davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1908-03-22
Urges That Mass Meetings
Be Held April
19 and 20.
81 Defeat Our Enemies" He
Tells 5000, 900 Union
Men.

Labor'g call TO arms was sounded last
night, when President Samuel Gompers.
Of the American Federation OF Labor,
and a committee named by the pro
test conference just closed, Issued a
formal cau for labor mass meetings all
over the country, April IS to 20, TO in
auEurdte plans for defeating every
Presidential Congressional and Judi
clal candidate who Is inimicable 10 Ia
Dor interests.
The text OF the call, as predicted ex-
ciusively in The Times yesterday after
noon, critlcises severely recent Supreme
Court decisions against labor, the fall
ure Of Congress 20 give any relief, and
lts general apathy, and demands that
labor men shall unite in demanding a
pledge from every candidate who offers
himself for election. In event such
pledge IS not for hconing. and the can
didate has a record not IN favor with
organized labor. union men are asked
10 use every endeayor 10 encompass his
defeat
The Washington times., 1908-03-22
FREIGHT AGENT HILL DIES
FROM PARALYTIC ATTACK

PITTSBURG, Pa, March 2.-Ill but a
few days with paralytic attack James
Z. Fiji, general freight agent of the
Pittsburg. Cincinnati. Chicago. and st.
Louis railroad. at Pittsburg. died this
morning at Biloxi, Miss. where he had
spent a short time on a business err
rand. Mr.. Hill is one of the best known
railroad men in the country.
The Washington times., 1908-03-22
GOmperS Calls Labor
To Concerted Attack
On Ruling Of Court
Features of Call
To Union Members

Hold mass meetings in every city
az town In the United States April
10 or %. Voice a protest against the
Supreme Court decision which strips
labor Of the rights and liberties
which We had supposed were guar
anteed BY the Constitution
10 power on earth can destroy.
successfully outlaw or disrupt the
trade union movement. Let every
man be up and doing. Action con
sIstent: action persistent: action IN
slstent, Is the watchWOrd.
Oppose and defeat our enemies.
whether they be candidates for
President. for Congress, or other Of
fees. whether executive. legislative
or judicial. SAMUEL GOMPERS.
The Washington times., 1908-03-22
TAFT CLAIMS 4 WAKEN
FOES TO REAL FIGHT

commissioner Of internal revenue, and
NJ. II. Thatcher, chairman of the exc
cutive committee of the Kentucky Re-
publican state committee, has issued a
call for a State conference Of Kentucky
Republicans favorable to the nOmina-
ton of Vice President Fairbanks for
President. Copies OF the letter have
reached Kentucky Republicans in
Washington.
Senator Bradley also has issued a let
ter to Republicans throughout the State
appealing to them TO organize in behalf
Of the Vice President
Question Taft Figures.
Representatives Of those opposed to
the nomination Of Secretary Taft have
Issued q statement which says:
"COnceding 10 Secretary Taft every
delegate OF which he has even the most
remote prospect. II is emphatically MAIN
tanned, there cannot be mustered for
Mr.. Taft in excess of $50 Of t.s3 49l
votes necessary TO a nomination. The
campaign methods employed by the
friends Of Secretary Taft are so solid
flying the opposition. and so widely dis
/ seminating the belief that Mr. Taft as
a candidate would be lacking in the ele-
ments essential TO a harmonious condi-
/ ton in the party and the polling OF al
| the available party strength. that this
/ figure would. under the most Favorable
[ conditions, represent the high water
mark OF the Taft strength.
The figures show that the largest
number OF votes it Is possible TO claim
as certain for Secretary Taft at this
time Is I26. more than one-fourth Of
/ this number being from Secretary
Tafts own State The opposition cred
/ its Secretary Taft with the following
| instructed delegates: Iowa, IS; Kansas
/ 10; Oklahoma. 8; Missouri, %; Ohio. "a
/ the Philippines, >; Tennessee, 2 Mary
/ land, 4; Nebraska, IA; Virginia, 4: New
! Mexico, 2: total 126. The delegates
| claimed for Fairbanks. Foraker. can
non. and Hughes number 30, with only
one favorite son State heard from IL
/ large part-Indiana-and that not com
plete By four votes.
Band Wagon Nearly Stalled"
''The plans of the Taft forces included
!. the early assembling Of conventions II
/ States where TAFT Instructions were Z
/ certainty. The Taft forces from nov
/ on, say the representatives Of the OppO
sition, must fight for much of what
| they get. and il is prsdicted that The
next thirty days will find the band
| wagon unable to maintain its mo
meutum, and, therefore, ia serious dan
ger Of being stalled From the con
veutlons 20 be held during the mex
thirty days the Taft managers hav,
| reason 10 expect a total Jf fifty votes
bringing the Taft total up TO approx
mately i75 votes.
zone month hence. IL IS confidently
claimed, after conventions IN snti-Taf
States, the field will have a Ieaa O
more than one hundred votes over I'll.
Taft forces.
1.-THE figures Of the opposition SHOW
that, in addition TO the votes nov
aligned with the field and those from
the 'favorites sons States. Il will b.
necessary 10 secure only 10 delegate
votes 10 control the convention"
The Washington times., 1908-03-22

