St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-10-02
A LABOR RECORD,
Hon. John w. Willis Says a Word
in Explanation.

To the Editor of the Globe.
Although am private citizen. attending
strictly to my private business, and neither
holding nor seeking any public Office, my
name is sometimes brought before the public.
When the state convention of the Peoples
party was held in this city, one of the promi-
nent citizens of Sibley county, P. A. Cos
grove, kindly presented my name to that
convention for the nomination of that body to
the high office of associate justice of the SUI
prem court of this state. My nomination was
cordially seconded by Mr.. Jenswold, of St
Louis county. have some personal ac
quaintance with Mr.. Cosgrove; but so far as
my recollection serves me. l never had the
pleasure of meeting Mr.. Jenswold am in
formed that my nomination was, upon that
occasion, resisted by certain delegates from
Ramsey county, upon the alleged ground
that had been friend and political sup
porter of Hon. Robert a. Smith in his can
didacy before the people for the office of
mayor of the city of ST. Paul; that. in rem
dering such support, l had countenanced the
official action of Mr.. Smith i'll suppressng
riot at the time of the street car strike, and
that was an enemy of the wage
earning classes. I desire to. correct
veyed by these adverse statements.
So far as my strenuous advocacy of the polit-
icaI interests of the Democratic party and of
Mayor Smith as its candidate. chez fully
plead guilty. In the language of the i'm.
mortal Patrick Henry, "If that be treason,
make the most of IT," All allegations of I'M
friendliness to the laboring classes not only
dispute, but can disprove. No better friend
to the laboring man and to all that modern
system of association known as organized
labor" exists. l have always favored the
Knights of Labor and all other labor
associations AT the time of the street
car strike / openly took the side of the
strikers, and not only exerted all the influence
l could i'll their behalf. but contributed
money TO the aid of their cause. / never was
called upon to express myself with refer
ence to the acts of the mayor in the use of
the police; but l am satisfied that Mayor
Smith aid not go beyond the proper province
of his authority in that regard. Whether
strike was IN progress or not, l should never
cOuntenance riot. the destruction of prop
erty or any other wrongful or unlawful act.
l do not believe that good cause can be sus-
tanned or prompted by unlawful violence.
When the Democratic city convention met
in the spring of the year, 1890, was dele
gate, and was appointed chairman of the
I committee Oh resolutions. AS chairman of
that committee Idrafted the entire platform,
Including the resolution which strongly in
dorsed the eight-hour movement When the
struggle occurred in the city council to re-
duce the daily hours OF labor from ten to
eight, exerted my influence actively in
favor OF the measure, and sent to the DAILY
GLOBE communication strongly urging
nance. and this communication was
puDilshed over my own signature.
We're 1t not so lengthy, l would
reproduce it here and now No matter how
badly certain professed friends of labor
should treat me personally, l should always
remain friend of labor and the cause of
the laboring man, because l believe in its es
sential justice.
When recent conference was held for the
nomination by the Peoples party of local
candidates my name was presented to that
conference as candidate for judge of the
district court. l understand that objections
similar to those presented against me at the
state convention of the Peoples party were
again presented Therefore l determined TO
write this explanation. / remain your fellow
citizen. JOHN W. WILLIS.
ST. Paul. Mimi, Oct l, 1892.