Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-05
FOR SUPPORT OF RoosEvTLT.
Union Labor Leader Excites Ire Of
Some of His Associates


A stir has been created in local labor cir
cles by the action Of the editor Of the Union
Herald an organ of the organized working
men of this city, in coming out squarely in
its last issue in favor of the election Of
President Roosevelt This paper is said to
be influential in the field of labor. and
wears at the head of its editorial columns
this announcement:
Endorsed by the Allied Label League
and Miscellaneous Trades Council of the
Central Labor Union. District of Column
bia; American Federation of Labor, Labor
Lyceum and Bureau of Information"
Mr.. John H. Brinkman, editor of the
Union Herald, has long been recognized as
a labor leader. 1t is his belief, as he has
publicly stated. that in the approaching
battle of the ballots President Roosevelt
should receive the undivided support Of the
American workingmen To this Mr..
Brinkman adds the statement that Presi-
dent Roosevelt's record as the champion
and friend of the workingman should place
him securely in the White House for four
years." -
On the front page of the current number
of the paper appears a large half-tone ike
ness of the President and an article giving
in detail his labor record as member of
the New York legisla ture, as governor or
that commonwealth and as President of the
United States.
Some of the members of the Central
Labor Union who said to favor the
candidacy of Judge Parker have taken
umbrage at the course of Editor Brinkman,
and are denouncing his paper. Threats
have been made, it is stated. that the editor
will be hailed before the central body at Its
meeting next Monday night and that the
several labor bodies will be asked to with
draw their Endorsements of the paper.
Editor Brinkman contends that he is act
ing clearly in his rights an American
citizen in supporting the presidential candi-
date who has shown by his public acts that
10; d, F,t4 % tbn MI inc
'Organized labor" he says, lis non-par-
tisan in politics and does not respect party
lines Its aim is to reward its friends ana
mete out justice to those who have petrayed
its interests. Labor has friends and enc
mics in all political parties, he contends,
and it is the duty of the voter to search
them out and apply the principle.
I'VE have, to our own satisfaction, at
least. arrived at a conclusion and advocate
the election of Theodore Roosevelt to the
Presidency of the United States we are
pleased with his labor record since he pc
came identified with public life, record
that has not been execelled for fair dealing
toward organized labor and the tolllng
masses of our country in general
Several evenings ago Editor Brlnkman
became a member of the Roosevelt and
Fairbanks League of this city. On that
occasion he stated in an address that while
he would support the candidacy of Roose-
welt and Fairbanks, he could not, as a COM
sistent labor advocate, promise to support
all the nominees Of the republican party,
especially for the state legislatures and
Congress, as some Of them had in their Of
fetal capacities been antagonistic to labor
interests. These, he added, he would as
sist in defeating for election.
1t is pointed out that organized labor,
notably the Labor Lyceum and Bureau of
Information of Washington, has singled out
certain members of Congress and other
candidates for political preferment who are
alleged to be antagonistic to labor legisla
ton and interests, and are vigorously OPP
posing their election, whereas, on the other
hand, the election of well-known friends of
the workingmen is as strongly favored.
Friends of Mr.. Brinkman therefore con-
tend that in supporting President Roose-
welt he is but following out the settled pol
icy of these organizations and the dictates
of his conscience, as it is said to be his
honest belief that the President has a rec
ord as the friend and champion of the
Workingmen."