The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-05-21

Organized labor of Kanawha
county was harpooned again last
Saturday.
The Republican primary election
to nominate candidates for county
officers was carried out Saturday
according to the dictates of the
Cabin Creek coal operators and the
other unfair corporations of the
state and county with the aid and
assistance of their political hire
llngs, and the three men who
carried union card in their
pocket went down to defeat before
the machine buried beneath an
avalanche of ballots cast by
creatures who were bought up like
cattle.
1t was one of the most complete
cases of "ring" rule ever consu.
mated in Kanawha county and the
candidates who did not have the
slate stamp upon them stood about
as much show for a fair deal as
the proverbial snow ball.
An especial effort was made to
slaughter labor's candidates as the
returns will show. Ed Soulsby, a
life long union miner, who was a
candidate for the legislative nomin-
alton was not only robbed at the
polls by the "gang'' but they re.
sorted to character assassination
by spreading the report through.
out this city and rural districts Of
the county that he was an ex-con-
vlct, this in itself goes to show the
dirty and corrupt methods the
promoters of the ''guard" system
will resort to keep union men out
of office. "Pap" Fraser, the Typo
graphical Unions candidate for
the legislature also got the hot
wallop from the ringsters as did
also Stanley E. Nease, who carries
a telegrapher's union card.
In Charleston district, A. L.
Pitchford, union carpenter was
a candidate for constable, but he
was slated out and a private de-
tective slated in by the "friends
of labor
When one of the leaders of the
gang" was approached and ask
ed if they intended to give labor a
fair deal in the primary, he stated
that call the laboring men could
run for office that so desired, but
that's all the good it will do them,
we will name the ticket, and we
will BUY THE LABOR VOTE
THIS FALL"
The question naturally arises
new, what are the laboring men of
Kanawha going to dof The Re-
publican party has turned them
down cold and they were ably as
sisted by the Democratic coal oper-
ators on Cabin Creek, and it is but
natural to suppose that they will
fare but little, if any better at the
hands OF the Democratic party,
inasmuch as the same powers that
dictated the Republican ticket last
Saturday also controls the Demo
cratic party-the non-union coal
operators of the state.
The trades unionists, farmers
and other citizens of kanawha
county, who are in favor of good
government and opposed to the
corrupt methods of the political
bosses and the damnable tguard'
system can redeem Kanawha
county and restore it's fair name if
they will but assert their man.
hood and get to work and nomin-
| ate and elect non-partisan
citizens ticket this fall. Cut loose
from the political tricksters, NOM
mate and elect good, honest farm
| ers, business men and trades
unionists and insure good govern
ment honestly administered, good
| roads and freedom aud fairness to
| all.
a vast majority of the citizens
of Kanawha county only enjoy the
privilege of voting their sentiments
and for their friends and when
u