The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-12
Organized Labor in Politics.

It is now seen that the visit Of the
representatives of organized labor to
Washington with a memorial complain
ing OF the Indifference Of the Govern
ment and Congress to the interests OF
labor was preliminary to the issue Of the
circular letter enjoining the unions Of
America to use their political influence
to obtain legislation desired by them.
Their right to do so is incontestable.
The method was outlined by the Amer
Jean Federation Of Labor in an announce
ment to the press on March 20, as fol-
lows: "The American Federation OF
Labor's policy Of ~interrogating candi-
dates for public Office upon questions
affecting the interests OF labor and Of
the people generally will be continued
and more aggressively prosecuted" 1t
the cooperation of such organizations as
the farmers oranges, the National Direct
Legislation League and the Peoples
Sovereignty League Of America. Mr..
GEORGE H. SHELLEY, president of the
last named organization, which quizzed
candidates for Congress in the campaign
of 1904 and obtained a great many writ
ten pledges, has explained that when
the Federation referred to the interests
OF "the people generally" it promised a
campaign "for the immediate establish
ment of a system whereby the voters in
general may instruct by referendum
vote" Candidates when forced to go
~ raonrl onoDrIinr Tn Mr. GuInIEv
pledged themselves almost invariably
for the peoples cause" He declares
that twelve out of the sixteen Represent
atives elected in Missouri were enlisted
by the Sovereignty League, and that 143
candidates for Congress throughout the
country signed written pledges.
Yet the hundred or more officers of
labor unions that visited Washington
complained that Congress was lukewarm
and that the Labor Committee had been
packed against labor (organized). The
explanation may be that the interests
of "the people generally" are not always
identical with the interests of the unions.
Indeed, there is an impression abroad
that the concern of organized labor for
the people generally is never allowed to
interfere with the interests OF tie unions.
That may be natural and defensible,
and it may account for the failure Of a
busy Congress to give more of its time
and attention to the demands of organ-
lied labor than to general legislation.
No good American will deny the right
of an organized body of voters not in
the employ of the Government to engage
in political work for a legitimate object.
By all means let the American Federation
of Labor push it's propaganda of electing
sympathetic members of Congress. If
1t can vote every union labor man for a
proposition or a candidate, we'll and good.
1t will not be able to do so without
full and free discussion, that is certain.
Hitherto the influence Of organized labor
In elections has not been as potent as
the American Federation would have the
country believe. The unions include
men Of all parties, and they vote very
much as they please when they get the
secret ballot into their hands. Especially
is the proposal of Mr.. GoMPERs to elect
Intelligent, honest, earnest trade union
lists" to be commended. The more intel
ligent the better for the general interest.
If the Federation is to go into politics
m~ethodically, why not put up organized
labor candidates in every district, as they
do in England9 Then progress could be
gagged, and union labor could hold its
representatives responsible for their
votes in Congress.