The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-24
STAND BY LEWIS.
Committee of Labor Council Is
sues an Address.

sues al AUuECSBs
The Union Labor Political league
was organized last night at Trades AS
sembly hail for the purpose Of support
ing Frank Lewis for mayor This or
ganization is the outgrowth of the ac-
ton of the Trades Assembly endorsing
Mr.. Lewis, and it win take an active
part in advancing Mr.. Lewis cam
paign. The officers of the new Organiz-
alton are: President, Geo. Fieger, Cigar
Makers union; vice president, r. I.
Palmer, Typographical union; secre-
tary, n. B. Burdges Federal Labor
union; treasurer, S. B. Weaver, Car
penters' union. and president of the
Trades Council.
In order to justify the position which
the Trades Council has taken in en-
dorsing Lewis. when 1T was found that
there was considerable opposition to the
act. the committee of the council which
interviewed the various candidates has
sent out the following defensive state
Topeka. Kan. Feb. %. 1908.
Dear Sir and Brother:
You are no doubt aware that the
Trades and Labor Council has taken
definite action in regard TO the spring
election The council at special
meeting February 20, 1908, which by
the way was the largest meeting of
the council that has occurred for the
Mr. Frank Lewis for mayor, and in
doing so has no apology to make to
anyone.
fThe committee appointed by the
council TO look into this matter made
a thorough investigation of the issues
involved in this campaign and the at
titude of each candidate for mayor and
found:
T. That for several reasons 1t would
be unw-ise and unpolHic for the labor
organizations at this time to nominate
one of their number for the position of
mayor and run him on Union Labor
ticket Tt is useless for US to discuss
this proposition- If you are a union
man YOU will know from past exper-
fence the advisability Of our action IN
this respect
-. That the Democrats would. in all
probability, nominate Mr.. Parker, II
they nominated anyone, and that his
record in the past has not and would
not Justify the laboring people OF TINS
city in giving him their support
g That Col. Hughes statement
made in writing by his political manager
setting forth his claims to our support
and votes was the usual political
sophistry I will treat you with consld-
Grafton which in the opinion of the
committee. would amount to nothing
more than an empty promise and
meaningless thing; and this. coupled
with the fact that two years ago Ger
tain promises were made by MI.
community Of considerable Importance,
which promises never materiaiized, led
the committee to believe he was not the
candidate we. as working people, should
support.
Il. Because of the opposition of Mr..
Bergundthal to the VinewOod Park rail
way for which the labor organizations
Of this city fought so hard, and because
Of the fact that for the past eight years
Mr.. Rergundthal has had in his employ
a *scab' carpenter. and the further fact
that he. too, gave us only the time
worn answer 1 viii give you fair
treatment that he was not the man
organized la Dor should support
-. That so far as organized labor and
the Iaboring people of this city We're CON
cerned. the prohibition question does not
enter into this campaign.
My brother. certain daily papers and
certain practical politicians would di-
vide US on the time-worn, irrelevant
proposition Of prohibition The ques-
ton with organized labor in this con-
test is not wet or dry but to what
extent is labor going to be recognizedE
How long viii laboring people be salts
fed with the crumbs that fall to the
floor, empty political promises, prom
ises that are never fulfilled
"The Trades and Labor Council has.
we believe taken the right step. Let
every organized labor man IN Topeka
put his shoulder to the wheel and as
sist in getting something we have never
N. B. BURGE. Chairman,
IS. 3. WEAVER,
"R I PALMER,
COMMITTEE Trades and Labor Council" ="
The Janitors' union has held a meet
ing and endorsed the action of the
Trades council and affirmed the selec-
ton of Lewis as the union candidate.
Their resolutions are as follows
Whereas, The Trades and Labor
council has outlined a course for organ.
! ized labor to pursue in the coming
spring election. and
Whereas. Said council. through its
committee, investigated the attitude
toward organized labor of certain Cau-
didates for mayor and
Whereas, We believe the howl for
+ working people to keep out of politics
comes from few who are opposed to
this movement because the endorsement
did not happen to favor the candidate
of their political choice; and believing
that a great deal of such supposed op-
position originates in the fertile brain
of some two by four knockers: and
Whereas, We are thoroughly con-
vinced that the Trades council acted
fairly and with due deliberation, and
believing that it was not the intention
Of the Trades council TO force the varl-
Gus OrganiZa tiOnS of this city into par
tisan politics. but to be left entirely to
their wishes in the matter, and Deliev-
ing further that the action Of said couD-
ell was wholly justlhable and that said
council would not have endorsed the
candidate it did had if not been for the
best interests of the trade union move
ment and of the working people; there
fore. be it
ssResolved. Bv Janitors' Union No. 10 :
! 459 that we heartily endorse the candi-
/ dacy of Mr. Frank Lewis for mayor. be-
heving he is the only candidate for
mayor who is favorable to organized la
1 bor and that he is the working RAN )
friend. and we do hereby Dledge hin1
our heartiest support and wish him ev-
cry success
H. HETHERLY. Secretary.