Letter in the New York Public Library Collection:

New York, Aug. 28th, 1886.

Mr. Lewis P. Delan,—      Chairman Conmittee of Ways and Means,

Dear Sir:—

You have asked my views in regard to what position I would assume in case the convention of Workingmen should place me in nomination for the office of Mayor. I respectfully state that in matters referring to the general interest of the working classes, I sympathize with their efforts to limit the hours of labor; existing laws if honestly enforced would reduce working hours on the public works of the City of New York to eight hours a day, and if elected Mayor I would make every effort to see that these laws are not neglected as they have been since their enactment and are still, by the municipal authorities. But to the extent of my personal and official influence, I would go further. I believe that eight hours a day, six days a week is as long as any one should work for an employer. Continuous and monotonous labor for a mere living is injurious physically, morally, mentally and socially and a due regard for the welfare of the working class demands such a limitation as I suggest. We already have Sunday Laws which are sustained by the Courts solely on the ground that they are salutary checks to excessive labor and not upon religious grounds, as is sometimes supposed. The same reason sustains the demand for a limitation for the hours of labor and I shall always favor such a limitation by law.

I sympathize also with the opposition of labor organizations to child labor. The employment of little children in factories and stores ought not to be permitted. Children under sixteen years of age are prohibited by law from appearing in theatrical performances. If such a law commends itself to the good sense of the conmunity, a law prohibiting all such employment of children under 14 years would not be open to criticism. Nothing can be urged in favor of the one law that does not apply with equal force to the other.

I am opposed to the contract system in the construction of any public work and I believe that all workingmen employed in any of the departments of the City government should be citizens of the United States. I should favor any constitutional law which would put an end to the manufacture of cigars in tenement houses, and I am opposed to the conspiracy laws which are used to harass and oppress laborers while rich schemers escape. I believe, too, that pecuniary qualifications for public service, as in the case of jurors, are at war with democratic institutions. I have always been opposed to the National Banking system whereby certain corporations acquire the privilege of issuing money. I believe that all money should be issued directly by the general government, and in my opinion all wages should be paid in such money and paid weekly.

I have observed and deplore the growing power and threatening attitude of railway and telegraph corporations.  The continuance of republican government depends upon their repression. The business of telegraphing belongs to the postal service and should be made a part of it, while  railroads shonld be owned and operated by the general and state governments.

The wanton disregard of life and limb on the part of Building Employers and their overseers demands that a stringent law be passed compelling them to place proper safeguards, constructed in the most substantial manner and of the best materials, so as to prevent the appalling loss of life which daily occurs to those employed in building up our City.

My attention has naturally been directed to the question of wealth distribution, and I clearly see how inequitable it is. This unjust distribution of wealth making some inordinantly rich, and others very poor, tends to create classes, and make the poor subject to the rich, and to inflame the minds of the wealthy with the hope of subjugating the masses. The accumulation of great wealth in the hands of the few should not be permitted; to prevent it I would propose a tax upon private fortunes, so graduated as to limit the accumulation of wealth by any individual to five hundred thousand dollars.

The great predominant question now asserting itself before the citizens of the United States is the boycotting of the pauper-manufactured produces of Europe by strong, legal, earnest and healthy protection to our home industries, on the subject matter, independent of any alliance with either of the great political parties at present existing. I am for “Home Rule”, Home Trade”, and “Home Protection”.

If the convention of workingmen now assembled to nominate a candidate for mayor should decide on me for their candidate I believe I can be elected with or without any outside endorsement.

It would be well for the convention to take into consideration the important offices which will be at the disposal of the incoming Mayor, and consequently the candidates of the other organizations will not spare any means or exertions possible to secure their election. My whole heartfelt sympathy is now and ever has been with the laboring classes and if selected by your convention as their candidate I will contribute to an extent that will insure success of the campaign, and will confer on me the honor of being the first  [ E R A S U R E ]  Mayor elected by the working class of this great metropolis.

[signed]    James J. Coogan