Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1902-10-31
AN OPEN LETTER.
To the Hon. James r. Sovereign:
HALEY. Oct 1902.

To the Hon. James r. Sovereign
HALEY, Oct 4, 1902.
Sir: A labor leader, you come here
to enlighten your fellow men upon
the political issues affecting their in
terests. Believing the Democratic par
] ~ is the true friend of laboring men
adm women. you viii ask them 10 vote
the Democratic ticket.
| Holding contrary opinion, having
been somewhat of labor leader my
self and held card Of honorary mem
bership In the International Typo
graphical union for over a third of a
century that no act of mine has ever
jeopardized. I may be excused II I
take the liberty OF addressing to you a
few questions.
Is II not a fact, sir, that the Repub-
lican party came into power because
Of the panic of 1857. that resulted from
the Democratic doctrine of free trade?
Is II not fact that the Republican
party Immediately adopted as its bas-
ic principle the doctrine OF protection
TO home Industries In order to enable
the payment OF living wages to us
workingmen?
Is IL not fact that. In order TO de-
stroy its unfair competition with free
labor the Republican party abolished
slave labor?
Is 1t not a fact that 1t followed this
by enacting a national law making
eight hours a legal days work?
Is II not a fact that 1t strengthened
this law until IL was enforced through
the length and breadth of the United
States?
Is 1t not fact that the most effec-
the workingman are the protective
tariff and homestead law?
Is II not fact that this homestead
law gives Ito every man and woman
a farm" and that the protective tariff
enables the working masses to earn
more than they would otherwise
earn?
Is 1t not a fact that the Democratic
party has always endeavored to de-
stroy the Republican party and all its
beneficent work?
The partisan press is certainly rep
of its party. A printer
and a newspaper man, you are posted
In the history of the craft. You there
fore know that the Democratic press.
while seeking to cajole workingmen
Into voting its ticket has always OPP !
posed their interests; that this Demo-
cratic press has always been RAT"
You know what this term means. Ev ,
cry union printer does.
You consider this assertion rather
do you not? l will prove
L.
Organized in the early Sos. the In
Typographical union has
struggled for recognition during scores
If tedious years. In its prolonged bat
lie 1t has had the unfaltering support
If the Republican press, the unceasing ,
opposition of the Democratic press.
The New York World under Manton
Marble was, even more than it is now, |
The leading Democratic newspaper !
published east of the Alleghanes. 1t |
was until recent years a RAT office. !,
Not until Pulitzer made it an indepen-
dent Democratic newspaper did 1t be-
come a union office.
The Chicago Times under Wilbur F. |
Storey was certainly the leading Dem
,cratic newspaper OF the central west.
Well, It, too. was always a RAT Of
Ice. II was one of the vilest, its print
RS being required to set, for less than
he union price. bastard fonts and ac-
,ept pay as for legitimate fonts.
The ST. Louis Republic under the
<napps was certainly the leading Dem
,cratic newspaper of the southwest
Well. it also used bastard fonts and
vas always a RAT office-until recent
fears.
The San Francisco Examiner under
Philip A. Roach. first American alcalde
II Monterey. was certainly the lead
ng Democratic newspaper of the Pa
life coast and slope. Yet 1t was a
RAT office until after the late Senator
Hearst bought 1t and Arthur Meow
n became Its managing editor.
The Democratic press therefore an
agonized the rights of labor as long
s 1t dared, or until the Republican
'arty had secured the recognition of
hose rights. Hence, the Democratic
arty did likewise. Il
These being the facts, how can you,
ir. be Democrat?
Upon what reasonable grounds can !
on ask a fellow laborer to vote the |
ticket? II
Yours respectfully, II
T. E. PICOTTE.