The times., 1898-01-09

Union. Mr.. Milford Spohn, Who had
been president of the union. since it was
formed over two years ago, declined a
reelection. The position is the highest
in labor circles in the District to which
q trades unionist can attain. so il was
not surprising that there were several
aspirants for the honor
After a triangular fight the regular
nominee was defeated and Mr.. Nor
man c. Sprasue, member of the
Printing PreSsmens Union, was chos-
en- to succeed NJ. Spohn. Messrs. J.
]. Crowley and J. d. Mckay were re-
elected secretary and treasurer re-
Spectively. The loss of Mr.. Spohn as a
guiding spirit of the Central Labor
Union will be strongly felt by the
trades unionists of Washington. Above
all others he was the recognized leader
whose counsel was always followed by
the rank and file of the order That
the new president was, however, equal
TO the occasion under all circumstances
can hardly be doubted and in his cleo
tion the trades unionists, after Sc
rious consideration of their action.
deem themselves fortunate. That Mr.
Sprague has already gained a firm hold
on the confidence of the members of
organized labor of the District is evi-
denced by the fact that though COM
paratively a stranger to them. having
been a resident of Washington for only
four years, he defeated several of the
old leaders who were candidates for
the office One subject in which Mr..
Spohn always took deep interest and
which he lost no opportunity to keep
prominently before the public of
Washington, was that of suffrage for
the residents of the District. Even in
his farewell address to the Central La
Dor Union he dwelt at length on this
question; and in retiring from office be
queathed ii to his successor. There is
hardly any doubt that Mr. Sprague will
do his all 10 continue the agitation for
the suffrage question in the District.
In connection with this subject the fol-
lowing letter from the central commit
tee of the citizens association to the
different citizens associations of the
District, will be of interest to the
members of organized labor, as it
shows how they are regarded by the
leading local suffragists.
To the Washington Citizens Associa-
ton.
Gentlemen: The central committee OF
the Citizens Suffrage Associations A Cen
tral Labor Union, Federation of Labor and
knights of Labor of the District OF Column
bia being now strong in numbers, for suf
frage, ,and stronger than ever In their de-
termination to secure for the citizens of this
District rights only fair and equal, or rights
at least approaching equality with those en-
joyed by the inhabitants of every State in
this great Union of States, rights that
Were determined upon in the Declaration
of independence OF over century ago and
guaranteed by the spirit of every paragraph
Of the Federal Constitution-the inalien
able right of self-goyernment and OF un-
abridged deitiZenshill-being aware of your
influence for the good OF this community
solicit your sympathy and aid. in efforts
to obtain the restoration of suffrage for
the citizens of the District of Columbia.
A government of, for and by the people is
the only form of government that merits or
meets the appreciation of American man
hood. To deny the right of self-goyern-
ment 10 the 800 900 inhabitants of the Dis
tirct of Columbia is to deny themthe rights
of merican citizenship, and has no color
of right and s fraught with evil.