The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-01-20
SARGENT STANDS
BY CONG. WATSON
Ex-head of Railroad Brother
hood Says Congressman
Is for Labor.
HAS EXCELLENT RECORD.
SIXTH DISTRICT MANS FIRM
STAND FOR LABOR is ILLUS
TRATED IN HIS ACTIVITY FOR
PASSAGE OF SEVERAL BILLS.

Washington. Jan. 19-FOllowinG g
the letter. mentioned in the dispatches,
which Frank Sargent, chief Of the Blu
Teau of Immigration and Naturaliza-
ton, addressed to some Of his old-time
railroad associates in Indiana. who
made inquiry regarding Mr.. Watson
labor record in connection with his
candidacy for the Republican nomina-
ton for governor of Indiana:
The Hon. James Eli Watson. mem
Der of congress for the Sixth district Of
Indiana, has a record which, in my
humble opinion. places him as one of
the staunch supporters Of measures
which have been created for the pro
lection advantage and lasting benefit
of the people classed as labor" and
Familiarity termed "OrganiZed labor"
and through whose influence congress
has been urged to enact such measures
into laws for their benefit, and | have
been very much surprised in learning
that claims have been made that Mr..
Watson is an enemy to labor; that he
is not loyal to the interests of labor,
and for that reason he should not re-
ceive recognition by the labor repre-
sentativcs of his district and his state.
1t was my good fortune to spend ten
years in Indiana and during that pc
riod I knew something of Mr.. Watson.
Since he has been in congress | have
had further opportunities of knowing
him as representative of his district
and in the interests of the common
people. | find upon the examination
of the records of congress that he has
always been active in the support of
measures that are today upon our
statute books as laws. which were
framed for the express purpose of bens
efitting labor He was one of the ear
nest advocates of department of com
merce and labor: for the better en-
forcement of the Chinese exclusion
law: for that bill which was of such
great value to the railroad employees of
The country. the safety appliances act;
for the law prohibiting the importation
of contract labor. and excluding unde-
sirable aliens: the act providing that
steamboats, shall have proper quarters
for their crews, and innucmerable
measures in which labor was directly
interested and benefited.
1t is not to be supposed that every
measure introduced into congress
would meet with the approval of MI
Watson, but If one takes the time to
investigate and inquire. he will discov-
Ell that MI. Watson's record stands
forth pre-eminent in support of lesisla-
ion which has been prompted
through the Influence of labor, and
while he has not always agreed with
those who are sometimes influenced by
prejudice rather than by common
sense. he has never failed to support
principles Of right. justice and fair
play.
You ask my opinion of Mr.. Watson
AS a representative lawmaker and his
attitude toward labor. | say unhesi-
tatingly and without any reservation,
that labor need have no fear as to the
position Mr.. Watson will take upon
any subject which is brought forward
in the interests of labor. when those
interests are clearly set forth. and
there is no appearance of malice or
any inclination to do an injustice or to
be unfair. He has a mind of his own.
and does not hesitate to give express
sion to his own views. He is an in
defatigable worker, and will stand
without hitching.
Were | a resident of Indiana today
associated with labor as l have been in
the past. | would have no misgivings
as to what would be the attitude of Mr.
Watson as a representative in congress
or in any other position of authority.
so far as labor's just interests are
concerned.
Mr.. Sargent is an old railroad man
and was formerly grand master of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen.
He resided in Indiana for number Of
years. and. being we'll known there
among the railroad men, he is receiv-
ing inquiries from them as to Con-
gresham Watsons labor record.