Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 October 1908 — “ALL AGAINST WATSON.” [ARTICLE]

“ALL AGAINST WATSON.”

At the annual meeting of the Indiana Federation of Labor at Vincennes last week the fact was developed that the Republican state central committee, through ex-Congressman Cromer, of Muncie, had been at work trying to control the action of the federation. Many letters written by Cromer to delegates were exhibited in which he stated that he was writing at the request of the Republican committee and asked them to stand by James E. Watson. The federation, however, adopted a resolution reaffirming its opposition to Watson and denouncing Governor Hanly for calling the special session of the legislature. The Watson resolution contained the following statement: Notwithstanding the fact' that it was pointed out to the leading Republican politicians of the state that the record of one of the candidates for the nomination for the office of governor was such that, if nominated by the Hepub Mean convention, "he would be opposed at the polls, not only by the Indiana Federation of Labor, but by the railway organizations as well, the eonvention turned a deaf oar to our pleading and selected as its candidate a man who is responsible for the appointment of a member of the Citizens* Alliance as the factory Inspector of the state of Indiana, a man who, as a member of congress, voted to annul the eight-hour clause of the Panama canal bill; who opposed the bill presented by the railway employes pertaining to their hours of labor and voted for one they did not want; a man who voted against the bill indorsed by the American Federation. of Labor creating the Department of Labor, the secretary of which ie to be a member of the cabinet; a man who is the personal and political friend of labor’s arch enemy, Joseph Cannon, speaker of the national house of representatives, and as “whip” of the house is in accord with his principles and policies; tn brief, the Republican convention nominated James >. Watson as its standard bearer over the protest of organised labor. • • We therefore recommend the reformation of our opposition to James E. Watson as announced at the Muncie convention last year and offer the following as our campaign slogan: "All against Watson,"

Why did Governor Hanly, as soon as he got Into office, aak the legislature to P«t tn his hands “contingent** and "emergency” funds amounting to *40,OH, when other governors—Matthews, Democrat, for instance—got along with *3,000 and had something left? How has ft happened that, with enormous appropriations all along th* line, Hanly ha* found so many opportunities to spend *40,000 extra appertuaitlo* Which did net seme to others and which they did sot seek?