The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1902-10-24
AN OPEN LETTER.
To the Hon. James r. Sovereign:
Haley. Oct. 4. 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
ty is the true friend of laboring men
adm women, you will ask them to vote
the Democratic ticket.
Holding a contrary opinion, having
been somewhat of a labor leader my
self and held a card of honorary men,
bership in the International Typo
graphical union for over a third of
century that no act of mine has ever
jeopardized. I may be excused if I
take the liberty of addressing to you
few questions.
Is it 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 it not a fact that the Republican
party Immediately adopted as it's bas-
ic principle the doctrine of protection
to home industries in order to enable
the payment of living wages 70 us
workingmen?
- II lOl q AcitN NllclNs III OlQN4 ~
stroy its unfair competition with free
labor the Republican party abolished
slave labor?
Is it not a fact that it followed this
by enacting a national law making
eight hours a legal days work?
Is it not a fact that it strengthened
this law until it was enforced through
the length and breadth of the United
States?
Is it not fact that the most effec-
i've measures ever passed in favor of
the workingman are the protective
tariff and homestead law?
Is it not a fact that this homestead
law gives "to every man and woman
farm" and that the protective tariff
enables the working masses to earn
more than they would otherwise
earn?
Is it not a fact that the Democratic
party has always endeavored to de-
stroy the Republican party and all its
benefcent work?
The partisan press is certainly rep
resentative of it's party. A printer
and 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 op-
posed their interests; that the Demo-
cratic press has always been RAT"
You know what this term means. Ev-
cry union printer does.
You consider this assertion rather
staggering, do you not? I will prove
it.
Organized in the early sos. the In
ternational Typographical union has
for recognition during scores
of tedious years. In its prolonged bat
tie it has had the unfaltering support
of 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 Alleghani5s. 1t
was until recent years a RAT office.
Not until Pulitzer made it an indepen-
dent Democratic newspaper did it be-
come a union office.
The Chicago Times under Wilbur F.
Storey was certainly the leading Dem
ocratic newspaper of the centr1~west.
Well, it, too, was always a RAT of
fee. 1t was one of the vilest, its print
ers being required to set, for less than
the union price, bastard fonts. and &C
cept pay as for legitimate fonts.
The ST. Louis Republic under the
Knapps was certainly the leading Dem
0cratic newspaper of. the southwest. !
We'll, it also used bastard fonts and !
was always a RAT office-until recent
years.
The San Francisco Examiner under )
Philip A. Roach, first American alcalde !
If Monterey. was certainly the lead !
ng Democratic newspaper of the Pa )
life coast and slope. Yet it was a !
RAT office until after the late Senator /
Hearst bought it and Arthur Meow !
n became its managing editor.
The Democratic press therefore an
agOnized the rights of labor as long
S it dared, or until the Republican
'arty had secured the recognition of
hose rights. Hence, the Democratic
arty did likewise.
These being the facts, how can you.
ir, be a Democrat?
Upon what reasonable grounds can :
GU ask a fellow laborer to vote the !
democratic ticket? i
Yours respectfully, !
T. E. PICOTTE.