Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-07-26
POLITICS
PROGRAM OF ORGAN.
lied LABOR ANNOUNCED BY
COMMITTEE
Statement Is Issued to All Members of
Unions Atfiliating With the Ameri-
can Federation-Movem Headed
by eompers.

can observation-disclosures Headed
by Gompers.
Washington, D. G., July 23.-The
executive council Of the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor yesterday made good
its declaration of several months ago
to enter the field of politics in the in
terest of the trade union movement
and to exhort all members and friends
of organized labor OF work for the cleo
ton as political officers of men known
to be friendly to labor's cause. From
the headquarters Of the federation the
council yesterday issued it's Campaign
program. 1t sets out that the trade
union movement has kept and proposes
to keep pace with the rapid changes in
industrial affairs and that the working
people can not hope to maintain their
rights or a progressive position in the
varying phases of modern society I'M
less they organize. The statement is
sued follows:
Labor's Program.
To all organized labor and friends
in the United States:
Dear sirs and brother: Events in
the industrial affairs of our people
have rapidly changed and are rapidly
changing. The trade movement, as eX-
pressed by the American Federation of
Labor, has kept and proposes to keep
pace Herewith.
| The wheels of industry can not be
halted or turned back, nor should they
be even If that were possible. Wei
coming industrial progress, labor must
be ever alert to meet new conditions,
recognizing that eternal vigilance is
the price of Industrial as we'll as
political liberty.
| The working people can not hope to
maintain their rights or progressive
position in the varying phases of mod
ern society unless they organize and
exercise all those functions which, as
workmen and citizens, 1t is their
privilege and their duty to exercise.
eminent or society which Is not equal
ly accorded to all the people of our
country. 1t can and will be satisfied
with nothing less.
The position of organized labor upon
the question Of political action by the
working class, their friends and sympa.
thizers, has often been declared, but
was more clearly set forth in the fol
lowing declaration, unanimously adopt
cd by the Nashville convention of the
American Federation of Labor, in 1897
and often reaff1rmed since:
Resolution of 1897.
Resolved, That the American Fede.
ration of Labor most firmly and I'M
equivocally favors the Independent use
of the ballot by the trade unionists and
workmen, united regardless Of party
that we may elect men from our own
ranks to make new laws and admin.
4 lister them along the lines laid down
in the legislative demands of the
American Federation of Labor, and at
the same time secure an impartial
judiciary that will not govern us by
arbitrary injunctions OF the courts, MOI
act as the plant tools Of corporate
wealth
Resolved, That as our efforts are
:, conferred against all forms Of industrial
slavery and economic wrong, we must
also direct our utmost energies to re
move all forms of political servitude
and party slavery, to the end that the
working pople may act as unit at the
polls at every election"
We have been ever watchful to car
ry the purposes of that declaration in
to effect. At times we met with par
tial success. yet, within the past few
years claims and promises made il
platforms or on the hastings by polit
ical parties and politicians, and espe
cialy by the present dominant party
have been neither justified nor per
formed Little attention has been pait
to the enactment of laws prepared b!
us and presented to congress for tht
relief of those wrongs and the attain
ment of those rights to which labol
and the common people are justly en-
titled and which are essentially neces
sary for their welfare.
Several presidents of the United
States have, in their messages to con
gress, urged the passage of equitable
legislation in behalf of the working
; people, but congress has been entirel.
) preoccupied looking after the interest!
of vast corporations and predator,
: wealth.
} Congressman and senators in thei
: frenzied rush after the almighty dol
I lar have been Indifferent or hostile tt
: the rights of man. They have had n,
time and as little inclination to sup
port the reasonable labor measures
the enactment of which we have urged
and which contained benefcent fea