The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-10-28
BY tfiesElI antics Tor olibeal
Eaeet III erft
Campaign.
Campaign.

Campaign.
long letter 70 the editor Of
4be TInifea Mine VVoiriSeFs journal.
Iean Mitchell, former president OF
me IJnited Nine workers makes II
plain that he has not, as certain per
1 ons have claimed, been working Tor
ETvan. Mr. Mitchelf's views on the
nart labor should play in politics are
fIIIv SET forth IN his letter. It was
| vi5y7sitteI11 I'm New York under date OF
october R1, and Is as follows:
..Iluring the past few days have
received numerous INQUIRIES from
secretaries of our local unions IN REL
ference to q poster containing q large
1il-aIJnass Of myself, below which is
nPinthd what purports to be an in
| teryieyv with me bearing upon the
/; present political situation. Some OF
: these letters are written in spirlG
of criticism, while others are COM
mandatory, and request that ADJ
tional posters be mailed Tor olstEl-
Ut Ia obvious that these posters
have been received by many, IS not
,by all the secretaries of our local
+! unions: IL is apparent that at least
some of our members believe that
they were sent out by me. and the as
s1rnrtioI. Is that am attempting to
dictate at least 10 suA1AuGH(S
manner in which our members should
vote: To those who know me best u
should be unnecessary to say that
would not be so lacking IN modesty
as to mail to the local unions OF the
United Mine Workers oI America pic
lures of myself, even though I de-
sire to convey to them an expression
of my political opinions.
..In order to remove any misunder-
standing that may exist, take this
means of Informing our members
that 1 have not mailed, nor authorized
any one else to mall, to any member
or office of our union or to any one
else any poster containing my like
ness or giving expresston to my po-
Iitica1 views, except so far as these
views are expressed in the official cir
culars authorized by the Executive
Council OF of the American Fedora
ton Of Labor.
"only a short time ago a weekly
paper published in Bumalo printed
what purported to be a telegram
signed by me declaring unequtWocatly
for one of the presidential eandt-
dates, and, with equal emphasis,
voicing equal opposition to another.
That telegram, which has been CIV
en- wide circulation. was not written
by me nor by my authority never
saw It nor heard Of 1t until It appear
II have borne patiently with this
Misrepresentation and have hesitated
to say anything by SvaySoE correction.
because I feared that to DO so would
be to furnish another OPPORTUNITY for
Earbling what said. and thus place
me in even a more embarrassing po-
sition, and might thus convey the
impression am not in full synpa-
thy with the efforts OF the working
people to secure remedial legislation
for the wrongs OF which they com
plain. But matters have gone so far
that cannot, in Justice to my own
conscience, remain silent while 9th
ers use my name in this unauth oFiZed
manner. am abundantly able to
speak for myself, and object to
these unwarranted liberties being
taken with my Name Therefore. 4
avail myself of this means OF com
municating to all who may be Inter
ested this explanation and expression
of my views.
las I understand the policy of the
American labor movement and the
action of the United Mine Workers
of America, 1t Is that the organiZa-
lions of labor are not committed to
any political party: the workingmen
of America are endeavoring so Tar
as lies in their power and without re-
gard to political Affiliations. TO elect
trade unions or other candidates who
are known to he In sympathy with the
political and Industrial reforms nee
essary to the protection and preser-
walton of the interests of the wage
earners To this end have written
letters of recommendation. and shall
write others urging our fellow-worlS-,
ers to support trades untonists and.
friends of the trade union movement.
who have been nominated for official
position To be specific. I hav writ
ten. or shall write letters endorsing
the candidacy for congress of sue men
as w. b. Wilson, former secretary Of
the United Mine Workers OF Ameri-.
ca: T. D. Nichols, president OF Dis
trlc No l: D. w. Mahon. president Of
the Amalgnmated Association of
ployes; James P. Maher, treasurer of
John @. McHenry, of Benton, Pa. etc.
the manufacturing, the rnercantile.th the
the agricultural. and even the leisure
represented in our state and national
also be represented by n group of
Dor. whose training ana experience
are such as to enable them TO repre-
sent in an Intelligent and forceful
manner the needs and requirements
of that great division of society which
Is least able to protect itself. When an
factors are thus represented, we can
=. p9-.kf t.