The Portland daily press., 1900-05-05
TRIALS OF CONGRESSMAN.
HuIIabuiloo Made Over Cigar Named
After Mr.. BittleneId.
IsrEcrAt TO THE rRNssa

AREC1AL 10 THE Rhtsa~l
Lewiston, May -Correspondence OF
interest to a great many people IL now
In progress between Congressman Charles
4. Lsttlensld Of this congressional dis.
triet ana the Cigar Makers local union,
No. SO OF Lewiston.
Several days ago the local union sen
Congressman Lit'lsHeld letter calling
bis attention to brand OF cigars bear
ing bis fLittlefeId's) photograph and
name, manufactured by the Atlantic
Cigar 90. or Towne, Fuller s. Co, of West.
Held, Mass. The union asked Congress
man Littlefisld at once TO onuss this to
become union shop "or stop them from
using your name and photograph as
public man Of Maine to ssll their goods
to the detriment Of your own copsiitu-
enta."
10 this Congressman Littleiield made
the following reply:
HouFs Of Representatives,
Washington, April u.
Yours OF the 18Th at hand, and EN-
forwarding 1t to Msssrs. Cobb, Wright &
Co, to whom you refer. 1 have no inter-
est whatever In the cigar. It's sales or
proceeds When authorized them 10
uss the photograph inasmuch AZ never
noke, i do not rensmber to have ever
had my attention called TO "union
made cigar" as distinguished from any
other kind. had no knowledge what
ever as to their purpose in respect to Its
manufacture. Nothing OF the kind oe-
curred to me at tins time and nothing
was. Of COURSE, said about II. The au-
tbority given to them was general. Un-
der these circumstances 1t is very dou bt-
rul II have any control over the use Of
the photographs ana you win see tina t
L had no occasion or intent lon to take
part In any controversy that seems to
exist In the Cigar trade.
Very respectfully,
Charles II. Littletlelu.
This latter was not satisfactory to the
union and another letter has been sent
to Congressman Littlshsld. Among
other things the letter of the Union says
to Congressman Littlefle ED that, admit
ting that he is not interested in the
Cigar financially, I've at least expect you
to be more interested In assisting the
elevation OF humanity. and not tolera-
ting your name ana photograph to ad-
vance the commercial interests Of Cobb,
Wright & Co.. and Towne, Fuller 81
Co.. who are represented BY about ten
persous. Oar interests are 90 peiso In
the State OF Maine and $1,000 In the
Cigar Makers union. One OF your in
telligence taking the stand OF NO interest,
is only crushing liberty and uphoiding
tyranny ami sacrificing the wages Of the
many for the financial interests of the
few" The letter then goes on tolsay
ignorance has given q non. union shop a
privilege which he cannot recall he must
suffer and concludes as follows: 1--WE
ere not responsible when he take our
GAUGE to organized labor in the State CT
Maine. We desire facts OF ell partls 9
concerned ana it Is justice to you which
pr mpt. to write this letter. Remember
this Ne cannot and Will not silently
tolerate the presence of this cigar with
out stating the true reasors TO the pub
lilo, ana soli,iting its support. also In
correspondence to other unions and in
private and publlu meetings. We sup
port the man who stands by the masses
snd not by the olesses. Unless this cigar
Ia at once made by union men We shall
boycott It. We ere not responsible for
the injury 1t may or may not have to
your future political expectations.
We suggest that you request Cobb,
Wright & Cote have that brand of cigars
made in . union shop in the Stxts of
Maine and thereby help the State of
Maine to procure more we'll paid me-
ohanics who make better citizens. We
Will say that the conditions are more
deplorabls In the factory of Towne,
Fuller s. Co., than we first thought. NE
have just resolved letter from our
secretary OF Union 81 of Verified, say
Ing that the wages Of that firm are the
lowest in tho country, ranging from
$1.t0 to IS 20 per III. As representative
of the people 1t should be your duty TO
be interested In this affair. Hoping you
will givs this your immediate attention,
We remain, ETC..
Signed ty members of oommittse.