Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-01
THEIR POLICY UNDEMOCRATIC.
Trades Unions should Not Undertake
TO Name the Entire Ticket.
RICHMOND. VA, August 81. 1895.

To the Editor OF the Dispatch:
40 n citizen of Richmond who takes
deem interest in all that concerns tne WEI
fare OF the community. l am much CON
..,rad AZ the action Of the representatives,
., the labor unions in deciding % enter
a solid labor ticket In the Democratic
urinary. THIS smacks or class leBis1d-
ton. which properly should De aDHo'ien'
10 all good citizens
The policy Of the Democratic party mas
always been 70 form their legislative
Tickets. as FAR as practicable, so as TO
rapresent all classes. and an evidence or
mis- is the fact that II frequently Is the
coso that there are candidates on the
s,rpa ticket who differ widely on certain
ouos,ious though they agree on the
fundamental doctrines Of Democracy.
II IN. moneyed class should unite on
i've candidates 70 represent their views
ana interests, and unite in an EFFORT 10
make these special representatives the
candidates Of the Democratic party, am
very sure that the trades unions would
not long refrain from denouncing It as
undemocratic. Yet this IS what the
trades unions are about 10 do.
should the Organized workingncn put
their ticket IN the field, as proposed. and
succeed in having them selected AZ the
Democratic candidates, these gentlemen
would be the representatives, not or the
Democratic people as a whole. but OF the
trades unions, and could not be described
as popular representatives, In the truest
sense Of the term. The course proposed
IL subversive Of the true economy Of our
party, for public representatives. should
represent and be responsible 10 the whole
people, and not alone to some particular
class. I am Of the opinion that should
"a. unions n.rcfef In TING anfiK0-
MIXING all OF their Democratic brethren,
they may be hoist by their own petard. for
those who DO not favor any attempt al
special representation will surely scratch
each OF the five men on the labor slate.
There would thus result contest between
those who are uniOnists and those VINO
are not. and unwelcome and needless DIT
terness might be injected into n contest
that should be an honorable and friendly
rivalry.
Some OF those who participated In the
Wednesday night caucus at Elletts Hall
7 know 10 be good and true citizens and
answering Democrats. When say this
am thinking OF James b. Doherty
president Of the Trades Council; Walter
T. Booth. representing the Typographical
linton. and Bernard A. Cleary, OF the
Noulders' Union. who are personal frier.s
Of mine. I can but think that these gen
t.emen. and other equally good Democrats
who participated In the caucus. have
either been ill-counselled or ontvoted by
delegates who are NOT so firmly fixed I'm
their political faith, and who have been
as often out OF the Democratic party as
in II.
urge all OF these earnest but mistaken
advocates Of what seems O. me 10 be dc
tation to their felow-Democrats not 70
bring further dissersiOn within our marty
camp, already divided against Itself on
the question Of r currency standard. but
10 aid In the selection Of five unpleiged
and uninstructed candidates who shall
represent not ono section OF the party
but the whole people. and who will 20 70
tives OF united and harmonious Democ-
racy
write this. not az n member Of the
city Democratic Committee, with which
I have the honor to be Identified but az
a smple citizen. who has at heart above
all things. the success Of the Democratic
party-the party which guarantees 10 this
community peace prosperity. and the en-
| joym~-. - The fullest personal liberty.
Pardon the apparent lrnrioiesty OF a
| full signature: but have always thought
| that no wNo oh.rudes MS opinions uron
| the public should be frank enough to dis
close his identity.
Respectfully.
JEFFERSON WALLACE.