Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-11-13
Not Parties but Men to be
Objects Of Its So
Iicitude.
POLICY IN PAST YEARS
Aims to Participate When 0c-
casion Arises to Aid La
bor's Friends.

Minneapolis, Nov. 13.-Recent politi-
cal activity Of the American Fedora
tion of Labor occupied a prominent
place in the report of the executive
council to the 10Th annual convention
of the federation in session here, which
was read today by Vice President
James Duncan.
Expended but Small sum.
While the report did not go into de-
tails of the recent campaign for the
defeat of congressional candidates, it
defined clearly the attitude of organ
lied labor toward politics and gave a
summary of receipts and disburse-
ments of the campaign fund, subscrib-
ed by affiliated unions of the fedora
ton. The total sum received for cam
paign purposes was SS,056, and expen-
d.tures s7,S14.
No Distinct Party.
The American federation does not
contemplate the formation of a dis
tinct political party or to dictate party
membership of any union man. It.
does propose. however. to suggest from
time to time legislative measures of
advantage TO labor and to secure the
nomination and election of represent
atives and senators favorable to their
enactment and to give full publicity to
action taken on these bills that all !
union men may know who are their |
friends.
Policy Not New.
Preceding this declaration of its po-
litical platform the committee outlined |
the political declarations of the Amer |
lean Federation of Labor made since
1894 to show that its entrance into act |
i've campaigning in the late election |
was not sudden departure from its
former policy but a logical elimination
of a long period of evolution.
Oppose Partisan Politics.
I'VE have never opposed politics in
our organization says the report,
though we have always opposed parti-
san politics. Independent voting with
an eye single to the interests of labor
is urged upon all members of the affili-
ated unions"
Outlines Progress.
Minneapolis, Mimi, Nov 13.-The
feature of the opening session of the
annual convention of the American
Federation of Labor was the annual re-
port of President Gompers, in which,
in detailed manner, he outlined the
progress of the labor movement
throughout the country, laying special
stress on the advent of unionism into
the political arena and recommending
that this course be strictly adhered to.
A strong plea was made for the en-
ployment of American labor on the
Panama canal.
Gives Strike Statistics.
During the year there have been SS7
strikes, in which $3.50 persons were
involved. OF that number 6S,S12 were
benefited, while IL ,1S3 were not bene-
fitted. The total cost of strikes during
the year was s3,9S2,SG5 4
Mr.. Gompers' report also showed
that during the year ended Sept 80, :
1906. the A. F. of L. had issued 317
charters At that date there were af-
fliated with the federation 119 inter .
national unions, consisting approx
of 27,5O0 local unions, SO state 3
53S central labor bodies :
and 759 local trade and federal labor :
lnions
Secretary Iorrison's Report.
Financially, as well as otherwise,
the American Federation of Labor has
had a prosperous year." said Secretary 4
Morrison in his report for the past v
fear, which closed with $113,540 in d