Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 February 1908 — THE LABOR UNIONS AND MR. WATSON [ARTICLE]

THE LABOR UNIONS AND MR. WATSON

Under the head of “The Labor Unions and Representative Watson,” the Washington Herald, one of the leading Republican papers of Indiana, has the following statement: The Herald has not expressed and does not entertain tiny preference among the several candidates for the Republican nomination for governor of Indiana. As we often have said, Mr. Watson, Mr. Taylor, Hugh Miller and Charles Miller are all good Republicans. Any one of them would grace the office of the Indiana executive. Any one of them would receive the sincere and cordial support of the Herald in the campaign. No matter which of the four receives the seal of the nominating convention’s approval, he shall have the Herald’s best work. Weriiave insisted that ths delegates from Daviess county shall be chosen without regard to their individual preferences—that they shall be sent to Indianapolis unhampered by instructions; sent there as Republicans representing Daviess county to do in the convention that which in their deliberate judgment shall be the beat for the Republican party and the state. These things we now repeat, in order that what we are saying on the subject of the attack on Mr. Watson by certain labor leaders may not be construed as an evidence of bias for Mr. Watson. » If James E. Watson were a Democrat, and as such the object of such an illogical and malicious assault as certain persons assuming to speak for labor In Indiana, are directing against him, the Herald, deeming it a duty it owes to the public as a fair public newspaper, would willingly do for him as a Democrat just what we are doing for him as a Republican. No fair and Impartial newspaper could do otherwise. . ..... We do not wonder that Captain Jack Gowdy shows indignation because of these assaults on his friend and townsman, Mr. Watson. There is not the slightest ground in fact for the antipathy indicated in the vicious opposition to Mr. Watson that is fathered and fostered by Edgar A. Perkins, Fred Feick and other Democratic politicians who are posing as the leading spirits of union labor in Indiana. A Democratic Plum. Edgar Perkins and Feick both are associated with the Democratic organization of this state. They were so associated two years ago. Feick stumped the district in an effort to defeat John C. Chaney, the Republican candidate for congress, and elect Cyrus E. Davis, the Democratic candidate. Yet there is not a breath against Chaney as a friend to labor. Edgar Perkins, two years ago, tried to get the Democratic nomination for congress in the Seventh district. Fn I Feick is trying to get the Democratic nomination this year in the Twelfth district. These were the men who tried to work the Gompers letter trick in this district against the Republican candidate for congress and for the benefit of the Democratic candidate with the plethoric bank account. Brought out at the eleventh hour, transmitted direct from the Democratic headquarters at Indianapolis, it was the scurviest scheme ever attempted in this district. That it failed was not the fault of Perkins and Feick, tools of the Democratic organization of the state. What a preposterous thing it is indeed that these willing instruments of Mr. Taggart and his lieutenants should essay to dictate the nomination of a Republican candidate for governor! As well turn the work over to Mr. Taggart himself. The Real Alm. But this onslaught of the Democratic walking delegates Is not intended solely for the discomfiture of Mr. Watson. Deeper and more significant than that is the manifest purpose to discredit the Republican party. The real alm of these Democratic hirelings who are arrogantly assuming to control the labor vote of Indiana is the alienation of those of the members of the labor unions that vote with the Republican party. Edgar Perkins, Fred Feick and their like no more are opposed to James E. Watson in truth than they are antagonistic to other Republicans who aspire to the public service. Their fight on Watson is a fight against the Republican party. If it were not Watson against whom their venomous shafts are directed, it would be some other Republican. And we take it that the Republican party of Indiana will make Its own nominations without reference to the unsolicited and impertinent advtoe of Democratic politicians.