The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-05-19
OF what the. American Federation OF
Labor really wishes to do along po-

OF what the American Federation OF
Labor really wishes to do along po-
litical lines:
THE fall congressional campaign
will in terest the student of politics be-
cause Of the serious attempt to make
organized labor a factor. The success
es Of English trades unionists in
electing enough members to the house
and In securing a cabinet place for
John Burns has apparently inspired
Samuel Gompers, president Of the
American Federation of Labor, and his
associates to try a similar experiment
here.
Despite the talk Of politicians, there
has never been g. strong labor vote
developed as a separate entity in any
general American campaign. The un-
izens have, between the various part
les. Each has tried to encourage their
allegiance to it by nominating or ap-
pointing union men to office here and
there. For instance, It is customary
for both Republicans and Democrats
in the large cities of Ohio to place at
least one union man of their political
faith on the delegation nominated for
the legislature. State Representative
Reynolds, a Cuyahoga member of the
present legislature. is an illustration
in point. So was the nomination Of
Sol Sonthemier for vice mayor, made
several years ago at the instance of
Senator Hanna. Commissioner of I'm
migration F. P. Sargent was appoint
ed as a union man by President Nc
Kinley. E. c. Madden, third assistant
postmaster general, holds his place be-
cause of his prominence in the organ
ization of railway hremen and engin-
eers.
It is a question often discussed in
political circles whether such nomin-
ations and appointments attract much
voting support from union men. Sen
ator Hanna. a very practical politician,
firmly believed that they did. Yet his
experiment with Sontheimer was a
conspicuous failure. The weight of
the evidence seems to be that the
union man generally makes up his
mind and votes from the standpoint
of the issues or his own individual
political faith and prejudices. 1t is
only when he is convinced THAI a can
didate or a party is an enemy of trade
organizations that he votes in any
thing like a solid mass with other un-
ionists. So far his influence in poll
tics, then. has been negative, rather
thas positive. He has never shown a
disposition to unite for the control
of the situation from the labor stand
point in anything like a large political
territory.
The city government of San Fran
cisco has been in the hands of trades
union party for several terms. This
organization of unions has sent men
in congress, but they have appeared
here as Democrats, not as labor party
men. The city Of Ashtabula has had
government by trades unionists and
a trades union mayor. But these, and
g few other similar Instances. have
been exceptional cases. D.:
president Gompers and his lieuten-
ants do not propose the organization
Of a separate union party. But they
do urge trades: union men to act to-
gether and dominate the situation
wherever they can. The head of the
American Federation would like to see
group Of trades unionists in con-
gress, for instance like the English
group in commons. Elected as Demo-
Gratis or Republicans, they would enter
the house with labor legislation as
their paramount purpose, and act to-
gether to secure 1t. Though elected
AS Republicans and Democrats they
would hold their responsibility for Ia
Dor legislation first. put it before the
success of a tariff bill or an appropria-
tion measure for instance.
I'm nicely balanced house such a
group, willing to sacrifice partly leg
islation to secure measures they were
elected to pass, could come near die
tating to both sides. When this move
ment had developed to such a point the
national administration would probab-
ly find it advantageous to put a un-
ion man in the cabinet, where it now
suffices the needs OF practical politics
to make him the assistant head of q
department. At least, that appears to
be the Gomper program.
The campaign of this fall will <see
the first steps taken to carry this out.
President Gompers has picked out the
Ninth Ohio district as a weak place
to break into the Ohio delegation, and
he has candidate against Southard
in the person of Frank Mulholland.
So Ohio people can watch the expert
ment at first hand. There is a. con-
servative element of trades union1sts
that will doubtless regret this at
tempt of Gompers. They do not be-
lieve that the union has separate
place in politics. They have history
on their side. The knights Of Labor
was wrecked among other causes. on
the rock of politics. Its predecessors,
In attempts to organize American
trade unionists into q national body,
all came to- grief when politics crept