Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-10-31
UP TO THE UNIONS
TWO REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES
EvADE QUESTIONS.
Boss Davis and {. l. Minard, Republican Nomi.
nees for Legislature. Dodge Questions Pro.
pounded by the State Federation of Labor.
II Remains to be Seen What Union Men
will do November 8.

The State Federation OF Labor formu.
lated some laws in the interest of the
workingmen that they wished enacted at
thescoming session OF the legislature, and
presented the same at the democratic
and republican state conventions. The
republican convention adopted the fol
lowing somewhat vague plank in its
platform:
Legislation along the lines proposed
by the State Federation OF Labor is
heartily approved"
The democratic convention, in no un.
certain tone announced that:
eve favor the legislation proposed by
the Washington State Federation of
Labor and pledge our legislative nomi-
nees to vote for the same"
As soon as the different nominees Tor
the legislature were named the Fedora
ton Of Labor addressed each candidate,
asking them to pledge their support to
those measures, which are Of great i'm
portance to the;workingmen, and of no
injury to any industry, firm or individu-
al. In Chehalis county all the demo-
crdtic nominees, DR.. Jos. Kent, R. P.
Porter and Ed. M. Hoover, replied that
they stood squarely on their state plat
form, and had no hesitancy in pledging
themselves to strictly adhere to it. OF
the re publican candidates, E. B. Benin is
the only one who signified his willing
ness to support the measures, while his
two colleagues, Geo. L. Davis and E. L.
Minard, dodge the question, as will be
seen by the following letter received in
Aberdeen from G. R. Case, vice presi-
dent of the State Federation of Labor:
"Dear Sir:-I enclose circular letter
and accompanying statement. which are
seli-explanatQry. Also recent letters
from Minasd I'D Davis, These letters
are to ny mind eynjtxea aithes. d the
candidates cares to xpress Is 4h9 SpSfii.
ing man his attitude toward measures
which are Of vital Importance to the
wage earners of this state. Both stand
on a state platform which endorsed this
legislation, yet both refuse to declare
themselves in favor Of. what their party
has seen fit to endorse.
"We can draw but one conclusion, ]. e.
that their individual judgment OF what
is justice to all concerned is not to be ex.
pressed until after election and that the
working man has no right to know
whether they will support legislation
along these lines or not.
candidates who have signited their
desire to assist US should receive the
support of all organized labor and it,
friends if we expect to better our condi
tions during the session Of the coming
legislature. Respectfully yours,
G. r. CASE"
1t is now up to the unions Of Chehalis
county to let the public know whether
their unionism stands for anything or
not; whether the demands Of the State
Federation have any weight. here, O.. il
they are merely to be regarded as sc
much buncombe. The unions of this
county have it in their power-if they
mean business, not guf--to defeat any
candidate on the ticket, and the straight
ticket" politicians, as we'll as the Fedora.
ton of Labor, are awaiting the result
with considerable interest.