gers to labor and the wealth producers
OF our country are 10 be averted.
To Impress Congress.
1T was the unanimous feeling that
some special steps should be taken to
impress upon Congress the necessity Of
prompt action upon the Sherman anti
trust law amendment and upon other
important labor legislation now pend
ing. namely:
the bill to regulate and limit tbs
issuance of injuncuions-'Pearre bill
employers liability bill.
1.-THE bill extending the application Of
the eight-hour law 10 all Government
employees. and those employed upon
work for the Government, whether by
contractors or subcontractors-
In our protest we endeavored while
preserving a courteous and dignihed
form Of address to make IL entirely clear
70 Congress that organized labor IS I'm
nc mood 10 BE triied with. II means
business. we truly believe that in this
protest We stated very cOnservatively TO
Congress the intense feeling OF anxiety
and apprehension which agitates the
workers of the country and their SYM
pathizers-
Every legitimate pressure must now
be brought TO bear upon Congress in
the effort - secure the passage OF
our amendment 10 the Sherman law.
Resolutions should be adopted urging
upon the present Congress the passage
OF the amendment TO the Sherman law
and warning Congress that it viii be
held responsible for failure TO enact
such legislation
Labor should spare no activity TO i'm
press upon Congress its insistent de-
mand for the passage OF this amend
ment,
In addition TO the holding OF the
mass meeting OF April 70 or %, and on
such other dates as may be fixed il
future and the forwarding Of resolU-
tons expressing labOr's protest ana de-
termination every member of organized
labor should write d personal letter TO
the Congressman OF his district and to
the two United States Senators Of his
State insisting that they use their
efforts and cast their vote for the pas
sage Of our amendment TO the Sherman
law and other legislation mentioned in
Iabor's protest and warning them that
labor and its friends viii hold them
responsible.
"Rights Are Shattered"
"Our industrial rights have beer shorn
from Us, and our liberties are threat
ened. Il rests with each OF US 10 make
The most earnest. impressive. and law
abiding effort that lays within our
| power to restore these liberties and
| safeguard our rights for the future il
we are to save the workers. and may
| hap even the nation itself, from threat
ened disaster.
"'This IS not a time for idle fear
/ Let every man be up and doing. Action
| consistent, action persistent, action In
| sistent, is the watchWOTd"
The call closes with the assurance OF
| the industrial, financial, political, and
moral support on the part OF all Of
/ those IN attendance at the convention
: and the bodies they represent APPROX
mately three million men viii line I'D in
answer 70 last nights call.
The Washington times., 1908-03-22
Why Not Enlist the People?

The gentlemen who imagine they
are conducting a campaign to pre-
vent the nomination of Secretary of
War Taft, need to take some les
sons from that past master of po-
litical methods-the President.
Mr. Roosevelt's motto is 10 speak
soft and carry a big stick. But in
his politics lac speaks loud, and
uses the big stick. He knows the
people he wants to influence. He
appeals directly to them. He
speaks out loudly enough to be
Pheard in every corner of the land
He calls on those who are for him
to line up and be counted, and on
those who are not for him to be
lined up, willy nilly, against him.
The President doesn't walk on
/ egg shells. He doesn't whisper a
suggestion with the adjuration not
TO tell anybody l said it," He
doesn't dissemble. He has no con-
fdences, except those of the whole
people. And it is because of this
that the whole people trusts him.
1t is a lesson which the other side
in this curious game ought to
learn. There is 4 vast and growing
section of the Republican party
which sincerely believes that as
! matters now stand, the party IS
likely to meet defeat unless it nOmi-
mates the President to succeed him
self. The opposition TO Secretary
Taft whispers its opinion TO this
effect in confidence, when it ought
to proclaim it from the tallest
housetops through the biggest trum-
pet. 1t ought not TO imagine that
it can fool the people into doing
what they really want TO do. 1t
can't: but it can assist them to do
what they really want to do, by the
simple expedient of joining them
IN it.
Let the allied forces of opposition
make their announcements in the
straightforward way that viii com
mand confidence. Let it be under
stood that if it isn't Taft. it viii be
| Roosevelt. The opposition talks
that way in private. Let it contide
in the public, and it will find sym
pathy and support.
The time is past for the press
agent process of campaigning. 1t
isn't worth while TO go on putting
forth anonymous statements from
"a public man high in the councils
Of the party" or from "a leading
anti-Taft Senator" or from "a Re-
publican of national note" If no.
body is willing to attach his name
to these carnations, they cannot
expect to command confidence.
Everybody that isn't for Taft is
/ fast getting into the third-term col
uml. It's force is growing faster
than any other factor in the situa,
ton. Let the people VINO IaIh
third-term in quavering voice give
the community those same views II
good, strong, chest tones, and they
will find the community ready to
line up with them.
The day is past for manipulation
and wire-pulling in secret. The
country has got to liking the frank
| open, candid methods which appeal
souareIy to the people. Thus far il
this campaign the Taft boom has
enjoyed the benefit Of monopoly
of such methods, or at least of theil
appearance. 1t would be highly eff
fective if the other side would try
the plan.
In Texas it was, II memory does no
The Washington times., 1908-03-22
(Continued from First Page)

