Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-23
THE ARMY OF 1ABoRERs.

ulu not knOW Cnelf own interests better than lawyers and politicians. Here is MT. Clarke going about with arguments to show that the gold standard is just the thing needed by the workingmen, but the workingmen, speaking for them selves, declare that MT. Clarke does not represent them and that his arguments are entitled to no respect. Captain John ston in his Montgomery speech and also in his Birmingham speech called atten- ton to the following declaration made by the representatives of labor, whose sigma lures are attached. It is embodied in a speech made by MT. Hartman in congress and appears upon page 2047, volume 27, third session, Flfty-third congress. The declaration after reciting the history of the demonstration of silver and the efforts to remonetize it, says:
 Now the question is, what do the tens of millions of victims in this country to the dtabolical gold standard policy of Lombard and Wall streets propose doing about it? Submit to subjugation or de- mand in no uncertain tones the imme- diate restoration of silver as standard money? No, they will no longer submit to such injustice! And, therefore, we earnestly recommend the adoption of the following resolution:
 We demand of the present congress the immediate return to the money of the constitution as established by our fathers by restoring the free and unlimi- ted coinage of both gold and silver at the present ratio of Is to l. the coins of both metals to be equally full legal ten der for all debts public and private, as before the fraudulent demonstration of silver in 1873.
 national debt in time of peace, and the use of interest bearing bonds at any time."
 J. R. SOVEREIGN,
 G. M. W. K. of l..
 JOHN W. HAYES,
 Gen. See'y. Treas. K. of l.. By authority and on behalf of the American Federation of Labor I hereby indorse the above.
 SAMUEL GOMPERS, President American Federation of Labor.
 JOHN NJ BRIDE, President United Mine Workers of America.
 In indorsing this resolution do so be- lievng it to be clearly in the direct in-
 F. w. ARNOLD Grand Secretary and Treasurer Brother hood of Locomotive Bremen.
 MARION BUTLER President National Farmers Alliance
 P.J INQUIRE. General Secretary United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America
 HENRY H. TRENOR General President United Brotherhood of Carpenters.and Joiners of America.
 P. M. ARTHUR, Grand Chief Engineer Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
 Every days delay to remonetize silver subjects those in authority to the charge of being in sympathy with the conspira- tors who committed the crime of de- cilyaY n 1272
 c. A. ROBINSON, President Farmers Mutual Benefit Asso- citation.
 FRANK P. SARGENT, Grand Master Brotherhood of Locomotive Bremen.
 It Is interesting to know that the Knights of Labor represented by MT. Sovereign, have membership of 2OO,O 900 men, Mir Gompers represents a body of 65OOOO men. Mr Mcbride represents 20,- 900 men. MT. Sargent represents 32,000 locomotive firemen MT. Butler repres- ents what is left of the old Ocala Farm CTS alliance, constituting still quite q large body of farmers. the active mem bers of which, through the south and west, number perhaps 100000 men. MT. Mcclure represents 60,OO0 carpenters and joiners. MT Arthur represents 32,OO0 To- comotiVe engineers, the most intelligent, orderly and independent of all the asso- ciated orders These various associa- tions, which speak through their leaders, not to mention others, number more than 1000 900 of hard working men, representa- tive laboring men, who have as clear con- ception of public questions as the average voter of the more educated classes. It is this solid phalanX of million voters which Mir. Clarke is charging against, like Don Quixote on his Rosinante. Be- hind this solid phalanx stands another legion of men who labor in the shops, in the mines and in the fields, who are not connected with the orders, but who indorse their plans, their prinslples and purposes. It is the height of folly to say that these men, with such leaders as they possess, do not understand the functions of mon ey. If they are the first, as Mir Clarke so often asserts, who will suffer by free silver coinage, it is singular to see them welcoming their destroyer
 These were the. leaders and these the seTried ranks who demanded of congress the enactment of the eight hour law to be applied to labor upon government works. Mr. Clarke voted against that law and placed himself in antagonism to one of the most cherished demands of labor, a demand struggled for so long and finally won throughout the civilized world. The public man who imagines that he can whip the demands of organized labor. when those demands are reasonable and just counts without his host. The demo- cratic party of the United States can make but little headway without the aid of these millions of stalwart voters, and the democratic party of Alabama will awake to fearful mistake should it se- lect as its standard-bearer a man who has incurred the hostility of such host of voters.