The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-10-24
The Man Who
Done Things
A Chronicle of the Doings Of the Hon
James Anthony Hughes The Things
He Has Done, and Has Not Done

During the week OF MAY ~, 100
the voters of the Firth Congressional
District were not surprised to read
in the Republican papers that James
Anthony Hughes had once more bro
ken his promise (nade every two
years for the past twelve) mot to be
d candidate again If they would give
him one more term in congress-. and
had made his announcement as
candidate for reelection.
However, there appeared phrase
on his campaign literature which old
surprise the people; envelopes, let
terheads, cards and posters invarl-
ably bore across their top in flaming
red or heavy black letters the legend
"rIE MAN WHO HAS DOME
THINGS. The surprise was that q
man whose whole record as con-
gresham was as barren OF results
ais the Sahara Desert Is of \, water
melons, could have the unmitigated
gall to make seventh campaign on
such an issue.
One Of the paragraphs In the
formal declaration of his candidacy
particularly attracted the attention
Of organized labor, who had defeated
him in every county of his district
il which union labor existed, two
wears before, even to his own home
county of Cabell. his interesting as
scrtion was as follows:
'.My active interest in behalf OF
UNION LABOR il too well known to
need extensive comment here. Fair
compensation, shorter hours and
better conditions for labor have al
ways been the ends to which l have
bent my efforts. / have supported
every measure that has come up Tor
action under proper endorsement,
and shall continue to use all honor
able methods to further the interests
OF Union Labor.
Upon reading this bold and APP
parently sincere statement union la
Dor men began to ask themselves,
Have we been mistaken as to the
record Of MI. Hughes? Maybe he has
done things for labor of which we
4 have never. heard. Probably some
enemy of his. has = been powerful
enough to keep the good acts Of Mr..
Hughes out of the Congressional
Record. Probably he has passed
laws reducing our hours of labor.
raising our wages, lowering the high
cost of our living, of which we have
never heard. =
Thereupon the suggestion was
made that the Socialist and Labor
star investigate and determine II
some malignant enemy Of the "Sil-
yer-Haired Orator had succeeded
in preventing the enforcement OF
laws fathered by Mr.. Hughes for the
benefit of labor, and had even sue
ceeded in keeping his name out OF
the Record.
Naturally the first place we would
20 for information concerning labor
legislation in the national congress
! would be to the American Fedora
zion Of Labor headquarters in Wash
ington, d. c., the officers OF which
keep an accurate record of labor
measures, their enemies and friends
and a summary of the general atti-
tude of the different Representatives
on legislatian intended to ameliorate
the hard conditions of the men who
toll for "a living wage
On May ~, in letter to the
American Federation of Labor, we
outlined the claims being made by
s.onr" representative and asked fo1
his record as compiled by that or.
ganization. Under date OF May 81
the Federation answered our inqui-
ries as follows:
AMERICAN FEDERATION or
LABOR.
Washington d. C., May 81, 1912
Editor Socialist and Labor Star.
Huntington w. Va,
Dear Sir and Brother:
lRepiying to your inquiry OF MAJ
II, In which you ask concerning ths
labor record Of Congressman James
IA. Hughes, Of the Fifth District o.
West Virginia, furnish you here
with the record Of this gentleman Of
all labor measures that have come
before the House since the 5Stf
Congress, and which practically
covers the whole period OF his ser
vice.
You ask, What has he done fol
labor? You will note by peresa
Of his record herewith given that HI
Is NOT RECORDED AIS VOTING
M FAVOR OF LABOR IN ANY
SINGLE INSTANCE. He is record
ed as voting against labor once, b
answered present" once, and he i
recorded as mot voting twelv'
times
AS TO PERSONAL INITIATIVE
YOUR REPRESENTATIVES, HAt
DEVELOPED NO SPECIAL TAI
EMIT or shown any MARKED ABIL
TTY. The fact that he has been
member Of the House of Representa-
tives for s terms, or twelve year
and at present only occupies posi-
tions ON minor committees, like "Ac
counts and Census" is sufficient Z
! show that he is not a very active 9
seryiceable Representative.
Hoping that this may be OF ser
vice, remain,
FRANK MORRISON, Secretary,
AmpricaIl Federation of Ixa.bO]