
finally decided In the convention that
party should be organized and put candi-
dates in the field, / frankly stated that any
action took in the proceedings from that
time would be my individual act. and not in
brotherhood. In the card my critic says:
: Let as 60 back to the time Of our fore
father when they were battling for
liberty" This sounds pretty and patriotic
but for the purposes Of the pending case
We need only 60 baek 70 the date Of the
labor convention and the events that have
followed it. Every man who was present
knows that when was Nominated stated
to the convention that was poor man
and that all could contribute would be my
time. It was then and there promised that
ample funds would be raised from the men
who Joined our cause. When on two differ
emit occasions in Helena consulted with
the committee on the subject Of finances 1
was insulted by being told that must have
some Interior object in view in being %
anxious upon the subject: Ny answer Was,
Yes. the success Of the independent move
ment, !" and that II ! did not have the neces-
sary funds could not make canvass and
would DO compelled to abandon the race.
made speech at South Butte early in Octo-
Der, and after its conclusion the sum Of GLIB
was collected, which was the first that had
been contributed for the campaign.
card any further. / will simply say, in an an
swer TO the oalumnies aimed against me
that believe they are the utterances Of
men paid by the republican bosses to as
sassinate my character, and know that
they are to-day being retailed through the
streets Of Butte by the buns and bootjacks
money once year, and that 10 when the
republican campaign committee 10 in funds.
wish to state distinctly that the story
that was influenced in my withdrawal by
the democratic committee, or by any mem-
Per Per thereof. is an infamous falsehood, and
OF accepted bride of democratic money,
if can trace it to source, will make the
author swallow it or will never mount an
engine again. On the contrary, the only
suggestion in regard to money or bribery
That ina received came from Jack Burns, the
South Butte, and it was to the effect that il
would wait until the arrival of MI. Carter
arrangements could be made to get money
from the republican funds. This PROPOSE
ton ! indignantly declined, and stated pos
nomination was the advancement 81 the ia
Dor party, and that / did not propose to do
any act or place myself in any position
whereby either of the other parties would
be benefited or harmed at the expense Of
the other.
This occurred on Monday. Oct. IA. and
upon my refusal was abused and called
coward BY some Of those present and told
that should accept the money, NO matter
from what source it came, and not ask any
questions about it. Again, upon Dot. II, I
was met ~ Burns upon the street and
Of bills II would accept it and say moth
ing about il, and promptly answered
"No." I desire to ask who OF the mon vho
are SO tiercely assailing me under the guise
OF workingmen ever contributed financially
to the independent labor movement, or
desire to deny with ali the vehemenoe 1
possess, and upon my honor that ever had
any idea or intention, even had I the power,
OF delivering the labor vote to the demo.
Gratis. On the contrary, present events in
dictate that the men who are now abusing
me arc engaged in the attempt to uso nv
declination as handle to turn over the Ia
Dor vote to the republicans, purpose which
do not doubt they had in view from the
hrst: That they can do 20 ! deny. but none
the less do they assume this power and
boast OF Il. Election day will tell the tale
vote AZ they choose
The democratic party is under no oblioa-
tons to me, nor am to them, for my With
drawal. II was simply the lack OF funds
from my own party with which to conduct
the campaign. deny that I ever stated at
any time or in any manner that $3.50 was all
that desired to mako the campaign. This
statement was in regard to the expenses of
two speakers. When the state central COM
mittee met In this city October II was not
present at its deliberations. but when they
had reached aconclusion was called before
them and proposition made that they
four No ailments OF $3.50 each, the last to
be pa d to-day, October Is. As 10 had been
in the campaign sixty-fve days and only
$110 had been contributed, did not think
it possible to raise ths 81. GOO from leoiti-
mate sources, and believing that the money
was the same spoken Of by Burns declined
to accept the proposition and consented that
my name be withdrawn. Each member 81
the committee agreed to sign the letter of
withdrawal, provided q full statement of
the facts DO made and published.
WV. T. Field.
REPURIICAN r.Ou pYYprrn~,rsro