Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-10-31
why the workingman Should Support sey
mour for Governor.
1Written for the DEMocfSAT1


mour for Governor.
Written for the DEMocRAT.]
| A comparison Of the Democratic and Re-
publican policies reveals many reasons why
the workingman should vote for James M.
Seymour for Governor in the present con-
test for that high Office, the incumbent Of
which has so much to do with the character
Of the statutes affecting the commonwealth.
In honoring Mayor Seymour with the
nomination for Governor of New Jersey,
the Democrats have chosen standard
bearer from the ranks of the producing
class, the potential element of the people,
in time of peace or war, who conduce to
make nation respected in the former and
| uncomfortable in the latter Like his late
competitor for the said nomination, the
Hon. Thomas M. Ferrell, his whole life,
since manhood, has been in close utilization
and sympathy with labor and is familiar
with their grievances and abuse Of corporate
dictation. AS he outlined in his remarks
at the Woodbury. Democratic meeting, he
grew up with the laboring element, worked
side by side with them at the bench, until,
by persistent effort, he himself became an
employer.
For the last thirty years he has been an
employer of union labor and his record
toward his employees is an open book. His
patriotism during the Civil War prompted
him to raise company to go to the front,
but as he was one of the very few men
fitted by education and skill to take charge
of an ordnance plant, he was influenced to
abandon his military zeal and superintend
the making of guns, because his services
could be more profitably employed in that
re
Unlike the modern political aspirant for
office, his interest in labor dates back to
the inception of his business career and is
not born of the present Gubernatorial can
didacy, for votes. In truth, he has always
given the laboring element the "glad hand, "
and, since he has been elected to the high
official position of Mayor of Newark, their
welfare has received as much consideration
at his hands, as manifested in the various
reforms inaugurated by him for their special
benefit, as the wealthy class of his constit
uency.
These statements are not the maehina-
tions of party ZEAL but tangible facts that
can be substantiated by reference to his
official career during the three terms he has
been Mayor of the Republican city of
Newark and can not be refuted by his
whole life, political and otherwise, has been
woven with the threads of human sympathy
and kindly consideration for those under
him. and in many cases at much risk of
personal disadvantage. If lifelong fell
lowship with labor has begotten no be-
trayals, then the record established is
entitled to the confidence Of the voters
pledged to the cause of labor, and the
workingmen of the State of New Jersey,
organized or unorganized, cannot afford to
turn a deaf ear to the history of such
votary and advocate of their rights. With
such prosecutor of their cause if elected
Governor of the State, the conclusion is
consistent and logical that he would con-
tinue to use the influence of his Office and
the veto power Of his Executive authority
in their behalf, and, if met on the legislative
highway by the lobbyists, the contour of
his Grover Cleveland-like face suggests that
you would find in him no vertebrateless
and weakened champion in the advocacy
of labor's rights.
If the labor movement is well defined
and logical in its counsels this year it will
support James M. Seymour for Governor
and in doing so open the door of the yesti-
bule to more beneficial legislation. Defeat
him through your passivity or direct refusal
to support him, because Of partisan preju
dice, and you will doubtless have taken
lone step upon the road to penitence, - as
the history of the Republican party, in
their attitude toward labor legislation, is
an unenviable abortion of any statutes
designed to benefit labor. Government
by Injunction" as recently applied to the
Paterson strikers, is travesty that portrays
+I,1 ae
and betrays the confidence reposed in them
year after year for the betterment of their
social condition. To vote the Republican
ticket, when such representative of their
class is in the field for the Executive chair,
is antagonistic to their tenets and resolves
their organization into such questionable
political ally as to bring disrepute upon
the aims and purposes of their charter, and
in the face Of such ungrateful recognition
for services rendered in the past, the blind
allegiance Of these deluded followers of
Republican chicanery and "fim-fam''
oratory is indeed paradoxical.
Labor has been sacrificing its only weapon
the ballot, in vain attempt to secure its
rights, and it is commendable sagacity, on
their part, to support the candidate whose
record, both as an Executive and employer,
has been reciprocal and responsive to their
just demands.
The election of Mayor Seymour will be
far-reaching in its economical results and
business-like management of State affairs.
What he has done for Newark in the way
of good government, he will do for the
State, if elected as its Executive After
years of blind devotion to the G. o. P.
will you let reason carry the torch in one
campaign, at least, and follow the Demo-
cratic banner to victory and the enjoyment
of equal rights, or will you continue to
vote the Republican ticket and drink the
cup of disappointment to the dregs?
ARGUMENTUM AID HoMINEM.
Sewell, N. j., Oct. 20, 1901.