New-York tribune., 1910-11-06
JOHN MITCHELL DROPS DIX
Labor Leader Advises Waoe
Farmers to Oppose His Election.
CONDEMNS 13-HOUR DAY
Says Workingmen Should Judge
Candidate by His Conduct
Toward His EMPLOYEES

In a letter given out YESTERDAY Tohn
Mitchell, the labor leader, former ,resi-
dent Of the United Mine Workers Of .r,sr-
ica and v1ce-presiCeut of the American
Federation Of Labor after dri,.ip. bo,,,s
the charge that John A Dix worI,r his
men thirteen hours day for 81 * ad
v-seS the wage earners of New yorl. o,,i+e
apart from political considerations that
they should oppose TIE election of am, can
d-Gate who has shown himself so clearly 10
be out of sympathy with their efforts TO
secure fair wages and reasonable hours
Mr. Mitchells letter was given out bv
Er. Henry Moskowitz. president Of the
StlmsOn League of Independent Voters II
constitutes the clearest statement of the
wage earners' arraienment of the Dix la
Dor record that has appeared so far in the
campaign.
The great labor leader wrote that when
tie charges were first made that DIX
worked his men thirteen hours dav for
81 10, he. as a citizen of New York State
assumed that a prompt denial would follow
the accusation. and il was only after the
effort OF Mr.. Dix TO dodge the issue be-
came transparently apparent that he be-
gan to realize what reactionary blight
the election Of the Democratic candidate
WOrkingmen of this state
If he does not treat Justly the worknoen
employed in his own mills, then the wage
earners of the state have no right to ex-
pect that he will defend or protect their
interests if he We're elected as Governor of
the state" writes Mr. Mitchell of Dix and
professions of friendship count for little (;
JEe best measures Of friendship by which
to judge any candidate for Office is his con-
duct toward the men whom he directly en-
ploys"
Mr.. MitchelIs letter in full is as follows:
Mount Vernon, n Y, Nov 3 1910
As a citizen Of the State of New York
and as a representative of the wage earn
ers I have observed with keen interest the
discussion OF various issues as they have
developed in the gubernatorial campaign.
nave been particularly interested in the
expressions of the respective candidates for
Governor IN relation TO Industrial matters.
When the charge was first made that Mr..
DIX. candidate for Governor. required the
employees in his paper mills to work thir-
charge had no basis in fact and that II
would be answered by specific and con-
elusive denial. However. up to this hour
no denial has been made and no eXplana-
tion has been offered by Mr.. Dix. On the
contrary, investigation has demonstrated
that the employees of the paper mills con-
trolled by Mr.. Dix are required TO and do
work thirteen hours each night. 1t has also
been charged and not denied that the work
men IN his mills receive in return for these
excessively Ions hours only 81 10 a night, or
B12 cents an hour
For many years the wage earners of the
state and the nation have been contending
Tor an eight-hOur day. In this effort the
organized workmen have met with large
state. of New York has recognized the
pracuca blllty and the justice of the eight
hour day by legally providing that:
Each contract to which the state or
municipal corporation or a commission ap-
pointed pursuant to law is a party which
may involve the employment of iaborers
wcrkmen or mechanics. shall contain a
stipulation that no labOrer. workman or
mecnanlc IN the employ of the contractor,
contracting 10 do whole or part of the
work contemplated by the contract shall
be permitted or required 70 work more than
elght hours N any one calendar day, except
IN cases Of extraordinary emergencies
caused by, fire, food or danger 10 life or
If the great State of New York and all
It's municipalities Ordain eight hours as a
falr days work, what justihCatio can
mere he tor eXcuslng or defending a thtr
teen,9our DAY IN the paper mills controlled
by Mr.. Dix? The statute Of the State
of New York, just quoted. tablishing the
eieht-hour day was enacted at the solicita-
tlon of the wage earners. Does it seem
reasonable TO suppose that Mr.. Dix. who
requires his own men to work thirteen
hours each night, would sympathize with
law which establishes for state and mu-
nictpal employees an eight hour workday?
In view Of the treatment accorded his own
en- pIoyes could Mr.. Dix consistently favor
legislation limiting the hours of labor OF
women and children. or of men employed
In dangerous and unhealthful trades? Pro
fessiCns Of friendship count for little The
best measure of friendship by which 10
Judge any candidate for office is his con-
duct toward the men whom he directly en-
ploys. II he does not treat justly the
Workmen employed in his own mills then
the wage earners of the state have no
right TO expect that he will defend or pro-
Taf1r hnfr ip,~ ,e-Tr- l.
erro of the state In my opinion. the
wage earners should distinguish between
the candidates for Office and that quite
apart from political considerations thew
should oppose the election of any candidate
Of any party who is not in sympathy with
their efforts TO secure and maintain fair
ttons of employment and that thev should
give their support to candidates. irrespec-
tive of party affiliations. whose past actions
nave demonstrated their fairness TO labor
-IOELN NILTCyLII-I