crisis Of the whole pre-convention cam
paign.
The Federation address calls on labor
and its supporters to stand together in
opposition 10 their enemies, whether
candidate for President, for Congress,
or for other Offices, executive. legis-
lative or Judicial"
1t is going TO be the policy Of the anti
Taft forces from this time forth to con-
vince the Republicans of the nation
that Taft Is a weak candidate. II is
promised that a series OF statements
and analyses of the situation may be
expected. showing just why Taft Is
weak IN particular communities. and
why he will be a dangerous candidate
because OF this weakness.
Field Against Taft.
More than this, and more important,
Is the fact that the opposition TO Taft
is merging its interest, with apparent
/ earnestness and sincerity. in this ef-
fort for the sake OF the party. The La
Toilette, Cannon. Knox. Fairbanks. For
aker, and Hughes booms are being
dropped and forgotten in the common
purpose of convincing the party that 10
name Taft is TO court defeat at the
polls.
/ In this connection a sensational story
| is ahoat-and it has the backing OF ex-
/ cellent political authority-that the anti
| Taft people are going to stampede the
/ convention to Roosevelt on the very
| first ballot. They calculate that If Taft
/ goes TO the coHver ton with a close ma
/ jority OF delegates, it viii yet be pos
I sible to beat him. The arguments as 20
! his availability will be pressed home In
| the closing days of the ante-conventiOn
| struggle; ana then, with his forces
/ weakened by this process Of mining and
| sapping. there viii be a sudden union
| of the opposing forces under the Roose-
/ Welt banner; RoOsevelts name will be
/ the first one placed before the conven
| ton; the best OratoTy viii be employed
/ TO present him. nobody else except Taft
| viii be named; the opposition will de-
] clare itself ready TO Offer harmony and
/ absolute cooperation. and 10 guarantee
/ victory at the polls, II only II can have
/ the President-aud Ia the face Of such
I a plea IL Is calculated that the TAFT
strength viii melt into the arms OF the
! impetuous Roosevelt wooing.
/ That's the plau-One OF the plans, al
] least. II Is a plan which. indeed IN
! wolves sacrifices OF ambitions and as
piratiOnss but IL IS believed by many
/ OF the opposition to be certain TO carry
the day. even If Taft should actually
go TO the convention with a small ap-
/ parent majority.
Kentucky Against Taft.
Not the least effective piece Of ord
! nance that the anu-Taft forces have
| unmasked as a result Of Mr.. Hitch
cocks remarkable claim of victory be
| fore the battles opening, is the sup
port OF SenatOr-elect Bradley OF Ken
tucay. Governor Bradley is not Tai
man. He IS the only Southern Repub
lican Senator: ne knows the South, h'
] knows the border states, he under
stands the potency of the negro vOt'
in both the border and the Northern
States; and he believes Taft the veal
| candidate.
Acting on this conviction, Governor
Bradley, with John W. Yerkes, formel
The Washington times., 1908-03-22

A French correspondent who was re-
ceived by the President has written a
most intimate and entertaining nara
tive OF the Presidents view of public
and other questions. Probably, how
ever, he felt at liberty to be more IN
innate, by reason of being on the other
side Of the ocean, than he would other
wise
The Washington times., 1908-03-22

postmasters, number OF postmasters TO
the Republican national convention OF
1853 and Republican votes for Congress-
men in 1906. may be something Of an
eye-opener to Northern nrocents, par
ticularly in New England, who think
the man Is a liar who says Federal
patronage is being used 70 advance the
Taft candidacy
The Washington times., 1908-03-22
THE CLASSIFICATION.

