The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-24
MR.. MULLEN MAKES
A WARM REPLY
He Answers the "Joint Letter" of
the Convention Candidates.
WILL ISSUE AN ADDRESS.
fatcrcs. in What lie Will Advise the
Working People 10 Do-Fuil
Text OF the
Letter.
WILL ISSUE AN ADDRESS.

Mr. w II. Mullen, secretary of the Cen
tral Trades and Labor Council. yesterday
mailed 10 the convention candidates ms
rc,,ly To their Joint letter on the questions
sent them 10y the Council some days ago.
The letter which is printed below. fairiJ
briStics with sarcasm. and Is coucheu IN
the most biting and Ingenious language.
The document was mailed to MIR. John
Garland Pollard but was addressed To
the eleven candidates who signed the joint
letter The candidates did not care TO
discuss the document for publication,
though they all read its contents with
much interest. II did not come 10 them
in The nature of d surprise, however, for
It had all along been understood that
their answer WAS not at all satisfactory
10 the labor leaders. The Labor Council
Mill hold ii regular meeting on Tuesday
night when it is probable that the sub
iect OF convention candidates Will be fur
1hcr discussed. Mr.. Mullen is row pre-
pairing an address to the laborinG people
on the subject of the Joint letter. and
he Will probably issue it in few days.
THE LETTER IN FULL.
Following is the full text of The Letter:
Messrs. c. Y. Meredith. George L. Chris
tian. George ID. Misc. S. S. p rattcson,
Nirgfnius Newton. r. Carter Scott,
James w Gordon. John \. Curtis, y.
s Bufora John Garland Pollard, and
y. S. lanicr-
tientlemen-I am directed by the Cen
Iral Trade and Labor Council 10 az
knowledge the receipt OF your com;nuni-
cation in reply 10 The questions sent out
ny that organization, and to assure YOU
that the same was given due considera-
ton at our session on the evening OF the
18th nit.
il is a matter of regret that you gen
- ShpIll5 hE-n Ir1iSHl1 Sfrlp3 he
meaning of so alainly a worded paper
rs the en'> sent You b. cur council and
10 conclude that We are seeking 10
',hampa- you h. irrevocable pledges
There.was not a line in our paper asking
for a pledge. nor one suggesting such
thing. and Your observations on this
point are solely the work of your own
imagination. II you will carefully examine
our list of questions YOU Will see that You
arc neither asked TO propose, support or
advocate any matter aboat which cur
7,aper inquired. do you believe Would
You favor" Are yoa IN favor Of,
What kind of provision would youfavon'
Mould You approve Of What position
would you take State briefly yoCr
views" are the :nterroSatonal rasis Of
each paragraph. a:id / respectfully sub
mil :l.a, there is nothing in the language
II warrant the ASSERTION that wr w"-c
seeking 10 ''Difd you by lrrcva'35le
7.lee.es., As Intelligent men. we had no
sa,a that the r1re lies He sought coald
All he secured b. cl2rscs III the new Con
stitution. In fact. we did not anticipate
relief cyea in one direction. but we de-
sized 10 know The views The gentlemen
FOR whom we vot'i. rnt Knowing what
emergency might arise.
II is natural hat we should rot agree
with You IN your position that these mat
,ers OF which we inquired are not proper
subjects for constitutional enactment
-rbe, ought not to haya been in 1851. for
.t,cre WAS no need for them then. But ne
live in 4 different age now. surrounded
NY different environments and conditions
.l,a, we did AT that time. \ Constitution
ar that time 40 more suits present condi-
ions than Il suit of clothes o. mat age
represents; our fashion plates of to-day
IL ceuius and science had concluded that
,o,tia:- was right that had no precedent
Iax YOU gentlemen seem TO doD We would
s,i,i AZ. travelling In the stage coach and
laval boat and eating dark -four and un-
boited niea4
we are glad that you gentlemen arc
$50 unanimous concerning a liability Dill
l,,,t sorry that you see no remedy except
,l,ro;,ri, legislative enactment We do
M. think n defeat of the measure by The
convention could be used with ANY more
..teiiinx farcs" than the result Of the