Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1906-07-23
Remarkable Proclamation IS
sued From the Washington
Headquarters Of American
Federation of Labor, ii
W0RKMEN URGED TO : g
ELECT THEIR FRIENDS
Congress Charged With Long
Continued Indifference and
Even Hostility to the Interest
of the ToiIing Millions, n

Washington, July 22.-The executive
council of the American Federation
of Labor today made good its declar
alton of several months ago to enter
the field of politics in tire interest OF
the trades union movement and 10
urge all friends of organized labor to
elect to political offices men known
to be favorable to labor's cause. AT
the headquarters of the federation the
council today issued its campaign
program addressed "to all organized
labor and friends in the United
States"
1t sets out that the trades union
movement has kept and proposes to
| keep pace with the rapid change in
| Industrial affairs, and that the work
| ing people cannot hope To maintain
! their rights or a progressive position
! in the varied phases of modern society
unless they organize and exercise alt
those functions. which, as workmen
and citizens, it is their privilege and
/ their duty to exercise.
| 1t Is declared that labor makes no
demand on government and society
| which is not equally accorded to ALI
| the people of this country, and that
1T can and will be satisfied with tsoth-
! ing less"
The proposed campaign is based upon
! the allegation that little attention has
been paid to the enactment of laws
prepared by organized labor and pre-
sented to congress, for the relief o;
those wrongs and the attainment or
those rights to which labor and tHe
common people are justly entitled aud
! which are essentially necessary FOR
their welfare.
The council issues word of caution
that the movement must not degen-
crate into a scramble for office, but it
should be a determined effort, free alb
Solutely from all partlsanship of every
name and character TO secure the leg
islatiOn we deem necessary and essen
tial to the welfare and happiness Of
all our people"
1t is expressly stated that the con
gresham or state legislator who has
proven himself true friend to the
rights Of labor should be supported
and no candidate should be nominated
against him.
Following is the full text os the
proclamation issued today from the
headquarters of the American Feder-
alton of Labor;
\. +. of l.. Campaign Program.
To All Organized Labor and Friends
in the United States:
! Dear Sirs and Brotners--Events IN
the industrial affairs of our people
have rapidly changed and are rapidly
changing. The trade union move
ment, as expressed by the Amrelcan
Federation of Labor has kept and
proposes to keep pace herewith
The wheels Of industry cannot br
halted or turned back. nor should they
be, even If that were possible. Wei
coming industrial progress, labor must
he ever alert to meet new conditions.
recognizing that eternal vigilanco is
the price of industrial as we'll as po-
litical liberty
The working people cannot hope to
maintain their rights or a progressive
/, position in the varying phases Of
modern society unless they organize
and exercise all those functions which,
rs workmen ana citizens, il is their
; privilege and their duty to exercise.
5 Labor makes no demand upon gov
ernment or society which is not equal
ly accorded to all the people of our
country. 1t can and will be satisfied
with nothing less
The position of organized labor up
on the question of political action by
the working class their friends aud
sympathiaers, has often been declared
nut was more clearly set forth in the
Following declaration, unanimously
adopted by the Nashville convention
9 of the American Federation OF La
? Dor in 1892 and often reaffrmed since:
q Resolved, That the American Fed
n Grafton of Labor most firmly aud un-
. equivocally favors the independent
|. use of the ballot by the trade un-
lonists and workmen, united regard
less Of party that we may elect men
from our own ranks 10 make new
o laws and administer them along the
{ lines laid down in the legislative de-
4 mands of the American Federation Of
!. Labor, and at the same time secure
4 an impartial judiciary that viii not
= govern us by arbitrary injunctions OF
: the courts. nor act as the plant tools
Of corporate wealth.
"Resolved, That as our efforts are
centered against all forms of lndus-
trial slavery and economic wrong, we
= must also direct our utmost energies
= to remove all forms Of political SER
vitude and party slavery. 10 the end
that the working people may act as
IF n unit at the polls at every election
We have ever been watchful 10 car.
ry the purposes OF that declaration In
e TO effect. At times we met with par
e tlal success, yet within the past .ew
u years claims and promises made In
Z platforms or on the hustlngs by po-
= tlcal parties and politicians. and es-
! pecially by the present dominant par.
= iy. have been neither 1ustIfled nor per
I formed. Little attention has been paid
N to the enactment of laws prepared
Z by Us md presented TO congress fol
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