Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-09-02
WOODROW WILSON
A FRIEND OF LABOR
Replies to Letter Sent Him by Editor
of the Labor Standard Of Orange
Giving His Position.
HAS BEEN MISREP RESENTED


form itself about my views" says
Mr. Wilson, "and wait until it could
be sure that 1t Is acting justly, and,
me and frankly ask me what / real
ly think. Your friendliness and
candor leave no choice but to reply.
/ do so with pleasure"
Publicity was first given to a
statement that Woodrow Wilson
was opposed to organized labor in a
dispatch from Trenton, evidently in
spired, to a New York newspaper.
An extract from an alleged inter
view with Mr.. Wilson in the New
York Sun was given to support the
contention The utterance then at
tributed to Mr.. Wilson were a mild
and casual criticism of what was
called the standardtzing of labor.
On this slight foundation opponents
of Mr.. Wilson have sought to pic
ture him as the embodiment of op-
position to the labor unions and all
| that labor unions advocate.
Edgar r. Williamson has been
prominently identified with the lab
| or movement In the Oranges and
Montclair for several years and has
been business agent for the painters
and laperhangers' local union. He
| has won many friends by his reason,
| ableness In handling difficulties that
| frequently arise, and, while strictly
! insisting upon the rights of his as
sociates, his eminently fair methods
| have won him the respect and con-
| fiGence of employers as well as their
workmen. His popularity among
I his fellows is evidenced by his Sc
| lection as the one representative
| from his section at the recent feder-
alton meeting, where he represented
the Orange Federated Trades Ooun-
! ell. This organization includes the
various organizations affiliated with
the building trades, excepting alone
| the masons, and Mr.. Williamson 6
long connection with the Trades
Council has afforded him an oppor-
tunity to study the needs of these
organizations in broad way as well
as to represent his associates In the
painting trade.
Mr.. Williamson's success with the
/, official organ of the Trade Council
! aided materially the progress OF
funion affairs In the Oranges, and
! during the hatters trouble last year
the Standard was fearless Ia taking
up the workmen's arguments. Mr..
Williamson resides In High street,
! Orange, and has wide circle OF
friends in that city as we'll as In the
other places in his jurisdiction.
DR.. Wilson's letter to Mr.. VIII
hanson is as follows:
o Princeton University, Princeton, N. j
Lyme, Conn, Aug. 90, 1910,
'Mr. Edgar Williamson, Orange, N. j
any Dear Mr.. Williamson-T warm.
| ly appreciate your kind letter of Au-
gust 18th.
"The gross Misrepresentation of my
views with regard to organized labor
which some newspapers have contained
have given me no concern. They were
wilful and deliberate misrepresentation
and such things take care OF themselves.
The papers that stoop to them will In
the end be found out and lose credit
altogether.
! II was distressed that the New Jer-
sey State Federation Of Labor should
have allowed itself to be imposed upon
not because its members are likely
to remain deceived In this matter, but
for the opposite reason; because they
are sure to discover their mistake and
to feel the modification of having ta-
ken unjust and hasty action. / was
not hurt because know that no In
! Justice was intended I was simply
sorry. 1t is pity to see things SO
| handled.
''I had of course intended to let
the incident pass in silence-for two
reasons. First, because I knew the
whole matter would right itself, and
/ second, because / have not been seek
/ ing the nomination for governor at
the hands Of my party, and to argue
the matter, would seem to be arguing
for my nomination, but your letter puts
compulsion upon me of an entirely
different kind. You urged the fedora
tion to inform itself about my views
and wait until it could be sure that it
was acting justly, and, having failed
in that, you turn to me and frankly
ask me what I really think. Your
friendliness aud candor leave me no
choice but to reply. 1 do SO with
pleasure.
ftI have always been the warm friend
of organized labor 1t is, in my opin-
ion. not only perfectly legitimate, but
absolutely necessary that labor should
organize if it is to secure justice from
organized capital, and everything that
/ 1t does tG improve the condition OF
/ workingmen, to obtain legislation that
will impose full legal responsibility
upon the employer for his treatment of
his employees and for their protection
against accident, to secure just and ade-
qnate wages, and to put reasonable
/ limits upon the working day and upon
| all the exactions of those who employ
/ labor, ought to have the hearty sup
port Of ali fair-minded and public-spirit-
ed men; for there Is sense In which
the condition of labor is the condition
of the nation itself.
sfI have criticised some OF the things
Continued on page 3D.
Skating tonight and tomorrow