The Elbert County tribune., 1906-07-26
ENTERS POLITICS
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF La
BoR PROGRAM.
APPEALS TO LABOR UNIONS
Urges Political Action to Secure and
Enforce Laws in Behalf of Labor
Must Not Indulge in Scramble for
Office.

ell of the American Federation of La
Dor has made good its declaration OF
several months ago to enter the field
of politics in the interest of the trades
union movement and to urge all
friends of organized labor to elect to
political offices men known to be fav-
orable to labor's cause.
Following is, in part. the text of
the program:
Washington, d. c., July %, 1906
To all organized Labor and Friends in
the United States:
Dear Sirs and Brothers.: Events in
the Industrial affairs of our people
have been rapidly changed and are rap
idly changing. The trades union move
ment, as expressed by the American
Federation of Labor, has kept, and pro-
poses to keep, pace herewith.
THE wheels of industry cannot 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 well as po-
| litical liberty.
"The working people cannot 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, it is their priv
ilege and their duty to exercise.
Labor makes no demand upon gov
| ernment or society which is not
equally accorded to all the people OF
| our country 1t can and will be salts
! fed with nothing less.
| "The position of organized labor
| upon the question of political action by
| the working class, their friends and
sympathizers, has often been declared,
but was more clearly set forth
in the following declaration unani-
vention of the American Federation OF
| Labor, in 1897, and often reamrmed
| since:
Resolved. That the American Fed
| Grafton of Labor most firmly and un-
| eouivocally 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 ana
| administer them along the lines lald
| 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 iniunctions of the courts
nor act as the plant tools of cor
| porate wealth.
Resolved, That as our efforts are
| centered against all forms of indus
+r;a eli acnunip wrong we
must also direct our utmost energies
| to remove all forms of political servi-
| tude and party slavery, to the end that
the working people may act as unit
| at the polls at every election.
1--WE have been ever watchful to
carry the purposes Of that declaration
into effect. At times we met with par
| tial success, yet within the past few
years claims and promises made in
| platforms or on the hustings by po-
| litical parties and politicians, and es-
pecially by the present dominant
| party, have been neither justified nor
| performed.
1.-THE relief asked for has not been
| granted. Congress has turned deaf
| ear to the voices of the masses of our
| people; and, true to our declaration,
we now appeal to the working people,
| aye. to all the American people unit
| edly, to demonstrate their determine
| ton that this republic of ours shall
| continue to be Of for and by the peo-
| pie rather than of. for and by the al
| mighty dollar.
I'VE recommend that central bodies
| and local unions proceed without de-
| lay by the election of delegates to
meet in conference or convention to
| formulate plans to further the inter-
81 ar,f in
| ance with the plan herein outlined, at
manner nominate candidates who will
| the proper time and in the proper
.unquestionably stand for the enact
| ment into law of labor and progressive
measures.
1.-THE first concern of all should be
| the positive defeat of those who have
| been hostile or indifferent to the just
| demands of labor A singing rebuke
| to them will benefit not only the toll
| ers but the people Of the entire coun-
| try.
Where congressman or a state
! legislator has proven himself a true
| friend to the rights of labor he should
| be supported and no candidate nomi.
| mated against him.
This movement must not degener-
| ate into scramble for Office 1t should
| be a determined effort, free, absolutely
| from partisanship of every name and
| character, to secure the legislation we
| deem necessary and essential to- the
welfare and happiness of all our people.
| AS the present objects of this move
ment are purely in the line of legisla-
| ton, all efforts should be concentrated
upon the election of members of Con-
gress and the various State Legisla-
| lures.
"In the last British elections fifty
| four trade unionists were elected to
Parliament. If the British workmen
L with fhair- lirnitad frannliro aonx.,,a