Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-14
IN LABOR CIRCLES
c.

The workingmeu of Washington are par
ticuiarly interested in the political chap
tiers OF the annual report of President
Samuel Gompers. as made to the American
Federation CT Labor at the opening session
of Its annual convention Monday at Min
neapolis. Under the caption .Lasor's Po-
htical Campaign" Mr.. Gcmpers says:
Much interest has been aroused regard
ing the active campaign inaugurated and
carried on by the American Federation of
Labor In the recent past. La.bor's oppo-
nents assumed to regard our actions as an
unwarranted invasion of their domain; that
the working people have no right to exer-
else their sovereign power of citizenship to
punish politically those who are hostile or
Indifferent to cur rights and interests or
TO stand IN advocacy OF. those who nave
proven themselves as friends and who have
sympathetically supported the measures we
deem requisite to secure the enactment of
laws having for their purpose the abolition
of inequalities and injustice and the protec-
tfon and promotion of those rights to which
labor Is so Justly entitled. They accused
US OF threatening congressman with our
political Ill will. though people of other
interests do not advocate and support the
election OF those who favor these interests
ana threaten with political defeat those
who are opposed to them. Evidently 1t is
not understood that the ballet in ftseE is
the weapon with which the Constitution has
invested the citizen. not only to threaten,
but to carry that threat into execution.
I'VE are not unmindfu of the fact that
laws in the interests Of labor have been en-
acted. but these have been fragmentary in
character and of insufficient Importance.
When we contemplate the alacrfty with
which our Congresses respond to the de-
mands of special interests. by the prompt
granting OF charters. franchises, immuni-
ties, special privileges and special and class
legislation. that are winged into enactment
by legislative flights while any measure
In the interests OF the toiling masses pro-
crosses as II with a leaden heel; that par
tcularly in recent years slower progress has
been made than heretofore; that the toilers'
appeals and petitions are treated with in
ing that the men of labor throughout our
country have become impatient and have
manifested that impatience.
THE American Federation OF Labor has
often declared and often emphasized that as
our efforts are centered against 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 a unit at the polls of
every election.
THAT the American Federation OF Labor
most firmly and unequivocally favors the
independent use of the ballot by the trade
unionists and workingmen, united regard
less of party, that we may elect men from
our own ranks to make new laws and adj
minister them along the lines laid down
can Federation of Labor, and at the same
time secure impartial judiciary. that
will not govern us by arbitrary injunction
of the courts nor act as the plant tool of
corporate wealth.
Frequently our conventions have voiced
their sentiments views and demands rela-
tive to labor measures and the means and
methods by which to attain them. From
the rank and file among the workers of
our country have come the impatient in
auiries as to the possibility regarding labor
legislation at the hands of Congress and
the request to know whether the time Is
not opportune to conduct campaign that
will impress upon the minds of those who
are juggling and disregarding the legisla-
tive interests of Americas workers the
necessity for a more decent regard for
those rights and interests"
After referring to the so-called ''bill of
grievances" how 1t was brought about and
presented to the President and the pre-
siding officers of the Senate and House of
Representatives, Mr.. Gompers says:
Later the plan of campaign was formu-
lated and the inspiring watchword adopted
that:
We will stand by our friends and ad-
minister a singing rebuke to men or par
ties who are either indifferent. negligent or
hostile; and, wherever opportunity affords,
earnest trade unionists, with unblemished,
paid-up union cards in their possession
With the details of the campaign the
executive council in its report will deal
CCupTeHenSiNeIy. AL tnlS WTltlQR
prior to November it is not possible to
make statement of the full results Nor
do I care to indulge in prophecy. I can
say. however, that every honorable effort
has been made to carry out the noble and
humane purposes of labor; that already a
great moral victory has been won.
1.-The campaign has fulfilled one CT it's
most important missions; it has instituted
a great and much-needed educat ional work
"a work manifold in character.
First, as to Congress Itself; If we have
not elected a single trade union member,
we still have the encouraging prospect Of
a new Congress with many members who
certainly must have been previously classed
as Indifferent now pledged to labor's in
terests. Accepting the statements of those
who have not been actively hostile to la
boris interests. when they say that this
campaign has led them to look more care
fully into the legislation which labor asks
when such congressman voluntarily assure
use that hereafter they will give friendly
and sympathetic consideration and vote for
labOr's measures may We not take their
assurances in good faith for the time at
least, and at an early day hope to see the
fruits of this change of heart?
THE other educational work, and, of
course. the one which is responsible for
many seeing the light. is the change which