The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-05-25
IMPORTANT COMMITTEE
REPORT TO COUNCIL.
UoNpuorED BY h. ". BRUMLEY

The regular meeting of the Birmingham
Trades Council this afternoon at 2:So
O'Clock at Bricklayers' Hall promises to
be Of much interest Two important
special committees will report and partic-
ular interest is centered in the report Of
the committee on political action. The
committee held a lengthy session last
Sunday morning at Bricklayers' Hall
and organized by electlng Mr.. Harry
Markey chairman and Mr.. B. W. Brum-
ley secretary
The necessity of political action of
wage-earners as working men is as thor
oughly recognized in Birmingham as any
point in the country. Just how to take
this action has been the big problem to
solve. Some months ago a committee
was appointed to make recommendations
along this line, and the advisability of
taking Independent action was discussed
This was abandoned as unwise, and the
council adopted plan to go Into the
Democratic primaries and secure the cleo
ton of the best men to the interest of
organized labor. This accomplished the
next step is to mobilize their forces so
they will act as a unit in whatever they
may undertake. The committee believes
the plan they will report to the council
today will do that.
The fact that politics Is eschewed from
the unions, particularly partisan politics.
and that the broadcast laws of trades
unions only admit of the discussion of
economic questions in the meetings, and
the fact that the failure of the Knights
of Labor has been attributed to the in
PRODUCTION of politics, and that there is
considerable doubt as to the advisability
| of mixing the bread and butter PROPOSE
lions of life with the practical methods
necessary to secure political recognition,
the trades unions have been more of
negative than q positive factor in public
| affairs.
But with the trades unionists becoming
more fully alive to the necessity of politi-
cal action of working men as working
men, the only matter left open is the
best plan to -Rursue and the committee
| feel that their plan Is not only practical
| bic but will meet all requirements The
| platform is to be formed along the lines
| of the demands of the American Fedora
| ton of Labor.
In this connection 1t will interesting to
note what has been done and Is projected
in Connecticut
Connecticut has three mayors who were
elected to office in less than six months
by what is generally called the labor
! party of Connecticut. Mayor Sullivan Of
Hartford presides over $4,000 population
Bridgeport has a labor union mayor
Denis Mulvihill, a stoker. Mayor Stephen
Charters of Ansonia is a labor union
man, a mechanic. The nomination of
Mayor Charters grew out of the strike in
his town. He was carpenter and an Of
f1cer in the local trades council. Charters
was arrested with two other labor leaders
because of connection with the strike and
there is still pending against him in the
Superior Court, criminal side, charge Of
conspiracy growing out of the strike. Null
Willis platform was rugged honesty
and economy" Charters trades unions
and Sullivans "the Economic League"
He advocates free textbooks, a municipal
lighting plant. eight hours for city en-
ployes. honest government and economi-
cal administration. Since the victory of
these three men there has been consider
able talk of the laboring men. or organ
lied labor, putting In the field this COM
Ing fall candidate for Governor of Con-
necticut
All these platforms will hold good In
Alabama. with the addition of the pre-
vention of child labor and compulsory
education. Organized labor may find in
municipal affairs a powerful ally In the
business men who show disposition TO
work for a change
The carnival committee will report and
the Council will decide positively whether
or not they will undertake to give a car
nival. The committee will report in favor
Of the project.