Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1906-07-27
BRATrLEBoRo, FRIDAY, JULY 81, ist
The Congressional Campaign.

Evidences Of warmth are already APP
parent in the preparations under way
at various points for the coming con-
gressional campaign. The organized
and determined entrance of labor into
the field creates a new element of un.
certainty as to the outcome and several
sharp contests are assured. The first
and most notable of these will be fought
in September in the second congress
sional district of Maine where Congress
man Charles E. Littlefeld, who has won
the severe disapproval of the American
federation of labor, will be opposed by
d. j. McGillicuddy, the democratic
nominee. Both McGillicuddy and Presi-
dent Gompers of the federation, who is
at the head of the labor representation
committee, will do their best to beat
Littlefeld. Mr.. Gompers eonstrues the
administration s recent stand for the
strict enforcement of the eight-hour
law as evidence of its anxiety concern
ing the results of the Maine fight.
"The step should have been taken long
ago, is his grim comment.
Labor cannot be charged with lack
of candor. The federation issued Mon
day its full compaign program and out
lined very definitely the position which
organized labor will take in the elec-
tions this fall. 1t declares that the
party in power is apathetic or hostile
to the interests of the large mass of all
our people, including labor, and that
congressman and senators generally are
so eager for the almighty dollar that
they ignore the rights of men. The fed
Grafton s alleged purpose is to help the
American people to demonstrate their
determination that this republic shall
be of, for and by the people rather
than of, for and by money. Its plan is
to defeat the reelection of those who
have opposed or ignored labor's legis-
lative demands and, wherever the can
didates of both parties have done so, to
nominate straight labor candidate.
The federation declares that it is driven
into this aggressive political attitude
by the failure of all other means, even
an appeal to the president and those
responsible for legislation. Its prepa-
rations include blacklist of can
didates to be opposed, which is said to
contain the name of Speaker Cannon,
and President Gompers and many other
labor leaders will canvass the country,
speaking in contested districts. The
federation has 100000 voters on its
rolls and the cooperation of 100000
members of orders of railroad employees.
Both republicans and democrats will
make speaking a feature of the cam
paign. The latter are counting on the
return of Mr.. Bryan and hope to make
his utterances on trusts and tariff the
keynote which shall attract the atten-
ton of the country to these issues. Mr..
Bryan will speak in Jersey City, Con-
necticut and New York soon after his
arrival in this country and he will be
secured for a speech-making tour later,
if possible. 1t is realized that his pop
ularity and magnetic oratorical ability
would make him a great drawing figure
in the campaign.
To meet this move, the republicans
can only do one thing, and that they
purpose to do-make Roosevelt the plat
form. In its appeal to republicans for
81 contributions to its campaign fund
this week, the republican national con-
gressional committee says: "The con-
gressional campaign must be based on
the administrative and legislative rec
ord of the party, and that being so,
Theodore Roosevelt s personality must
be central figure and his achieve
ments central thought in the cam
paign."
One thing is significant in all these
campaign preparations-the recognition
of popular power. In the unfinching
attitude of labor; in the selection and
exaltation of popular presidential can
didates and the adaptation of their
original views as issues and platforms;
in the relegation to the rear and safe
obscurity of the conservative elements
of both parties and in the bringing to
the front all those elements that point
to reform, and justice for the masses,
we behold one grand political kotow to
the sovereignty Of the people.
And this is as it should be; provided
always that the American people make
and keep themselves worthy and capa-
BILE of sovereignty which inspires and
commands respect and reverence be-
hind the kotow. 1t is no light thing,
even for a free people, to exercise SOW
ereignty.
1T is reported that the name of Rep