The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-03-05
4 FALSE CHARGE.
MT Montague's Friends Adopt Tactics
Which Win Result in Injuring Their
Candidate.

The Central Trade and Labor Council
OF Richmond city passed the following
resolutions:
Whereas. the three gentlemen who
are offering themselves for the governor
ship OF Virginia had ample opportunity
to show their fairness toward the labor
element of our State when the liability
hill was before the Legislature. and,
whereas. two Of the said gentlemen
Mcssrs Swanson and EchOls-did all in
their power to defeat said measure, and
did defeatit thus showing n lack Of inter
est in the life and safety ofthose who are
forced To undergo hardship and perils /;
therefore.
Resolved, That the Trade and Labor
Council Of the city of Richmond heartily
endorse Acknowledgement Montague for
Governor of Virginia, and recommend
him to the working people Of our state
AZ one who not only did all in his power
for the passage OF the liability bill, but
who. ON every occasion, has shown u
Uniform fairness % all citizens Of our
Commonwealth.
The foregoing was adopted in meet
ing composed Of eight out Of the eleven
committeeman Of the Council. Ii is pre-
sumed that this action was taken by
friends of Mr. Montague 10 counteract
the effect made by the trades unions OF
Newport News, Washington and other
cities in having adopted resolutions
thanking Mr.. Swanson for his efforts
in behalf of the working man. In none
of these was any opponent OF Mr.. Swan
son censured, AZ in the ease in the foregO-
ing. where Mr.. Montague is Landed and
his opponents condcmed.
WHAT THE CANDIDATES SAY
To Washington correspondent Mr..
Swanson said:
This statement is absolutely false
At no time during my life have ever OPP
posed OF antagOnized such legislation
Neither at any time did attempt to in
auence, directly remotely, any member
Of the Legislature tOprevent the passage
VI such legislation. ! will endeavOr mt
once 10 trace this false statement to its
iountain-head. believe il was inspired
by political enemies"
Observation-Disclosures EchOls sent this
reply TO n telegram from the Richmond
Times:
"Your telegram received The report
in todays Times that fought the en-
ployers' liability bill before the Legisla-
ture last winter is incorrect, and was
much surprised when saw the statement.
Edward Echols
To n similar request Of Col. Marshall
the Times received the following:
"Ilave seen neither paper II allusiOn
is made to alleged action OF Labor Coun-
ell endorsing Mr. Montague have moth
ing to say except that hisiriends seem to
be active.
"R. G. MARSHALL"
The friends of Mr.. Swanson are much
displeased at the statement. They say
that while they are not acquainted with
Mr. SwansOn's position in Virginia he,
while in Congress, has always been in
the forefront fighting the battles OF the
laboring man. This will be shown by
the position he has taken on all bills af-
fecting organized labor.
The charge is such grave one against
the President of the Senate that Mr..
Echols' friends are Justly indignant at
the false position the aforementioned
is placed in. Comment throughout the
State is very severe upon the friends OF
Mr.. Montague who engineered the labor
resolutions Yirginians are wondering
also at the peculiar position it places the
Attorney General in il, az the labor com
mittee asserts he aided their bill, since as
a State official his services might have
been necessary in litigation growing out
of the passage of the act.