The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1903-04-06

For the past month the newspapers OF
the city have been filed with column af.
ter column of all kinds of editorials and
news items, telling the people more about
the laboring man and union labor than
any really hard.worling laboring man
had the time to dream about, but thus
far / have not been able to find among
all Of this jumble of information any
thing coming from an authentic source;
that is, from the working man himself,
and especially from the Union Labor
man, and it is for this reason that l ask,
IN the name OF Uion Labor, tile publ
cation of this communication in your
valuable paper.
One month ago Clarksburg was one Of
the best organized little cities in the
United States, as far as the skilled
workman was concerned. We mechanics
had plenty of work at advanced prices.
We had no grievances with our employ
ers,' who. in the general prosperity Of this
section, recognized the fact that they
could afford to pay higher wages, AMI
have fairly met our demands. They
have, in most cases, been our friends
and the friends of Union Labor. To-day
this has changed. Men, who heretofore
have been our champions, are drawing
away from US; are quietly and secretly
among themselves discussing the ques-
ton Of open fight against organized
labor which, for the first time, they be-
gin to look upon as menace TO estab.
lished business conditions, and this un-
fortunate state of affairs has been
brought about by our own foolish &C.
tion, which We now, too late, see the
folly of.
Although / do not want to give away
any of the secrets of the organization,
we all know, and the public now knows,
that We entered politics, not on account
Of any grievances of our own, but in
order, If we could, to help Mr.. Haggerty
and other labor organizers to organize
the miners, by showing our sympathy
With the movement.
When this became known. certain
Democratic candidate for mayor and h-
friends began to frame up to get our
support. The movement began TO at
tract attention, and the Democratic par
ty, as an organization, joined the proccs.
sion. They had been out long time
and they thought, with our help, they
could get in. ] am Democrat, and the
arrangement pleased me, but soor
found out that we had many good Re.
publicans in our different labor organiza
tons that it did not please. and trouble
in our own ranks began-the very worst
thing that could happen to us. But this
was not all: the so-caIIed anti-ring Re-
pubHcans thought they saw in our move
ment chance to down their old enemies
and tried also TO get into our camp. and
then the .refOrlrcrs," w'io want closed
town. flocked TO our standard. But our
candidate, who was in no sense re
former was side. tracked by the Demo
cratic wing Of our now numerous politi-
cal venture, and new man put up, who
it was said. the 'reformers could han
de- and who would draw all the adro
cacies ola CLOSED town. to rs. And nov
the latest move is to bring ~A3'ther
Jones here to help MS CT.
Where do We find Ourselves nov:
Starting out, with what many Of u
thought at the time to be an ill-advised
sympathetic movement, we now find our
selves hopelessly tarS'cd up with all oi
the unsuccessful and disgruntled political
elements Of the city, while all OF the sue,
ccssful politicians and business interests
which were but lately our friends, arr
arrayed against US, not only in our in
diyidunl capacity, but r-ainst US a the
champions of organic !abor.
Besides all this. We ssnnd in the shame
less positions of hypccsites before tn"
people of our city.
We are standing, as Al organization.
for the election OF the Democratic ticket
when we are. in no sense. a political or
gauizatiou, either Democratic or Republi.
-.
we are standing as the political oppon-
elents Of the successful and prominent
wing of the Republican party and es-
ipousing the cause Of the unsuccessful
minority wing. VIII that tend to make
Us friends and help effect the only pur-
pose for which we are banded together
the advancement of the cause Of Union
Iabori
We are standing as @reforners,' all
vecating " s.closcd town." to be followed
jlyyl a .bnsiIess .stsguation which viii les
sen the ability of employers to pay, and
our ability to secure work. And besides
all this, we are not "reformers" and are
standing before the people in false
light. 1t Is n well-known fact that while
we are law-abiding citizens, there Is no
class of citizens, who arc more liberal
IN fhcir vieyvs and more willing Ia. nc.