The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-06-11
Is William ConneIl
a Friend OF Labor2


From the Elmira Telegram.
<fC HOULD a workingman vote for william
Connell at Mondays primaries9' un-
~ hesitatngly say "Ycs" An old philoso'
pher many years ago said that he who
makes two blades OF grass grow where only one
grew before, is public benefactor, and a public
benefactor is a man that man should be
ashamed TO vote for The best friend OF labor
is he who finds employment for labor. William
Connell has found work for and is employing
thousands Of men in this community William
Connell, as an individual, is the best friend labor
has in this region. William Connel has done
more for the working people of this town than
any dozen OF other men. Mr.. Connell has done
more for this town than any one man. Mr.. Con
nell has been with us and among us for fully
| half century. lie needs no introduction to u.s.
We know him by his words and his deeds.
Mr.. Connelrs enemies say he IL no friend Of
| the laboring man. None but an enemy would
dare say such thing; none but an enemy would
| give voice to such accusation. The men who
| have worked for william Connell are best fitted
| to say whether not he is a friend OF the
| workingman. The writer has worked for William
| Connell-worked for him in his breaker as a
slate picker; in his mines as driver and loader
| of coal. The writer does not hesitate in saying
| that Mr. Connell was one Of the most liberal
| employees he ever served. Mr.. Connell was Kind
| and generous to the little boys that worked in
| his breaker. He paid them better than the aver
| age wages; they got their pay every month-got
| IL In full. To the boys In his mines Mr.. Connell
| was most considerate. He prevented them from
| going into danger; he guarded their lives and
| limbs. He was with them as an advisor and as
| an educator. There hasn't been an hour in Will
| liam Connelrs life when even the smallest boy
| in his employ couldn't get to him, get an audi
| ence with him and be received as a gentleman
| You dare not say to the men OF today, who as
hnr La1 fnr Ne that hp Wn
fair to them, honest to them, kind to them and
most indulgent employer.
| o
| In times like these, when mems motives are
| impugned, when the lives Of great men are IL
| belled to prejudice the minds OF strangers one
can't lie silent and hear such man as william
| Connell scandalizcd. Under such circumstances
the man who loves honesty and fair dealing can.
not hold his tongue. william Connel is the
faircst mine operator in the anthracite coal re.
gons. Every miner who has worked for him
knows that.
When the choice is between two coal operators
there need be no hesitancy on the part Of the
workingman in deciding the better man. We
have Mr.. Connells record every who reads
knows it. II was Mr. ConnelPs pluck and energy
that gave us ninety per cent OF the industries
we have. II was Mr.. Connell's pluck and brains
that found employment for fully fifty per cent.
| OF the WORKING people OF TINS community. IT II
were not for william Connell, where would Scran.
ton be today7 Not hive OF industry--not pull
sating city OF thrift and enterprise Yet, the
| name Of such a man-the record Of such bene
factor-s assailed by another coal operator And
workingmen appealed to to vote against
Mr.. Connell, the infamous and malicious
charge that he is not a friend OF labor. II vii
liam Connell. with his thousands Of men, keep
ing up the hum Of industry is not the friend o
labor, who is9 have naught to say against Mr.
Connclls rival. But what has he done, upon
what meat doth he feed that he should be dearei
to the working people than William Connell
Has he made two blades of grass grow where
only one grew beforeY Everything that is charged
up to Mr.. Connell by his enemies his rival il
guilty Of. Where, then, is the choice?
| William Connell today yesterday, and for tn,
forty years he has employed labor, is and ha
been the most liberal, most generous mine opera
tor in the coal fields. He is the most consistent
most faithful congressman sent out o
this district. He is a man who has been boun
teous in his charities a man faithful ir tn
discharge Of his duties, honest ard honorable il
his transactions-a man OF the people-a towns
, man OF half a century's acquaintance man VIII
has done more for us than ever repay
who has honored us at home and who has VOL
honor for abroad-a Republican Of Republican
and the most deserving citizen of this grca
| cty-this city, which by the aid of Mr.. Connell
in thirty years, sprung from a hamlet into on
| of the most prosperous towns in the union. Tn
! man who votes against Mr.. Connell at Monday
primaries is not a true Republican, he is not
friend of this city of hustle, nor the peopl
, | thereof.