The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-04-28
.POI|1lCAl. PURPOSE
CREATES INTEREST
American Federation of Labor
= Declaration About Politics
Stirs Things.
Politicians Sit Up and Take
Notice-Sp Speculation AS To
Outcome of Effort. =,


Washington, D. c., April 26, 1906
Secretary Frank Morrison Of the Am
| erican Federation of Labor says: "The
publication a few days since Of the
outline Of the program whereby the
American Federation of Labor is CO.
operating with Referendum Leagues,
Organized farmers and other organized
interests that are opposed to machine
rule and private monopoly, to not only
elect congressman and senators who
Will represent the peoples interests,
but also to systematically question all
candidates as to secure, as the result
OF this years campaign, the establish
ment in the National House and senate
of a new system through which the
voters can instruct their representa-
t1ves by direct ballot, is creating I'M
usual interest,""
"The owners of every private mon
opoly in the land" continued Secretary
Morrison, ARE beginning to realize that
national battle for the peoples rights
along new lines, has opened. The pro-
gram, though it Is new to most of
the monopolists and to many Of the
politicians and newspaper men, is
really several years old, and already
has won a great number of victories,
with promise of a pronounced victory
this year, now that the peoples re-
volt against machine rule has spread
so thoroughly and there is an in
creased interest in our program, and
the further fact that there is no presi-
Dental campaign to divert the popular
interest"
When asked for details Mr.. Morrison
said: "The victories referred to are
those for the establishment in the peo-
pie of a right to a. direct vote on pub
lie Questions-the Initiative and Ref
erendum and the Advisory Initiative
and Advisory Referendum. The es-
tablfshment of the system transfers the
sovereign authority from the party
in power to the people. The peoples
right to this fundamental reform has
been wrung from the legislature in Del
aware, Illinois, Texas, Oregon, South
Dakota, Montana and Utah, with the
Referendum established in Neveda;
also with three-fifths: of the legislature
pledged. in Ohio, and with a vote in
the Massachusetts House Of SO to 2,
while success this year is assured in
Maine and other states, besides the
brilliant prospects for the national
campaign,
The procedure whereby the peoples
right to direct ballot on public ques-
tons has been and is being secured is
primarily through non-partisan Or
CARNATIONS, such as Trades Unions,
Referendum Leagues, Changers and
Farmers unions. They are not only
demanding in general terms that the
peoples sovereignty be re-established
but are questioning the nominees of the
party machines and are publishing
their replies. This raises the issue and
give it publicity and the voters do the
rest.
For example last year in Ohio the
candidates for the legislature were
questioned and the Democrats all
pledged favorably while most Of the
Republicans refused to pledge and tha
result was that enough Of the Repub-
licans scratched their tickets to elect
Democratic majority in the senate
and almost a Democratic majority in
the house. The Democratic represen-
nearly ATS per cent.
tation in the Senate was increased
"This year, owing to the favorable
conditions I have outlined, there
should be unquestioned success. 4
am informed that representative men
among the business and professional
interests are organizing themselves
into Referendum Leagues by counties
and it Is expected that every district
in the county will soon have it's league.
Farmers state organizations in at least
sixteen states have declared for the in
itiative and referendum and every To-
cal Grange and Farmers union will
unquestionably stand for the time
honored right to instruct representa-
tives.
Heretofore the Initiative and Ref
erendum cause has lacked an important
feature that is applied tin this years
program, namely, the initiative sys-
tenn is to be established at the opening
of the next congress and Of the several
legislatures, by pledging candidates to
vote for rules of procedure and statute
law, and then some initiative bills are
to be Immediately filed. This oppor-
AOI all 11Il1llCuldl0 CLdISO III lIlC
system of government to be followed
at once by majority rule Legislation
is certainly enticing and it comes at
most opportune time, The coal mon
opolists are extremely autocratic while
the railway and other monopolists
have combined with the unfair en-
players to prevent the termination of
government by injunction and other
iniquities. AS between employers and
employees they have set aside trial
by jury and other provisions of free
government. Organized labor in AM
erica expects to be in a position to
secure in the next, congress the adop-
ton of the bills ths have been ig-
nored by the dominant party in this
congress-"
County Referendum Leagues.
In another column IS published an
interview by the Secretary of the Am
erican Federation Of Labor, outlinging
the campaign now in progress for es-
tablishing, as the result OF this years
capaign, the advisory initiative and
advisory referendum in national at
fairs. The organizations that are pri-
marily engaged in the work are nom
partisan and chiefly include Refer