Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-05-12
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There are two classes of voters that
have heretofore gone almost solidly for
the Republicans In many States. but
which seem This year to be 50 thor
oughly Disguised with the leaders of
that party that they will be found o.
election day almost a unit in opposi-
ton to it. These are the negro vote
and the organized labor vote.
AS TO the negro vote. it seems that
in case Taft or any other man favored
by Roosevelt should be nominated by
the Republicans, that vote may largely
go to the Democratic candidates, be-
cause of the attitude OF the admins
tration towards the negro troops i'm
plicated In the Brownsville affair. This
vote is the controlling factor In many
Republican districts. In New York it
holds the balance of power In the dis
trict represented in Congress by Her
bert Parsons; in Indiana there are
four congressman. including Jesse
Overstreet, who owe their seats to ne
gro votes In Iowa there are two; in
West Virginia, three in New Jersey,
two; in Ohio. two; in Illinois, three /;
in Kentucky, three; in Missouri, one;
In Maryland, two; and in Wisconsin,
two. In all, there are % districts In
which the negro vote is absolutely nee
essary to secure the election OF Re
publican.
But the vote of organized labor is
of still greater Importance. since that
vote counts in almost every congress
sional district in the country, and has
practically Endorsed the program of
legislation for which the Democrats
under the leadership of John Sharp
Williams are battling In the House of
Representatives against the wishes and
purposes of Speaker Cannon and the
Republican majority of that body:
Il. To amend the Sherman anti
trust law so that it Will not include la
Dor unions
~. To adopt bill to regulate and
limit the issuance Of injunctions.
"3. That a general employers liza
DlHty Dill De enacted.
~. BY an amendment to extend the
application of the eight-hour law to all
government employees, and those en-
ployed upon work done for the govern
ment, whether by contractors or sub
contractors"
This program was approved by labor
throughout the country on Easter Sun
day in mass meetings held for the pur-
pose of outlining the policy to be pur-
sued by its organization In respect TO
legislation. And in all those assem-
blies the votes of workingmen enrolled
In labor unions were pledged to candi-
dates who should favor such demands"
President Gompers Of the American
Federation of Labor, in q letter read at
h2se Easter day mass meetings, said
'"Nhe labor unions will not finch, but
manfully stand for their rights, and
the workers and their friends through
out the country shall pledge themselves
without regard TO party affiliations,
without any other divergence of opin-
4Ollt W illc OJcIl VI uJ DOCIll-
ical opponent, and send to political OBJ
livion those who, by negligence or an
tagonism, fail TO respond affirmatively
and give their full support to the spe-
cific measures which labor demands"
With the labor vote and the negro
vote in its present temper. the Repub-
licans are beginning to feel that some
thing must be done to save their party
from defeat. But the trusts and mo-
nopolies who control their leaders will
not permit them to do anything, be-
cause these political interests would
rather see a Democratic President, and
a Democratic Pouse of Representatives
than to allow Congress to make any
concession whatever to organized labor
Intrenched in the Senate, they would
be able TO defeat any measure which
the Democratic House might pass.
Hence 1t is that Republican congress
men are unhappy and cross and peevlsh
these days.