The Reason. (Savannah, GA.) 1908-19??, May 16, 1908, Page 10, Image 10

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10 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