New-York tribune., 1906-07-16
WHAT LABOR NAY ASK.
Public Ozcnership and Direct Leg7s'
Iation Among Political Demands.

The long promised political programme OF the
Central Federated Union. which has indorsed the
recommendation of President Gompers OK the
American Federation OF Labor 20 go into inde-
pendent politics. was discussed at yesterday
meeting of the Central Federated Union. A sub
committee OF the general executive committee. 20
which the question OF preparing plan of inde-
pendent political action referred. and which
has taken three weeks to think Il out, submitted
the plan 70 the Central Federated Union
The plan read by James Hatch Of the
Upholsterers' Union. chairman OF the sub-cOm-
mttee. who caused TO be circulated among the dele
gates the proposed platform. which Is as follows:
First-we demand the rigid and impartial en-
fOrcenent of the following and all other labor
The Eight Hour law and the Prevailing Rate Of
The Child Labor law,
The Compulsory Education law.
The law relating 70 Contract Prison labor.
law 70 be enacted by the Legislature prohibit
Ing the sr fs OF prison made goods into this
The laws TequiTiHg sanitary insPPsetion of all
The law requiring the payment OF wages IN law
second-we demand the enactment of legisla-
tion-state or national. as may be appropriate ana
Ownership and operation by municipalities state
nation OF all public utilities. and the enactment
law for the estabEShment OF municipal abattors
and slaughter houses conducted by the municipal
The estabiishment Of 4 postal ezpFess.
Passage
Of the Injunction process in labor disputes.
Passage Of a national eight hour law 49,.
nomination and election Of President. Vice-Presi-
dent United States Senators. judges and all cleo
Extension Of the provisions Of the EMPLOYERS
Liability law: 50 to include within it's provisions
Ballot reform which win prevent corruption. In;
sure fair count. and punish bribe givers and
referendum.
In the report ii was stated that the first step to
be taken should be the organization OF trade union
clubs in every Congress and Assembly district. the
clubs to be composed only of men who had union
cards. each club to start with membership OF not
less than twenty-five and then increase It's MEM
bership. Each club woulG elect three delegates to
a general convention. The report continued:
The question to be decided now. is whether we
words. whether we will cut loose from the present
labor candidates or candidates favorable 10 labor
The committee concluded that it would not be wise
be other Independent parties in the feld, and a
cb @ paTY T :on as s sscn might mot % as
and support labor candidates could do. We pro-
is possible for labor man 10 hIi II can be easily
understood that labor men could not hn every
Candidates are % required a to Be lawyers % there
% ge seec b o6e We % w9n % b IN & 0ne & 6S S
as renegade
possible to have contesting candidates who were
labor men in any district. II the movement was
carried out cOnscientiously the lines proposed
II would be easy at the next election to form a
permanent labor party. If any OF the dominant
parties chose 10 indorse the Central Federated
Unions nominees they were welcome but a labor
man could not have the Endorsement of the Central
Federated Union who was nominated by any other
party first
A hot discussion followed the reading OF the re-
port. Several delegates sometimes on the
floor at one time. Everybody seemed to want to
speak at once, and there numerous points OF
order. Former Assemblynan Samuel Prince ad-
vised the body to go slowly. The advice not
well taken and Prince derided and his re-
marks treated as JOKES He declared that he had
seen some other movements OF the kind which
amounted to nothing
The chairman threw a wet blanket the hopes
OF some Of the orators by announcing that he
would limit the speeches to five minutes each
Daniel Harris. Of Cigarmakers Union 144. found
way out Of the difficulty. He suggested that they
should wait Until next Sunday. when President
Gompers OF the American Federation of Labor
would be in town. II was decided to postpone dis
cussion OF the question until then.