The Democratic advocate., 1908-10-09
BALTIMORE WORkINGMEN
Very Much in Earnest In Their Sup
port of Bryan.

Baltimore, Oct. 1.-THE Republican
managers in Baltimore found out to-
day that the local Federation of Labor
is in deadly earnest about carrying
this city for Bryan and Kern. The
fact was developed that the Federation
had arranged for Is meetings in the
eastern, southern and southwestern
sections of the city, where the work
ing elements chiefly live, to take place
between now and election day.
In addition, big maSs-meeting OF
union men has been arranged for Oc-
tober %, which will be addressed by
President Gompers, of the American
Federation, and James O'Connell,
president of the International associ-
alton of Machinists, both of whom will
urge upon all workingmen the wisdom
of supporting the Democratic ticket
this year. 1t is proposed to make of
this meeting one of the biggest events
of the Maryland campaign, labor un-
ions from every part of the city and
from every county of the State being
represented.
Edward Hirsch, president of the Bal
timore Federation, under whose leader
ship this program has been arranged,
said to-day that careful count among
the local union shows that 80 per cent.
of the members are now for Bryan.
He is confident the percentage will
be even larger before election day.
Rbbert E. Lee, formerly a paperhang-
er, but now a lawyer and attorney for
the Federation, says this estimate is
about correct.
There will be no delivering of the
labor VOTE" said he today, "by Mr..
Gompers or anybody else. The work.
ing people got better deal from the
Democrats than they did from the Re-
to vote in a body; as nearly as we can,
for Bryan and Kern"
The Federation also is working it's
best for Captain Smith, the Democratic
candidate for Congress, against Sydney
in that district.
The Republicans in this city always
have relied upon the labor vote at ma
tional elections. Protection" was the
artful catchword on which they de-
pended for union support. But this
year 1t is different and the managers
are up tree as to what can be done
to offset this detection. The heretofore
SIdlW al dy VI
Gratis" is in such a bad way that it of
fers but little more than a forlorn
hope.
Today Joseph McGregor, secretary
of the Federation of Labor, who had
accepted the nomination for Congress
in the Third district from the Inde-
pendent League, announced his with
drawal from the race. In his letter
Of withdrawal McGregor says that in
asmuch as "the Democracy has un-
qualifedly pledged itself if placed in
power to secure the relief to which
the toilers of our country are justly
entitled" he feels bound in conscience
to advocate the election of Bryan.
This is one of the straws which indi-
cate how the wind is blowing here
abOuts.
A negro candidate has appeared,
much to the dismay of the RepubIi-
cans. Today it developed that the ne
gro voters of the Fourth district, in
which there are 5000 colored names
registered, are circulating a paper for
the signatures necessary to bring out
a Congressional candidate of their
own race. These incidents go far TO
prove the charge that a formidable
element of the colored vote in this city
is in revolt against the Republican
managers, whom they have scrvilely
followed for forty odd years.