The Oskaloosa herald., 1910-10-06

and transient reason that i aspir
for an Office, then it gives ground :
the fact that the friendship that
thought existed deep and true ev
identity was not sincere. However,
have no right to question man TO
his conversion; neither have an,
right to expect his support If he be
lieyes that the present incumben
has been very much abused man.
| 1t is true that Secretary Perry an,
Il belong to the same local union, snt
we have hosts Of friends In Iowa
Whenever | received an honor, wa:
anxious that he receive the same, OF
eyen greater. No two men could b
more personally agreeable to eaol
lother than what we were in all the
Years of our official service. The
miners of Iowa have had ample on
portunity to Judge of our merits as
men, and while Secretary Perry may
think it absolutely necessary to lei
the miners of Iowa and the country
know that he is no longer my friend,
and to so so far as to charge me with
being a "slate-maker" and a quit.
ter" yet the hosts of friends that he
has among the miners of Iowa,-and
believe the country in general-will
resent the uncalled for attack, in
spired as it was without any justifica-
ton and for the express purpose OF
arraying antagonism between life
long friends to advance the interests
of another.
| shall let the miners of Iowa and
the country judge, having the SUI
preme confidence that | can face my
accuser. have never asked high
err privilege in my life than to first
investigate what l believed to be an
injustice to me before rushing into
the press and denouncing any one for
something that he had not done.
The purposes of this movement, l
have always been taught, were lofty.
Men have a right to aspire for office
in any organization without mourning
and | have always agreed on that
principle. 1t is quite true that
[ am warm friend, as was
Perry, to Frank ]. Hayes and William
Green, and they are men whom l re-
gard very highly, but l never an
nounced their candidacy for any Of
fee, feeling that they had the ability
to do that themselves. Perry knows
that these men, as well as |, would
not injure him, and to say the least
his statements in the public press
were amazing to his friends.
If Secretary Perry thinks that he
can secure the election Of President
Lewis by telling the miners of the
country that the present condition of
affairs in the organization is not Lew
is faIlt, but that it is the fault of
others, he has a right to do so If he
believes it will help President Lewis.
| am sure that comparing his
with his action and utter
ances on the floor of the recent Spec
iaI National Convention, something
phenomenal must have come over
him to produce this change of heart.
While he has the right to criticise,
he will, of course, not deny others
The same privilege. Secretary Perry's
was uncalled for, in so far
as it applied to the President of Dis
.Tict 10, knowing as he did that | had
-; IL al II ~
tire in my behalf, and had tried to
be friend to him in all walks of life,
and in the golden chain of friendship,
have always regarded him as link,
and for the very light reasons as
signed in the interview referred to,
he announces the severance of this
friendship and seeks to fasten upon
me disrepute. 1t possibly appears
we'll to some men of intellectual at
to indulge in this sort of
pastime, but never thought that
Perry took an pleasure out of work
Of this kind. If meet defeat at the
hands of the miners OF the country,
will not blame Secretary Perry for
ton of Mr.. Lewis in any way, he has
4 perfect right to do so.
have spent the best years of my
life in the service of the miners of /
Iowa, and l invite investigation into
the affairs of this district, and believe
that we have done our part towards
making it what it is today,-one of
the best district organizations in the
country, and it may be becoming to
Mr. Perry and others to denounce me
as Gutter" because | left the or
ganization in 1909, as its vice presi-
dent, and at the solicitation of many
Of the Local Unions and numerous
friends in Iowa, returned to District
IL as its President.
expect all kinds OF charges and
abuse, but prefer defeat for my
convictions rather than to be known
in history, like some, as Prince of
Posers. 4s Es|