Evening journal., 1908-09-21
PROTEST FROM LABOR
Kind of Letters Unions Are Send
ing Mr.. Gompers.
DIsTRUsT PARTY OF BRYAN
Camden Central Labor Union Holds
the Democracy Responsible For De-
PIorable Condition Of Workers In the
Southern States.

Southern States.
At the regular semimonthly meeting
Of the Camden On. j. Central Labor
union held Aug. IS, 1908, a communica-
tion from national headquarters was
received In which the work Of the na-
tional convention Of the dominant par
ties was set forth and commented
upon The letter closed with an ap-
peal to stand faithfully by our
friends; oppose and defeat our enc
miles," Accompanying this eommuni-
cation was a request for a contribu-
ton to help make it possible to wage
a 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., Aug. Is, 1908.
Samuel Gompers, ESQ, President OF the
American Federation OF Labor:
Dear Sir and Brother-We beg to ao-
knowledge the receipt OF an address is
sued by the executive council of the
American Federation OF Labor under date
or Aug. /. Accompanying this is an ap-
peal for funds to carry out the political
which you call upon the workers OF our
common country to stand faithfully by
our friends. We hereby return to Won
both documents. not that we do not think
the wageworkers should stand by their
friends and defeat their enemies. bur
Tor the reason that we fail to agree with
you as to who are our friends and
who are our enemies. You claim 70 be-
heve the Democratic party to be friendly
70 labor because at its last national con-
vention Il promised to do certain things
II elected. For this reason you ask the
trades unionists Of the country to do the
utmost to elect its candidates and TO fur
nish means for carrying on its campaign.
The Central Labor union OF Camden
believe they have sufficient intelligence to
designate who are the frienda OF labor
and who are its foes. We take no stock
In any party's promises made just prior
10 election when we have the record Of
that party 10 guide and direct US. We
refuse to believe that any political party
that has continuous record for permit
ting the most degrading forms OF labor
70 exist in states where its jurisdiction
Is complete can or Will reverse itself
when It comes into possession Of the ma
tonai government Labor has found the
Democratic party faithless and tyrannical
IN state government. By what legerdemain
are we 70 believe Il will do better when
II has still greater power to oppress2 In
the southern states, where Bryan Democ-
racy has been In the saddle for yeafs and
where It dominates every Office from
tne highest TO the lowest, are the places
TO get the party's record in its relation to
the working class. Let us judge II BY
what II has done and is now doing in
places where II Is In power. and not by
any promises It may make to gain our
votes. The rule Of the Democratic party
in the south has produced conditions that
Ia ka Tn ~.
tories over which they have legislative
control We find wages the lowest the
hours the longest and child labor the
Beverest. Only under Democratic rule do
we find peonage and convict labor farmed
out by the state with thousands OF men
and boys working with bail and chain.
sentenced there by a Democratic Official
upon trumped up charge OF vagrancy.
Nowhere in this broad land do you find
the misery Of the worker 80 hopeless or
his poverty 50 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 a damnable record? Are you so
piqued because the Republican national
convention handed you a lemon that IN
order TO defeat its candidates you would
foist into power a political party that for
the past fifty years has never had the
manhood 10 raise its voice in protest
against any injustice or indignity suffered
by the working class? The rule OF the
Democratic party whenever In power has
been most tyrannous and degrading to
labor. Upon what line OF reason should
the working class help a party that has
never missed an opportunity to oppress IL
William Jennings Bryan, as the stand
ard bearer you ask us 10 support, has
never done anything to merit our votes.
There has never yet occurred a crime to
labor OF sufficient magnitude to induce
him to protest
Mr.. Gompers, the working class cannot
trust a man TO be high in power who Is
not brave enough to assert his belief in
the innocence OF men prosecuted by par
ties who furnish the sinews Of war to
carry on his campaign. At no time has
Mr.. Bryan squarely faced the enemy of
the working class and denounced their
crimes. He has beheld the tragedies that
have befallen labor with stony eyes and a
muzzled jaw.
When Pacldngtown struck against a re-
duction Of wages to $50 from $40 per
week no Democratic politician raised his
voice In protest. What the working class
has suffered I'm the last FEW years for the
sake Of principle would stir the heart OF
Washington monument. II It had one. yet
throughout It all Bryan, who stands as
the champion Of labor because he needs
our support, has been as silent as the
tomb.
II iaDpi| AIAtnus are 70 De IOunQ IN the
Democratic party, labor would have no
problem 10 solve and nothing to complain
OF In states controlled by the Democratic
party. The fact that the worst blows
labor is today receiving come from Dem
ocratic Alabama and by persons high up
In the national councils OF the Democratic
party is 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 bulwdrk
Of the workers path to a better condition,
have time and again been attacked, and
never once has any prominent Democratic
paper OF 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
TO a political party Il is certainly to a
party composed OF and guided solely by
our class and not 70 one In which labor
exploiters congregate and labor enemies
control, however much they may promise
In order TO secure our support. 1t Is time
for labor to awaken to the necessity OF
political action, but in doing so let II take
no backward step or make any false
moves. Respectfully yours.
CAMDEN CENTRAL LABOR UNION.
r. M. Hartman. President
W. T. LoRING. Secretary.
The sending Of this letter was au-
thoriEed by an almost unanimous vote.
There was one dissenting voice and
two members not voting - Camden