He has a bad habit Of calling every
one a mutt
Yes; he's a New Yorker, you know"
''Well?"
well, a New Workers. idea OF a
mutt Is any one who isn't a New
Yorker. Catholic. Standard and Times.
The Washington times., 1908-03-22
Postmasters. Salaries.

Except the four at-large, the dele
gates in every State are elected by
Congressional districts-tWO to each.
Taken in connection with the Repub-
lican vote in these Congressional dis
tricts. the foregoing list is a very In
teresting piece OF statistics. In AIissis-
sippi, for instance, there are 1851 post
The Washington times., 1908-03-22

even this episode of tender if Wig
orous sentiment failed to regain for
women their ancient privilege OF at
tending pugilistic encounters.
The Washington times., 1908-03-22

These facts and figures take no ao-
count Of the United States marshals and
deputy maTshals, OF whom there are
161 in this territory. Of district attorneys,
clerks or United States commissioners.
All these make just as good Republican
delegates, however, as postmasters, and
often do more real work
The Washington times., 1908-03-22

It is shown by careful statistics that
in the black belt" Of the South there
is one postmaster to every FIVE Repub-
Hcan votes. If this doesn't cause a
movement Of migration toward Dixie
nothing can be expected to produce
such an effect
The Washington times., 1908-03-22

In Texas it was, II memory does not
rnislead. that they passed a law re-
curing hotelkeepers TO provide nine
foot sheets Oh beds occupied ~ guests.
But Oklahoma has gone EN- one better
in making this world really desirable
place of residence. It has passed an
act making it a crime for anybody to
butt in" on your telephone converse
ton and listen to II.
The Washington times., 1908-03-22

Abe Hummel is going into the real
estate business, it is announced; but
then it isn't such a change, He'll con-
tinue 10 deal in dirt
The Washington times., 1908-03-22

Hayti didn't succeed IN staying on
the map for long, but it did as we'll as
could be expected in view of the fact
that there are only two ways Of spell
ing its name.
The Washington times., 1908-03-22

Doubtless the gentlemen who drew
up the appeal of labor leaders to la
r7or's friends realized that it would
have rather more weight If it mentioned
a few names of malefactors who mustn't
be nominated for President but re-
Trained on the theory that 1t wouldn't
be- nice to hurt anybody's feelings
The Washington times., 1908-03-22
.SOUTH'S POSTAL MEN
TIMBER FOR TAFT
Manager Of War Secret2ry'S
Campaign Former SUI
perVisor of Voters.
Rural Delivery Carriers Also
Sought by Secretary
Hitchcock.

The most vigorous emanation Of the
anti-Taft campaign which has yet been
put forth. was given TO the press last
evening. 1t IS an analysis OF the meth
DDS by which offcehOlders and their al
lies are alleged to DC getting control
OF the Southern delegates in the in
teYest Of the pyar Secretary's candi-
dacy for President.
1t is charged that In the nine black
States Of the South there were in lSJt
2, $50 pOstmasterS Of rural free delivery
emplGyes-au OF them under the Post
Office Department, and all OF them till
very recently subject 10 the authority
of the present manager OF the Taft
campaign-and only 1870 Republican
votes
One PostOf1Ce Department emplOye tC
every FIVE Republican votes-and q
former Assistant Postmaster General II
charge OF the campaign. That Is the
essence Of the argument. But In detail
tie statement, which was prepared by
one OF the most widely KIN -vn public
mer IN Congr sss, and given out on be
half OF the allied anu-Taft forces, "a
highly interesting throughout. II fol
lows:
The Washington times., 1908-03-22
HELP WANTED FOR THE NEEDY.

THE CITIZENS RELIEF ASSOCIATION spent s751
aryt to relieve distress
THE CITIZENS RELIEF ASSOCIATION spent
ruary for food fuel, and clothing
RELIEF ASSOCIATION
RELIEVING DISTRESS? q
PURCHASING FOOD, FUEL, AND CLOTHING
FOR THOSE SUFFERING?
Address. JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE,
81 Street.
Charities John Joy Edison.
Relief Association, Milton Allies
For Committee Consumption Gen. ".
wood,
The Washington times., 1908-03-22
President Gompers' Call.

