Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1894-11-02
HASTINGS AND LABOR.
What TT. v. POwGerly Has 10 Say
to the Working People OF
Pennsylvania.

4
has addressed the following letter to
the organized workingmen Of the
State -
"Where right and wrong contest
for the supremacy in the affairs OF
Slate it becomes the duty OF the
citizen to serch for the truth in order
that it may become so well known
that error will fall before it. In
their personalities, apart from every
other consideration, do the candida
tes of the Democratic and Republi-
can parties for Govener of Pennsyl-
vania represent right and wrong.
The workingman is appealed to for
support by elements representing
both candidates, and from the labyr-
NTH of SANDER and campaign mis-
representation it is scarcely possible
to discern what the character of the
two men stand for. We cannot by
looking to the future alone from an
estimate of what the official life Of
either of them may be. We can,
however, from an idea of how public
affairs will be administered if we
study carefully the past records OF
those who aspire to Office. BY com,
parison, too, we can more accurately
Judge as to the fitness of the men and
the probable superiority Of one OF
them.
In comparing the record Of Gen.
uast,unc wifi, that pf Willia m
M. Singelly one need not hesitate
long as to how he should vote, and
in addressing myself to the working
men of Pennsy lvania on the subject
l do not presume to advise or Judge
rs between the candidates. 1t shall
be my aim to relate facts, state con-
clusions arrived at after revie wing
these facts and then leave the matter
in the hands of those whose will
must decide whether right or wrong
shall triumph. 1t has been the aim
of some to obscure the real issue in
this campaign behind cloud of
falsehood concerning General Hast
ings. His record as an employer OF
labor and friend to labor has been
attacked and misrepresented. lie
has never posed as champion of
labor, and his record as al employer
is consistent and honorable. In July
1882, when mem bers of the Knights
OF Labor were arrested for conspiracy
in ClearGeld, it became my duty to
open up correspondence with Gen
Hastings, then practicing law at
Bellefonte, with view to securing
his aid in defending the men. In
my letter to him I suggested that
the prospect for very large fee
should not tempt him to take the
case. and from his answer [ quote
the following:
mot the fee, but the Justice of the
cause is what | shall be Influenced
by. These men are poor; they may
have acted unwisely, but men more
experinced than they have erred !,
and it shall be my effort to remove
the cloud that hangs over them.
Advise your men to be candid with
me; leave nothing unsaid, so that |
may know my ground"
He defended the men, ard up to
the present time have never receiv-
ed u bill for his services. l have
never heard of his presenting a bill
to any Of the men. His example
shone out resplendently in 1887.
when he went into the coal business
extensively. lie abolished the COM
cfo nf hn nI l.,
purchased, removed the black list on
which the names of several union
men had been inscribed, recognized
the union as an organization worthy
OF respect, and continued to treat
with it as the equal of the corpora.
ton of which he was part. When
strikes or controversies took place
in the coal regions committees rep-
resenting the mining fraternity call.
ed upon me frequently at Philadel-
phia to seek assistance in settling
the pending difficulties. The need
OF an arbitrator. or more accurately
speaking, a conciliator, presented
itself on each occasion, and through
the influence of General Hastings,
acting as peacemaker, several very
ugly affairs were settled with honor
and satisfaction to the men. On Que
occasion, when the employers were
contending against the reorganization
of the miners organization, General
Hastings said:
81 have the greatest respect for
this organization, and would far
rather treat with its officers than be
in constant worry over each individ.
ual case. The men have an undoubt-
ed right to be heard through their
elected officers. Think of how diff
cult, how Impossible it would be for
every workman to come down here
from Westmoreland to present his
grievance as an individual. Itwould
never do, and I do hope that this