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sider whether an issue is popular or not; I endeavor
to decide if the basic principle upon which it rests
is right, if it is, I advocate it. and if I believe it is
not. I do not. This is but the frank expression of
an honest opinion, and if I am wrong I regret it,
and I trust that God will lead me into the glorious
light of His eternal truth that. I may see my error
and depart therefrom.
About Mr. Edwards’ Courage.
“There is another equally amusing position taken
by )lr. Edwards in this campaign to which I wish
to call your attention” continued Air. Sheppard,
“before entering into a discussion of the issues con
tained in my platform.
“Charlie says I ought not to be running against
him. Why.’ Does he give you any reason for it?
Not that 1 have heard. Mr. Edwards did not tell you
that he was a candidate against me in the hour of
my extremity, from the time when the primary of
1906 resulted in a tie, until by the coincidence of
circumstances, that Convention nominated him for
Congress, lie did not tell you that he approached
many members of the Sheppard delegation, in the
interest of his nomination for Congress even before
they had met with me in caucus.
“He did not tell you that he is now occupying
a position and drawing a salary of $7,500.00 a year
to which he really has no right, for the people, in
the first instance, did not nominate him ami gave
him no Commission. Did the people of this district
know where Air. Edwards stood on any of the pub
lic questions before he was nominated for Congress?
“Well, we would believe from the manner of
Air. Edwards’ speeches that the House of Repre
sentatives was bristling with bayonets against the
introduction of his bills, for he said ‘1 had the
courage to introduce them;’ now did you ever stop
to think how much courage it takes to introduce a
bill in Congress, how much does it take? All a Con
gressman has to do is to click them out on a type
writer, throw them into the hopper and they are
introduced. It does take courage to run for political
preferment before the people of this country, and if
my memory serves me right Air. Edwards has not
displayed any considerable amount of courage in
this particular heretofore, for he wished very much
to enter the race for the long term two years ago
against Air. Brannen and myself and consulted his
friends concerning it. He also started to run for
Congress for the unexpired portion of Air. Lester's
term, but he didn’t have the courage to tight it on
to the finish; there is where courage is shown. But
Air. Edwards didn't show any.
“If Air. Edwards has the courage of which he
boasts why doesn’t he display a little of it by telling
the people where he honestly stands on the liquor
question ?
THE REASON
“If he can blow hot and cold on that question
mav he not also find breath to blow hot and cold
on many of the other questions that so vitally con
cern our people ?
“I want to tell you honestly just exactly where
I am at tonight and if you then see fit to honor me
with your vote in this election I shall be very grate
ful. Should you send me to Washington to repre
sent you you may rest assured that an honest effort
will certainly be made to serve you. I hope in the
event of my election to be able to accomplish some
thing for my district, for my State and not only
for my district and State but for the entire nation
as well.
Labor and Capital.
“I cannot do better than to reiterate my position
in regard to organized American laborers than I did
in the last campaign. If I could express my views
more strongly in their behalf I would gladly do so.
Men of capital, many years ago, saw the power and
advantage which organization offered in protecting
their interests in every possible way against every
contingency, emergency and conflicting interest that
might arise. They organized themselves into great
corporations and combinations which have, in many
instances, used their power to oppress the people,
their employees, the poor, the weak and the help
less. It is, therefore, entirely proper, and impera
tive that those who are employed by these great
organizations, those who labor, those who ‘earn
their bread by the sweat of their brow,’ should
organize for the protection and maintainance of their
rights. They too, have rights and interests which
should and must be respected. In the unequal strug
gle between organized capital and unorganized
labor, the effort of the individual laborer to resist
the oppression of organized employers, would be as
ineffectual and fruitless as a drop of water to make
the ocean or a grain of sand its shore. The laborer
is the producer of all wealth. He is the backbone
and sinew of the nation, and yet he reaps but a
small proportionate share of the proofits of his
labor's products. THE LABORER'S AIUSCLE IS
HIS MONEY AND HIS LABOR IS HIS INVEST
MENT, AND HE, LIKE HIS EAIPLOYERS, IS EN
TITLED TO A FAIR INTEREST UPON HIS IN
VESTAIENT IN ADDITION TO HIS EVERY DAY
LIVING. Laws should be enacted which would in
sure him a fair and just pay for an honest day’s
work. The law should protect his labor from de
preciation by the usurpation of his place by the
cheap labor imported from foreign countries and
the employment of children in the manufacturing
institutions of this country. But I am in favor of
organized labor for a better reason. It is because
the organization of labor, as in other things, ele
vates and uplifts labor and the laborer and assures