ne present Ae144 70 1aDDAu EA5AAC-A ~
President Gompers and the committee
which presented labor's protest 20
Speaker Cannon and Vice President
Fairbanks Thursday afternoon, is in
part as follows:
While the Supreme Court or other in
stitutions may be able 10 temporarily
retard and seriously embarrass the
growth and action OF our movement,
we boldly assert that no power on earth
can destroy, successfully outlaw or
disrupt the trade union movement
IN this conference we, your repre-
scutatfyes, realized the serious respon-
sibility resting upon Us not only 10
voice adequately the feeling OF out
ragged indignation on the part Of the
workers at the deprivation OF their
rights snd liberties involved in the law
as interpreted by recent court decision.
but the even more important task OF
initiating and aiding in carrying to-
ward a successful fulhllment the con-
structive and active work which shall
deliver the workers from the present
and impending danger and ensure them
the restoration Of their rights and lib
critics and secure enjoyment in the
future OF the inalienable rights guar
anteed by our constitution.
a large part Of our deliberations
were naturally devoted 10 a discussion
OF the Supreme Courts action IN apply
ing the Sherman antitrust law to la
Dor.
"Au agreed upon the necessity Of i'm
mediate Congressional action II the ser
ious consequences and threatened dan
The Washington times., 1908-03-22
Confined to OmcehOldeTs.

only 5000 10 the Republican candidate
In 1904.
Confined to OficehOlders.
1T mas been said that the Republican
vote IN the South is confined now TO Of
fee holders. but IN some States ~
these distinguished citizens, on whom
the Administration IS now depending TO
clinch the nomination OF Mr.. Taft, do
not do their fun duty, for they fire.
quently ouUnumber the total OF Repub-
lican votes cast. The Roosevelt ad-
minIstration has had so little use for
the RePublicanism OF the South that IT
has ignored II altogether. as a body,
and parceled out the Federal offices
through what is known as the referee"
system. BY means Of this convenient
device. a very small group Of men,
sometimes only one, are recognized as
the Republican leaders IN a State, and
questions OF Federal appointments are
referred to them-hence the term ref
cree.
This system Of keepihg the party
small for the purpose Of cOnCC!lng it
works well on both ends. These dis
pensers OF Federal patronage have
great influence with the small remnants
Of the party with whom they make
their deals; and they also are shrewd
enough to keep on pretty good terms
with the Democratic leaders, particu~
larry in districts where it is for their
interest TO discover that there are not
enough Republicans to go around. Not
all the Federal Office holders Of the
South are Republicans, but they all hold
office under a Republican President;
and il is only human nature that when
he wants a thing they want IL, too.
These referees are frequent guests at
the White House. and in his famous
letter 10 William Dudley FOuike, hotly
regulating the suggestion that the Ad-
ministration was using Federal patron
age to bring about the nomination OF
Secretary Taft. President Roosevelt
dignified some OF them by name.
Supervised Appointments.
whether or not Federal patronage is
being used in this way. there are ~
postmasters in the nine black States
Of the South. Of which LOS are Presi-
Dental appointments; and in this con-
nection 1t will be recalled tina the East
crn manager Of the Taft campaign,
Frank H Hitchcock. was the official
whose duty It was, as First Assistant
! Postmaster General, to supervise the
appointments to 1858 of those officers.
The total payroll Of these 1900 post
masters, outside the fourth class
amounts TO 81, 697. 900 a year. AS the Su-
preme Court has just decided that un-
der no possible circumstances can any
one OF these officials be approached FOL
a campaign subscription. Of course, they
can assist the Taft campaign only with
their moral influence. But II this were
not so, a l per cent assessment of their
| salaries would yield nearly $4,000. anC
/ the usual 3 per cent would supply a
campaign fund Of about $50 COO These
/ postmasters, by the way. are in addition
to 7,12S carriers in the rural free deliv-
! cry service who could cover a large
/ patch Of ground with earnest Taft tall
/ II that were proper
Force in South.
Following is a table showing how
| these official allies Of the blue blood;
Of New England are distributed. Tie
/ salary list being of all except fourth
| class pOstmasters:
The Washington times., 1908-03-22
Covert Blow at Taft.

Although the name Of no candidate,
announced or prospective, is contained
IN the appeal. II is generally understood
that there was a tendency during the
convention to criucise Secretary Taft
and his former decisions against labor
while on the Federal bench in cOnnec-
ton With the more recent decisions Of
the United States Supreme Court.
A prominent labor leader said last
night that although the representatives
OF the us national and international
trades unions in Washington last week
did not specifically go on record against
the Secretary, that al the mass meetings
called the anti-Taft sentiment would
crystalline and labor as a whole would
oppose his candidacy.
Even as far back as the last national
convention Of the American Federation
OF Labor ar Norfolk II is known that
an effort was made to have the conven-
ton go on record as being unequivo-
caIy opposed TO Secretary Taft. but
definite action at that time was de-
layed.