Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-10-05
WORD TO LABOR.
ADDRESS ISSUED BY EXECUTIVE
COUNCIL or AMERICAN FED
GRAFTON TO LAHoRERs.


Sensible Views Expressed by Union
Leaders-Rooseyeit's Position Sat.
isfactory.
The executive council Of the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor has issued
the following address.
TO Organized Labor Of America.
Greeting.
Dear Sir and Brothers: The OK.
eculiye council Of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor has recently address
Ell organized labor By circular on sub.
jects including bills, which will be In.
troduced lii the forthcoming session
Of congress In tho interest or the
wage earncrs of our country, and
which were committed to us by you
through your representatives at the
last Al. n. Or L. convention. Since
then the executive council has held
several sessions and. Of all legisla.
tive measures, the cightshour and the
antidnjunction bills have received
our especial attention.
THE eight-hour day, because Of the
wonderful Improvement In the meth,
DDS OF wealth production. by which
the needs Of man and the Injuries Of
life can be created In a workday q
eight hours. we demand It's enforce,
ment, not only In private employ
ment, but also on all work perform.
ed by or on behalf Of the govern
ment, whether the employment be d.
rect. by contract or BY sub-contract.
while we seek TO avoid and avert
strikes and Industrial disputes, any
attempt TO cripple the right Of labor
81 a last resort to strike In defense
of our rights simply means labor's
enslavement; for Industrial tranquil.
ity by agreement through the meth.
DDS or concIliation and fair arhitra-
tion is only possible and attainable
when the workers are organized and
have the liberty 10 exercise their con-
sufutional rights.
"The writ Of injunction In It's prop.
err sphere Is a right and a protection.
Il was never designed for tho pur'
pose to which It is now put Ia indus.
trial disputes. There Is moi now
upon the statute books Of any state,
or upon the statute books OF the fed.
eral government a line upon which
authority Is given the courts for the
issuance Of %injunctions such as have
been issued in Industrial Disputes
II is not the use. but the abuse by
the courts of the writ Of injunction
against which we protest, which Is
In direct conflict with the right guar
anteed TO our people by the constitu-
lion OF our country.
"The in the organized labor
movement are law abiding. faithful
and loyal citizens. They have M de
sire for immunity from the laws gov
erning other citizens. but they most
emphatically resent and protest
against the actions Of courts convict
ing men for acts which they have the
legal right 10 perform, and then. too,
without the right 81 a trial BY d jury
OF their peers.
''The American principle of equal
Justice before The law Is being W.
lated day after day. The relies OF
a~ntiquated judicial tyranny are being
revived by some judges. while Others
10 misinterpret existing law as "a
thereby aim 10 financially ruin oui
unions AMI mulct our men out 81
their ~hnrd-earned savings which they
have e~ndeayored TO lay aside for theif
protection in middle or old age. when
the employing class and society have
no further use for their services.
"Ajl educated and honest mel
realize and admit that . thorough
organization OF the workin people n
render employment tand means Of sub
sistencc less procarlous, by ~sccurinE
them an equitable share Of IN efruits
OF their labor. Is the most vital noe
esity of our time. without such or
ganizafion Of labor in our present N.
dustriai era OF wealth concentration
even n fair degree Of industrial peace
could not be maintained, the wage
workers condition would bo forced
down 10 the lowest possible plane;
their liberty would be crushed; their
manhood and intelligence stunted and
the intellectual, Industrial, CONNER.