The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-07-30
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e!|!|N|sP!R!I OF R|lA||IEQRM|
SAYS THA;T DEMOCRATIC Plat 4 i
FORM HAS SOME GOOD PLANKs.$
William, Labor Declaration IS : II Nor. :,
=: Platitude.: Other Labor :7tanks: I Of
More signifieanee-criticise Labor
Organizations for Not Having Rep.
resentatives at Observation-Disclosures
that Much was Acconplished.


state of Minnesota among the friends
OF this paper. Among those who have
taken a deep interest in the criticism
is the Hon. Chas. E. Vasaly, mayor. Of
Little Falls. Every. member Of organ
lied labor in the state, and particularly
those who attended as delegates the
Little Falls convention Of the State
Federation of Labor will coincide with
the views Of this paper when we say
that the state Of Minnesota possesses
no stronger and ADLER friend OF labor
than Mr. Vasaly.>
He was elected by the Minnesota
delegation to the st. Louis convention
as member Of the resolution COM
mlttee, and that he championed the
cause Of labor before the committee
we all must admit.
Not agreeing with the attitude Of this
paper in its opinion of the Demo-
cratic platform he writes as follows:
Mayor vasaly's Letter.
VIM. f. McEwen, Esq,
The Labor World, Duluth, MINI.
Dear Mr.. McEwen: -
I have been reading your editorial
on the party platforms, also the article
on the announcements as to labor
In the various platforms. AS one who
was concerned in the making of the
st. Louis platform, and who knows
something of it's history, may be able
to contribute something of value to
the discussion. 1 believe I can safely
assume that no one can question my
real and practical sympathy with the
aims and objects of organized labor.
In the first place. if organized labor
wanted certain things in that plat
form. and intended to judge the Demo-
cratic party by the omission Of certain
declarations, or the insertion Of state
ments contrary to the desires Of or
ganfzed labor, why did not organized
labor have representative on hand to
say what was wanted? There would
be no politics in that, simply business.
The Women's Rights advocates, the
cattle1nen, the shipbuilders, and many
other causes and interests, had rep
resentatives present, who were listen
ed TO, their planks received and con-
sidered Labor, which is the sub
structure of all, was not represented
except in such ways as those on the
committees who we're favorable, could
do something for it. I confess that
after I looked In vain for some rep
resentative of the national federation
to appear, the criticism seems to me
i'll advised. There were earnest and
true friends of organized labor on that
committee. The resolutions show it,
and I believe I can prove this state
ment.
= - Williams Labor Plank.
s The short plank that you quote was
written by John Sharp Williams. In
full session Of the committee told
them that this plank was mere plati-
tude, and amounted to nothing. But
this plank is not. the sole declaration
on the labor question. The committee
had decided, that is, a majority of
them. to take the first section of the
rlanks offered by former governor
Thomas of Colorado. The plank had
offered the sub committee had been
left out. I offered all the remaining
planks of Mr.. Thomas, those covering
the Colorado situation, as an addition
and insisted on their insertion. This
was finally done. These planks cover
the western situation fully. They were
agreed to by representative: leaders of
the union men Of the west, and for
that reason I supported them instead
Of insisting on vote on my plank
I hold that these planks constitute the
striking feature of the Democratic plat
form. The Republican party did not
dare to touch the Colorado situation,
the Democrats did.
I agree with you that the Williams
plank amounts to nothing. The other
planks I have referred to are as much
labor planks as the Williams and
rightly should be so consider ed. Let
me go still further. There is in the
platform a declaration on the anti-in-
junction question. The resolutions in
specific words approve the anti-in-
junction bill.
Parryites Block Labor Declaration,
When Governor Thomas first pre-
sented his resolutions covering the
labor situation in the west resolu-
t5ons which are simply. an embodiment
Of principles which are in every state
constitution, he made speech re-
viewing the conditions there, making
a strong defense Of the miners. Dele
gate Mcmahon Of Ohio objected to any
recognition Of the Colorado matter In
the platform, saying that the large or
CARNATIONS Of employers would fight
the ticket, very likely, If the unions
received much recognition in the plat
form, with some other: pretty strong
remarks against unions. AS Mcmahon
Is a distinguished lawyer who has
fought unions in court many times,
these remarks had considerable stgni-
ficance.. # you will pardon me. for
bringing in the personal equation.
here is where. / got my oar: i'm, Nc
Mahon riled me, and:I expressed my
views as to Parryism, telling the COM
lmitteee that It was a sort Of Industrial
A. P. A., etc. Some remarks / made
on child labor "a peared ditto strike a
sore: spot down south, for one. Of the
southern delegates tried to shut me of,
but Senator Tillrnan came to: the res
cue, and I: secured unanimous consent
to- finish my remarks &, T.. !: s: ->:.
- l. Bryan Got Something. =*..*~s .sts>
!: lit due principe lily TO- Bryan, and
those who. believed as he did, that the