The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1907-01-31

Since the close of the last politi-
cal campaign in which organized
labor took a conspicuous part, and
bv which several Congressman
were sent into deserved political
oblivion and others had their wings
severely singed, a few have shown
Il marked spleen and bitterness.
Among those there are two who
stand out conspicuously and in
s. Wharton of the Fourth District
of Illinois, and Hon. Charles +
LittIcfcld OF the Second District of
Maine. Mr.. Wharton was defeat
cd by a conscientious, intelligent
man, Mr.. McDermott, Il member in
good standing of the Order of Com
mere al photographers, an ,organi-
zation in full utilization with the
American Federation of Labor.
\ few weeks ago, when a bill
MIR. I.ittle4ield's) was pending in
the House for the abolition of COM
puIsory pi!otagc, Mr.. Wharton
made a speech Of two minutes dur
alton. i'll the course of which he
took occasion to say that Samuel
GomperS was can arch enemy to
the pcoplc-that arch demagogue
and liar" We do not know what
else the honorable gentleman had
i'll mind 10 say, but we doubt very
much that he would have had the
tcmcrlty to utter the above. or
anything else derogatory to us in
ocr presence, or where opportunity
presented itself for reply.
We feel sure that it will not be
necessary for us to make defense
TO any such charge us that which
Nr. Wharton makes against us of
beng an enemy of the people or
playing the role of the demagogue.
The work OF a'lifetimc to endeavor
10 help the great mass of the
American workmcn, and that i'm
plies with it the Improvement in
The condition of all our people,
must stand as our best answer to
the foul aSpersion. Then. too. it
mas been one of our great purposes
III iite to be absolutely truthful, it
being recognized that upon the
E"i;lc-ty of Il man must depend
largely his capacity for useful SER
vice
but. let us for 4 moment see
whether there be any ground upon
which Mr.. " harton has justiiicd-
ton for his invcctive. 1t will be
remembered that by direction of
the organized labor movement OF
our country several letters were
sent TO CongrcsSmen last spring
ASKING their attitude upon measures
ana bills in which the toilerS were
vitality interested. Among the
answers received was one from HIr.
hafton, Ill which he said that.
! voted against the proviso ex-
'MpunG the eight hour law from
arphcatlon on the Panama Canal -
'uf editorial comment upon that
statement was as follows: "Thc
"ngrcSSional Record (Jauuary %.
'i@e i62S) records Mr.. " Nharton
"> ''Vt voting upon the proposition
10 aHhul the eight hour law Oh the
Lanama Canal.' Now here is a
ulrrct conflict of statements. Our
!, y - liS oIlciIl Journal Ol
,,i uitt ilouse of Representatives,
i! i MS hr- Wharton has not disputed
men, who, in view OF this of1icia
record, IS really the liars But. as
We we have already stated, MIR.
W harton's 5 bitterness occasioned b,
Ms defeat has, beyond doubt. per
Nerted his mind. SO, that he is in
capable of discriminating between
me true and the aise.
me sum total of our offendin:
mas been, that Labor could not sup
port tins CongreSsmen for re-eIec
Ion. He comes from the distric
vi ChlcaSo in which the Stockyard
are located, and during his term o
oi'lce ne never uttered one word. o
cast one vote that in the siightes
ueSree might tend to the amplior,
uon OF conditions of the men ant
women and children of tha
jungle In his district he i
generally regarded as one of thos