The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-03-13
NONPARTlSAN PLAN.
RECOMMENDED BY THE AMERICAN
FEDERATION OF LABOR.

How to secure fhe Referendum sys-
tenn = Question the Candidates of
All Parties and Vote only For Those
Who Pledge FavorabIy.
For the past ten years organized la
Dor has made no Roadway with ma
tional legislation, and the difficulty
lies in the fact that the continued SUI
premacy Of one party has led the po-
litical managers to no longer fear the
labor vote. The plan, therefore, of beg
ging arrogant party managers for a
mess of pottage is shown to be unsuc-
cessful. TO obtain an anti-injunction
law, the eight hour labor day, the
curbing of trusts so that the increased
cost of living may be reduced and
thus virtually advance wages and 9TH
er legislation that organized labor
stands for new programme is neces-
sary. This new programme has been
gradually developed by the American
Federation Of Labor 1t is the sys-
tematic questioning of political candi-
dates as to the establishment of the
peoples sovereignty through right to
direct vote on public questions the
initiative and referendum. The pro-
gramme is described in the report of
the executive council 10 the last an
nual convention OF the American Fed
Grafton of Labor held at Pittsburg last
November. The report is signed by all
the members Of the executive council
and is published In the proceedings Of
the convention, page 70. where it is
said:
"The nonpartisan movement for the
establishment of the peoples sover-
eighty through the right to direct
vote on public questions is making
progress. During the past year this
reform, the peoples right to direct
vote system, has become assured In one
form or another In Texas, Montana
Nevada and Delaware, with success al
most attained in Missouri, Colorado,
Illinois, Massachusetts, and Maine and
with growing strength in the remaining
states.
Nationally. too. our programme for
more power in the people is advancing
steadily. Twelve OF the sixteen con
gressmen of Missouri are pledged to
the three measures on which they
were questioned last year by organized
labor-namely, the national anu.injunc-
ton bill. the rational eight hour bill
and the advisory initiative and adj
visory referendum. Equally good re-
suits could doubtless have been attain
ed in most of the other states had
there been an equally jealous question
ing OF candidates Experience dem
onstrates more and more the strength
OF the nonpartisan questioning Of can.
didates The system was strengthened
by our last convention through reso-
luton 80. since which time the State
Federation Of Labor In Pennsylvania,
New York, New Jersey and Ohio has
entered upon the questioning Of can
didates for the establishment Of the
peoples sovereignty. Other state fed.
erations had previously engaged in the
work. Activity for the advisory sys-
TEN in cities is appearing in many of
the central labor bodies and should be
encouraged.
"The systematic questioning of can
didates to which reference has been
made Is gaining in importance each
year More and moreour state branch
es. central bodies and local unions arc
realizing the systems usefulness. II
enables our people to prevent the eva
sion Of issues BY party machines, and
the self interests OF candidates cause
them TO answer fnYorably in most
cases. And the success Of organized
labor's political work without engag-
ing In party politics strengthens the
union in the sentiment OF Its members
and increases their number Co-opera,
ton Is also advanced with other inter,
ests. such as organized farmers. In
Pennsylvania. Oklahoma, Indian Terri.
tory and Texas the organized farmers
with organized wage earners, are ques
tioning candidates as to the establish
ment of the peoples sovereignty In
place of machine rule. This is accom-
plished without a formal alliance.
I'VE recommend the general use Of
the questioning Of candidates system