Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-07-23
LABOR Enter PO|]NCS.
Issues Long Statement Giving
Notice of Its Intention to
Seek Aid of Ballot
WILL ASK ENACTMENT OF LAWS

Not Degenerate Into Scramble TOR
Offiee-Text of the Proclamation
Just issued.
Washington, D. c., July 23.-The ex-
ocutive council Of the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor has made good its
declaration OF several months ago to
enter the field of politics in the inter-
est of trade union movement and to
oxhort all members and friends of or
ganized labor to work for the election
as political officers Of men known to
be friendly to labor's cause. From the
headquarters of the federation the
council Sunday issued it's Campaign
program" 1t sets out that the trade
union movement has kept and pros
poses to keep pace with the rapid
changes in industrial affairs, and that
the working people cannot hope to-
maintain their rights or progressive
position in the varying phases of mod
ern society unless they organize.
The proposed campaign is based up.
on the allegation that little attention
i has been paid to the enactment of laws
prepared by organized labor and pres
+ scented to congress, for the relief OF
those wrongs and the attainment OF
L those rights to which labor and the
common people are justly entitled"
The council issues a word of caution
&, hat {I,a OF ar.
ate into scramble for office, but it
should be determined effort, free.
4 absolutely, from partisanship. to secure
the legislation we deem necessary and
essentialto the welfare of all our peo
\ pie.
Labor's Program.
/ To all Organized Labor and Friends in
the United States:
Dear Sirs and Brothers: Events III
i the Industrial affairs of our people
have rapidly changed and are rapidly
changing The trade union movement,
as expressed by the American FEEDER
\ alton Of Labor, has kept and proposes
to keep pace Herewith.
The wheels of industry can not be
\ halted or turned back, nor should they
Z be- even if it were possible Welcom-
\ Ing Industrial progress, labor must be
ever alert to meet new conditions. rec
ognizing that eternal vigilance is the
price OF industrial as well as political
liberty.
The working people cannot hope to
7 maintain their rights or progressive
position in the varying phases of mod>
ern society unless they organize and
exercise all those functions which, as
workmens and citizens. it is their privi-
lege and their duty to exercise.
Labor makes no demand upon gov
eminent or society which is not equally
accorded to all the people of our coun-
try. 1t can and will be satisfied with
{ nothing less.
The position Of organized labor upon
q the question of political action by the
working classes, their friends and SYM
( pathizers, has often been declared but
was more clearly set forth in the fol-
4 lowing declaration, unanimously adopt
ed by the Nashville convention Of the
y American Federation of Labor, in 1897.
and often reaffirned since:
Resolved. That the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor most firmly and un-
equivocally fayors the Independent use
yof the ballot by the trade unionists and
Y workmen united regardless of party,
that we may elect men from our own
ranks to make new laws and admins
lister them along the lines laid down
81 An the Legislative demands of the Am-
erican Federation of Labor. and at the
same time secure an impartial judici-
airy that will not govern US by arbi-
gtrary injunctions of the court, nor act
as the plant tools of corporate wealth.
Resolved, That as our efforts are
centered against all forms of indus
trial slavery and economic wrong, we
must also direct our utmost energil
to remove all forms Of political servis
tude and party slavery, to the end that
( the working people may act as a unit
+ at the polls at every election"
Promise Not Performed.
We have been, ever wsltchful to carry
Sthe purpose of that declaration into eff
cess. yet, within the past few years
claims and promises made in platforms
or on the, hastings by political parties
Il and politicians. and especially by the
present dominant party, have been
neither justified nor performed. Little
attention has been paid to the enact
ment Of laws prepared by us and pres
scented to congress for the relief of
those wrongs and the attainment of
y those rights to which labor and the
common people are justly entitled and
which are essentially necessary for
Z their welfare.
Several presidents of the United
States have, in their messages to con-
gress, urged the passage Of equitable
legislation in behalf of the working
people, but congress has been entirely
preoccupied looking after the in
terests of vast corporations and pre-
datory wealth
Congressman and senators in their
frenzied rush after the almighty dollar
have been Indifferent or hostile to the
rights of man They have had no time
and as little inclination to support the
reasonable labor measures, the enact
ment Of which we have urged, and
which contained beneficient features
for all our people without an obnoxious
provision to any one.
Patience ceased to be a virtue, and
on March 81, 1906, the representatives
Of labor presented a bill of grievances
to the president and those responsible
for legislation or the failure of legisla-
ton In congress, reciting the failure or
refusal of the party in power to adopt
or enforce legislation in the interests OF
the toiling millions of our country.
After setting forth labor's grievances
and requests and urgi lg early acton,