New-York tribune., 1906-07-12
LABOR I'm POLITICS.
BLACKLIST PREPARED,
Federation to Take ActiUe Part an
Congress Campaigns.
Lon The Tribune Rursau.l

IFrcm The Tribune Bursaul
washington, July 1.-THE American Fedora
tion of Labor has entered politics in deadly
earnest, according TO labor leaders in Washing
ton. and has prepared list Of candidates and
possible candidates for public office whom il be-
lieves to be antagonistic TO labor interests. and
whom IT will seek TO defeat by every possible
means
1--WE have no regular tactics in fighting our
enemies" said a labor, leader to-day. I've 90
for them in any old fashion Our sole purpose
is TO knock them out" He also said that in
iuence work and money would be freely used
70 defeat the men whom the workingmen OF the
country or their leaders regarded as inmicaI
to labor interests. The indications are. also
that few questions will be asked as 10 purposes
which led member Of Congress or other public
man to vote or to give a decision contrary 20
what labor unions regard as their rights The
fact that candidate for nomination for Office
has voted will be accepted as sufficient evil
depce to warrant his being blackllsted by the
American Federation.
The labor leaders assert that 20 their oppo-
sition was due the defeat Of Representative
Blackburn in the North Carolina convention
yesterday Mr.. Blackburn had incurred the an
tasonism of the labor interests. and ne was ac-
cordingly slated for defeat. It is alleged that
Mr.. Blackburn voted against certain measures
as in their interest.
Representative Littleheld, Of Maine. is also on
the labor blacklist. The leaders say that he ex-
pcrienced great difficulty in securing the nom
ination from his district. and that he will be de-
feated at the polls
The policy Of the workingmen. as announced
by their leaders. is to ally themselves systemat-
ically with no political party or particular
faction, but to avail themselves of any existing
opposition to the man they seek to defeat and
then accomplish his defeat by any means which
may come into their hands,
THE ANTI-INJUNCTION BILL
1t may be remembered that Mr.. Gompers.
president Of the Federation of Labor, went into
Mr. Littlefelds district and spoke against him
before the nominating convention. Mr. Little
fields offence consisted Of his opposition to the
Anti-Injunction BILL when it was before the
Judiciary Committee OF the House.
The Anti-InjunctiOn bill. opposition to which
has been made the ground OF ths bitter Opposi-
ton Of organized labor. provides:
That no agreement. combination or contract
Dy or between two or more persons to do or pro-
cure to be done, not to do or procure not to be
e eIiS a.. III cOiitoIupldIlOu OF LuFtheEdnCe OF
any trade dispute between employers and en-
plOyes in the District of Columbia, or in any
territory OF the United States, or between en-
plOyeTs and employees who may be engaged in
trade or commerce between the several states.
or between any territory and another. or between
any territory or territories and any state or
states or the District Of Columbia or with for
eign nations, or between the District of Co
lumbia and any state or states foreign
tions. shall be deemed criminal. shall those
engaged therein be indictabIe or otherwise pun
1shable for the crime OF conspiracy If such act
able as a crime, nor shall such agreement.
combination or contract be considered as in re-
Straint Of trade or commerce, nor shall any re-
straintng order or injunction be issued with
latlon thereto. Nothing in this act shall exempt
from punishment. otherwise than as herein cited.
any persons guilty of conspiracy for which
punishment is now provided by any act Of Con-
gresS, but such act Of Congress SHALL as to the
agreements. combinations and contracts herein
before referred to, be construed as If this act
were therein contained.
QUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES.
The legislative committee of the Federation
Of Labor is sending to it's friends and sup
porters circular entitled Addresses and ques-
tions to candidates for legislatures and Con-
gress." The circular reads. in part, follows:
You are asking the people OF the district to
select you as their representative in the legs-
lature. This entities them to ask you to
YOUR attitude on the issues in which they are
interested and by which they affected-the
burning questions of the day. Preparatory to
doing this permit us to outline the basis of the
political evils which We do In the accompanying
address and questions to candidates for Con-
gress. which we invite you to read, and to do so
at once, that you may realize the far reaching
importance of the questions we are to ask.
The burning questions Of the day national.
for our country has developed to where the rail-
roads and all the other great corporations are
interstate. therefore nothing short OF interstate
law will suffice
In the settlement of these great national issues
the members of the legislatures vital factors
They elect United States Senators. and therefore
can pledge them to vote to abolish government
by injunction, and TO install the eight hour day
in government contract work. and to install the
advisory referendum Second, the members of
the legislatures can instruct the hOldOver Sen
1tOTS-iOSfTTIct them
measures. And third. the members Of the leg
islatures can vote to establish by state law the
machinery for verifying signatures to national
petitions, and for taking a referendum vote
whenever Congress shall so decide. To that end
we ask you, sir:
Question No IF elected will YOU vote Only
for such candidate candidates for the United
States Senate as have promised in writing to
to abolish government by injunction. to in
stal! the eight hour day in government. contract
work and to Install the advisory initiative and
advisory referendum the details to conform 70
the measures herewith inclOSe. subject to
such minor changes in the last mentioned Sys-
tenn as may be agreed to by the legislative COM
mittees Of the American Federation OF Labor and
the National Grange?
Question 2-If elected. will you vote to in
struct the hoIdOver Senators to vote for the
above described measures?
Question 3-If elected will you help to enact
a statute whereby . per cent Of the voters Of
the state, calculated the basis Of the last
vote for Governor, may call special election
for a referendum vote on proposition to IN
struct United states Senators il one or both Of
them shall fail to obey the Legislatures In
structiOn?
Question 4-Do you promise that IL elected Won
will help to enact statute that shall supply the
machinery for verifying signatures to national
petitions. and the taking Of a referendum vote
when so decided by Congress- the details to con
form to the measure we herewith submit sub
ject to such minor changes may be agreed To
by the legislative committees of the American
Federation OF Labor and the National Grange?
To each OF the questions asked We would like
a clear-cut yes or no II you or any other
candidate refuses to come out for the people
squarely and openly. in writing signed by YOUR