The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-25
MEN TO ENTER POLITICS
DECISION OF THE FEDERATION
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
VIII Invite Allied Labor Organizations 10
Name Candidates OF Their W or
Make Efforts to Defeat Candidates
Whose Records Are Not Satisfactory.

NlahV IItI &c ~ DVlVat
whose Records Are Not Satisfactory.
WASHINGTON. March 24.-Action looking
toward the more active participation Of
union labor bodies in national politics was
taken at the meeting of the executive
council OF the American Federation Of
Labor to-day. The councils action was
not unexpected, in view Of the rather bitter
feeling aroused among the labor leaders
during their interview with President
Roosevelt and with Speaker Cannon last
Wednesday. At the conclusion Of the
meeting to-day Samuel Gompers, presi-
dent of the federation, said the decision
had been reached to instruct the officers
and members of the federation "to more
effectively prosecute the policy of ques-
tioning candidates for public office upon
questions affecting the interests Of labor
and the people generally"
The council set forth its position regard
| ing political action by the adoption Of the
following resolutions;
We reaffirm as one Of the cardinal prln-
ciples OF the trade union movement that
the working people must unite and organize.
Irrespective OF creed. color, sex, nationality
or politics.
That the American Federation of Labor
most firmly and uneQuivocally favors the
independent use of the ballot by the trade
unionists and workingmen, united regardless
of party, that we may elect men from our
own ranks to make new laws and administer
them along the lines laid down in the legis-
lative demands of the American Federation
Of Labor, and at the same time secure an
impartial judiciary that will not govern us
by arbitrary injunctions Of the courts nor
act as the plant tools of corporation wealth.
That, as our efforts are centred aga inst
all forms of industrial slavery and economic
wrong we must also direct our utmost
energies to remove all forms of political
servitude and party slavery, to the end that
the working people may act as a unit at the
polls at every election.
III is gathered from the conversation of
leading members OF the executive council
that the allied labor organization of the
country will make an effort to defeat GER
tain candidates for election to Congress
in case these candidates records fro,o
the union labor point Of View are NOT
satisfa Glory.
President Gompers says that this position
has been commended by some of the lead
ing newspapers Of the country and that
much encouragement has been received
from other sources.
Referring to the bill OF grievances pre-
sent ed to President Roosevelt this week,
in the concluding paragraph of which the
labor leaders said they hoped for the Presi-
dents help, but in case he did not heed them
they should appeal to the conscience and
support Of their fellow citizens, President
Gompers said to-day:
I'VE are going to follow the concluding
paragraph Of the bill and all other parts of
1t to their logical conclusion. As 1 said to
the committees Of the House and Senate.
they nave played shuttle cock and battle
dore with our bills. They were passed by
one house, only to be defeated by the other.
Reported favorably by one committee, they
failed Of passage. Other committees failed
to report them at all. l charge the Com
mittee on Labor of the House as constituted
by Speaker Cannon with wilfulIy, know
ingly and understandingly asking the labor
representatives questions that were in
capable Of intelligent answers. Questions
p~roponnded by opponents OF the bills under
consideration were adopted by the COM
nittee bodily"
Mr.. Gompers declared that a policy Of
procrastination had been adopted by GER
tain members Of Congress to defeat So
called labor legislation.
A resolution adopted by the executive
council at to-day's meeting reads as folio rs:
As II. r. 52i. a bill to abolish compulsory
pilotage in certain ports and with reference
to certain vessels sailing vessels
would destroy the ~pilotage systems OF those
ports. ow ing to the insuff cient foreign trade
at these ports tG sustain the same, and as
such destruction and The saving TO co mmerce
would be al the eNpens e Of and the dan ger OF
human life. it was resolved by the executive
counc of the American Federation OF Labor
that We protest against the passa &c of Gaid
bill. Its passage would be Unwarrsnted
II would encourage tho worst spirit Of parsi-
mony, at tho risko of the lives. not only OF the
! crew, but also the ira vellin Z public"
The council took action looking toward
bringing and pressing to a determination
volving the issue Of iniunctiohs against
labor.