The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1908-09-24
PROTEST FROM LABOR
Kind OF Letters Unions Are Send
ing Mr.. Gompers..
DlSTRUST PARTY OF BRYAN.
Camden Central Labor Union Holds
the Democracy Responsible For De-
plorabIe Condition Of Workers In the
Southern States.

OF the Camden u. - Central Labor
union held Aug. Is. 1905. n communica-
ton from national headquarters was
received In which the work Of the ma
tional convention of the dominant par
ties was set forth and commented
upon. The letter closed with an APP
peal TO "stand faithfully by our
friends; oppose and defeat our enc
niles" Accompanying this communi-
cation was a request for a contribu.
ton TO help make II possible TO wage
successful campaign for the estab-
fishing Of labor's rights The matter
was disposed Of by the secretary being
instructed to forward to the national
Office the following letter:
Camden n. j.. Aus. Is. 1905.
Samuel Gompcrs ESQ. President OF the
American Federation OF Labor;
Dear Sir and Brother-We beg 20 ac-
knowledge the receipt OF an address Is
sued by the executive council OF the
American Federation OF Labor under date
OF Aug. l. Accompanying this Il an APP
peal for funHs 10 carry out the political
programme set forth In the address. In
which you call upon the workers OF our
common country 10 stand faithfully bv
our friends. We hereby return TO you
both documents. not that We DO not think
the wageworkers SHOULD stand by their
friends and defeat their enemies, but
for the reason that we fan TO agree with
you as 10 who are our friends and
who are our encmicS You claim 10 be-
neve tho Democratic party TO be friendly
TO labor because at its last national COIL
Vention q promised TO do certain thine =
II elected. For this reason you ask tao
trades unlonists % the country to DO q o
utmost TO elect its candidates and TO fur
nish means for carrying on It's campaign.
Tho Central Labor union OF Camden
believe they have sufficient intelligence 20
designate who are the friends OF labor
and who are its foes We take no stocx
I'm any party's promises made just prior
10 election when We have the record Of
that party 20 guide and direct us. We
refuse 10 believe that any political party
that has a continuous record Tor permit
ting the most degrading forms % labor
90 exist IN states where Its Jurisdiction
Is complete can or viii reverse itsc.f
when u Gomez into possession OF the ma
tional government Labor has found q q
Democratic parry falthicss and tyruunlcai
IN state government ny what ieEcrdcmain
are We TO believe ~ will do better when
Il has stil grcatcr power 90 opprcss1 In
the southern states. where Bryan pcmoc-
racv has been in the saddle for years and
the highest to The lowest. are the places
to get the party's record IN It's relation TO
the working class. Let ua judge Il by
what 70 has done and Is now doing IN
places whore % u in power. and not BY
any promises @ may make 10 Euln our
votes Tho rule Of the Democratic party
IN the south has produced conditions that
rival the worst ln tho world. In The fac
tories over which they have legislative
control We find wages tho lowest tho
hours the longest and child labor the
sevcrcst Only under Democratic rule 90
we find peonagc and convict pbor farmcd
out by tho state. with thousands % men
and boys working with ball and chain.
sentenced there By Democratic oflcial
upon a trumpcd up charge OF vngrancy.
Nowhere IN this broad land DO you md
the misery OF the worker 50 hopeless or
his poverty 80 degrading as you do In
states ruled by the Democratic party.
Mr. Gompers how can you ask the
working class TO support any party with
such damuat.s rsssgdf Are you 80
plqued because the Republican national
convention handed you n lemon that IN
order 90 defeat Us candidates you wou
foist into power a political party that FOR
the past nfty years has never had the
manhood 20 raise its voice In protest
against any Injustice or irdignity suffered
by the working classT The rule Of the
Democratic party whenever In power has
been most tyrannous and degrading 20
labor. Upon what line OF reason should
the working class help party that has
never missed an opportunity 90 Cypress Sc ?
William Jennings Bryan. as the stand
ard bearer you ask us 20 support. has
never done anything to merit our votes.
There has never yet occurred a crime TO
labor OF sufficient magnitude 20 induce
him 20 protest
Mr. Gompers. the working class cannot
trust a man 10 be high In power who In
not brave enough 10 assert his belief In
the innocence OF men prosecuted by par
ties who furnish the slnews OF war TO
carry on his campaign. Al no time has
Mr.. Bryan. squarely faced the enemy OF
the working class and denounced their
crimes. lie has behcld the tragedies that
have bcfallen labor with stony eyes and a
muzzled jaw.
when Packingtown struck against a re-
duction Of wages TO $40 from E.D per
week no Democratic politician raised his
voice In protest What the working class
has suffered in the last few years for the
sake OF principle would stir the heart OF
Washington monument. II II had one. yet
throughout II all Bryan. who stands as
the champion OF labor because he needs
our support has been as silent as the
tomb.
IL labors friends are TO be found in the
Democratic party labor would have no
problem 20 solve and nothims to complain
CT in states controlled by the Democratic
party. The fact that The worst blows
labor is today receiving come from DEM
ocratio Alabama and by persons high up
In the national councils OF the Democratic
party II conclusive proof that the work.
ing class has nothing to gain by support
ing the party or its candidates
Free press and free speech. the bulwark
OF the workers path TO a better condition.
have time and again been attacked. aud
never once has any prominent Dsinocis alto
paper or party leader raised a voice to
protest Our friends are they who stand
by US continuously and are ever willing
TO fight our battles. Whenever trades
unionism Is attacked II is not the Demo-
cratic party or press that comes TO our
assistance. but the party and press OF
our class. II labor owes any allegiance
20 a political party Il Is certainly 10 a
party composed OF and guided solely by
our class and not 10 one In which labor
exploiters congregate and labor's enemies
control. however much they may promise
In order 10 secure our support. II IL time
for labor 10 awaken to the necessity OF
political acti IN. but In doing so let 1t take
no backward step or make any false
moves. Respectfully yours.
CAMDEN CENTRAL LABOR UNION,
r.. NJ. Hartman. President.
w. 7. LORING. Secretary.