The age-herald., 1902-05-04
WORKING MEN
 GO INTO POLITICS.
[ CONDUCTED nr B. w. BRUMLEY

1 WOhNhTNG tUEIN
 GO INTO POLITICS.
 The day approaches when the working na. is to take a hand in politics as worSngman. Not for tho purpose or clectinK somo man of his fancy or who pass him on the back during the cam paign and tells him John, you are fine fellow. I don't know a better workman in Birmingham than you are. Let me see, you are a carpenter, are you not9 No. that's so; yes yes, you're brieklay- CT. am going to have some brick work done pretty soon, and you bet you boys are going to do the work, and want you, particularly. John. Come on boys, let's take something and don't tor- get I am in the race John. I've always been friend to the boys" But he IS going to take hand for the serious bus mess in which he is engaged, securing a l fair wage for his services, better condi- tions of employment and better oppor- tunities for his family. Some Of the pest efforts of the organized worker have been stunted by the hateful use of the in1unc- ton and the bayonet. and the executive | council of the American Federation ol Labor has issued an address to all wage ] earners urging them to action, saying "Iniunctions of a fragrant, unjustifable, 1 and outrageous character are continually l issued, and honest, law-abiding ana | faithful citizen-workmen are thrust Into prison for periods of from one 10 nine | months.
 "Thus far we have been unable to per- suade the Congress of the United States | to enact a law that shall protect the rights and liberty of people engaged Tn l industr. Il disputes, and many of the courts have interpreted this failure on the part of Congress to act as warrant and authority to extend the use, or more properly speaking, the abuse or the Wrlt of injunctions, so that the scope o1 each writ still further invades our constitutions ally guaranteed rights
 This impending and growing danger, therefore, impels us to appeal to the workers. and to all the people Of our | country so that the true feeling or all may be expressed and registered; so that | the public opinion of the people CT our l common country may more definitely im- press itself upon the minds or our Na- tionaI Congress ana State Legislatures. With this object in view we recom- mend to all organized workers, in Ma 1 tionaL State, central or Local Unlons, l that at their public celebrations on May 1. July f. and September 1 CLabor Day.. l 1902 they concentrate their attention to a discussion of the abolition of the 1n- l function in labor disputes, and the adop- ton of resolutions, demanding at the 1 hands of Congress, and the leglslatures l of their respective States, the enactment | of laws conforming to that purpose. It is generally conceded Ly wage work CTS that to make appeals to deaf ears is more than futile, and they are rapidly coming to the conclusion that the proper course to pursue Is to place by their votes men in the legislative halls that are representative of their interest, as well as the other great interests Of the country A false impression often goes forth when concerted action Of working men in public affairs is talked of. Many think that the workers wish to get con l trol and run things to the bow7wows, but this is not true of the majority, who only wish an equal representations This. l for years, they have been denied, While l infant industries and struggling corpor- ations have been nursed and they feel that Is is time they came into their own. The result Is that Jefferson county is to have a concerted movement along the Hines of the demands of the American
 Federation of Labor. The Birmingham Trades Council is taking initiative in the matter, and all the labor bodies will be asked to join in for the purpose of going into the primaries and capturing the nominations of the men best suit -
 to their interests, upright men from the
 ranks of the workers business men and
 professional men. and leaving the man
 who makes politics a procession as far to the leeward as possible.
 Another indication O. the drift of the unions is amendment of the constitution of the Amalgamated Association of Iron Steel and Tin Workers permitting the discussion of economic subjects In their meetings. Restrictive laws were placed in the rules of nearly all of the trades unions in their early formation Much of this was doubtless prompted by ne failure of the Knights of Labor; 1t has been charged on account of politics. But partisan politics is tabeoed as in former days only discussion on economic de- mands being permitted.