The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1903-10-23
POLITICS IN
LABOR UNION
After Endorsing Republican, the c. l..
U. futS Up the Bars Against
RN Others,
ACTION CONDEMNED BY members.

"a resolution was introduced to the
effect that no political discussion or
political action would be taken by the
Central Labor Union in the future -
The Craftsman.
After a few emissaries of the Repub-
liCan party had succeeded in WORKING
the endorsements of two Republican
candidates through the Central Labor
council of Canton on very flimsy pre-
text, that body, evidently fearing that
a Democrat or some other union man,
not a Republican, would ask for en-
dorsement passed resolution exclud-
ing politics from the Central Labor
union. The action of that body, which
is supposed TO represent men of all
parties, has brought forth much un-
favorable comment from the independ-
ent members of organized labor The
manner in which this body has dab
bled in politics has almost led to a
ruption in the labor forces and If
many more Pollock endorsements are
hurried through the body, the end of
organized labor in Canton will be vis-
i5le. ~
A well-known union man who indus
trially, supported Pollock at the nom-
ination, but does not now see his way
unClear to support the supposed union
candidate in an interview with the
representative of this paper said
"The time has come when the Central
Labor union should be thoroughly
cleansed of Republican politicians. On
the pretext that a man was an honor
airy member of union he was en-
dorsed by the Central Labor un'on and
a second candidate was endorsed and
supported by many union men because
they believed him to be member OF
the coal miners union. This same
man, Pollock, refused to endorse the
initiative and referendum and his sup
porters, on the floor of the Central
union, openly opposed an en-
dorsement of that plank of the Amer
lean Federation of labor.
"The resolution excluding politics
comes with bad grace after the Repub-
lican party has obtained everything
It desires from the body. 1t seems pc
culiar how the c. L. U. members ever
realized that politics would disrupt the
union movement after they had done
all this endorsing. The fact of ths
matter is that a certain clique of Re
publicans feared that a candidate on
the Socialist ticket for county Office,
whose loyalty to union labor Is not
as thin as that of the Republicans en-
dorsed, would ask the G. l.. U. to
place the stamp of approval upon his
candidacy.
Nov it appears, as far as | under
stand, that Pollock was not old enough
when he worked in the mines to gain
admission to the union. At any rate
his declaration that he would support
any measure benefiting labor was
broken when he attempted to kill
initiative and referendum endorse
ment.
81 have always been an Independent
NOlcI, idNc dlNaJo ouppOi Icu uLIOh
men, no matter what their political
affiliations, but have at last decided
that these endorsements are engineered
by Republican lieutenants right in our
midst When the Democrats condemn
the work Of the trades council, we do
not include the great body of dele
gates, but do condemn few Office
holders of that body who are constant
ly alert in the interests of the Re-
publican campaign managers"