The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1910-10-25
DID c. 5. SPRACUF
PACK LABOR HALL

Did Charles s. Sprague, Democratic
candidate for Congress, employ mem
bers of the Western Federation of
Miners to go from Goldfield to Mound
House to pack the labor union hall in
his own INTEREST," The following let
ter, from Clarence Turnage, president
of the Lyon and Ormsby County La
Dor Union No. 261, certainly looks
like it. Read it and draw your own
conclusion:
Mound House, New. Oct. %, 1910.
Dear Sir and Brother:
Considerable has been said regard
ing the Endorsement OF E. E. Roberts,
Republican candidate for Congress, by
Local 26l, Western Federation Of
Miners, and the so-called reputation
subsequently made by the union. AS
president of the union at the present
time and the president at the time of
both actions, / not onlv deem it my
privilege, but my duty to make a
statement of the matter to the union
men of this state and the people gen.
orally so that they will not be misled.
The Lyon and Ormsby County
Union, in recognition of the services
rendered the laboring interests of the
state by E. E. Roberts in the legisla-
ture and aslo in other instances dur
ing his public career in Nevada, elect
ed him a member before / was an Of
fcer of No. 261. When he announced
his candidacy for the nomination for
Congress on the Republican ticket to
be voted upon at the September pri-
maries, the members of this local dis
cussed the matter of recommending
him to the other union men of the
state as friend of organized labor
and "man who would always be
found on the job' where the inter
ests of labor were concerned. At the
time little interest was shown in
union affairs by No. 261, but myself
and the secretary discussed the matter
of recommending him to the other
union men and with all members in
good standing in Local No. 261 except
one, and all those interviewed favor
ed the plan. Accordingly a letter was
drafted and sent to the various locals
of the state recommending Mr..
Roberts because cf his known and
proved friendship for labor That let
ter was signed by myself and Fred j.
Hotallng as secretary of the union.
After the primary election at which
Mr.. Roberts was selected as the nomi-
nee of his party, several members of
the w. f. of M. nd belonging to the
Lucky Boy Union, arrived at Mount
House and depositing their cards be-
gan systematic fight to have the
recommendation of Mr.. Roberts re-
pudiated by the union. The most of
two nights was spent in discussion of
the matter, but finally this "import-
ed" strength Q will not say they
were imported for the purpose al
though the leader was from Esmeralda
county, a friend to the Democratic
for Congress and in close
touch with the Democratic party and
to have a good supply of
assisted by persons who were
not in good standing at the time of
the Endorsement, won out and the
recommendation was repudiated. There
was an agreement that no copy of the
resolution should be given out except
to the various locals of the state, but
/ am informed and know that purport-
ed copies were Immediately sent to
the Democratic headquarters, and pur-
ported copies have been read from the
public rostrum by public speakers.
/ am not writing this letter in de-
fense of Mr.. Roberts, nor in condemna-
tion of Mr.. Sprague, his opponent, but
simply that justice be done; that E.
+. Roberts gets 'ssquare deal" and
that the union men of this state fully
understand the situation. Mr.. Rob-
erts has been indorsed by several 9TH
er unions in the state of Nevada,
where his record is known and this So
called "repudiation will not shake
the faith of union men in man
whose acts speak, man who does not
depend upon promises, but has made
good with the laboring people.
Yourst very resectfully,
CLARENCE FURNACE,
President No. 261, w. F. of M.