Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-16
BY ORGANIZED LABOR
FIELD OF POLITICS HAS BEEN
ACTIVELY INVADED.
Furtherance of Purpose to Administer
a Singing Rebuke-Statement
by Mr.. SHIRLEY.

Organized labor in furtherance of Its an
nounced purpose to administer singing
rebuke to men or parties who are either iu-
different negligent or hostile, and. wher-
ever opportunity affords. to secure the cleo
ton of intelligent, honest, earnest trade
unionists, with clear. unblemished, paid-up
union cards in their possession, has entered
actively upon its campaign Geo. FL. Shibley
of the Peoples Sovereignty League today
sent out to all sections of the country COM
munications calling attention to the step
that is being taken by the American Fed
Grafton of Labor "in the political arena.
Mr.. SHIRLEY says every word IN the recent
pronunciamento of the federation has
meaning, which rs known to those who are
familiar with the declared policies of
trades union organizations. The principal
features are these:
THE trades unions are not to establish
a labor party, but, as announced, will en-
deavor to unite regardless of party for the
nomination and election of trades unionists
The other branch of political activity by
the trades unions is questioning candidates.
This is for the purpose of raising such Is
sues as are believed by them to be the most
important. This program is announced by
the following words: We must also direct
our utmost energies to the end that the
working people may act unit at the
polls at every election.
Minor Feature Of Program. -
"A minor feature of the program is a
provision whereby 1t is proposed to over
come in the United States Senate the power
that is opposed to organized labor's meas
ures. The Senate must be won as we'll as
the House, also the approval of the White
House. The program to win these was
published two years ago by the American
Federation of Labor in its questions to can
IL. ,l1ar If a
American Federationist July 10, 19O4 Br1e1-
~ stated, 1t is this
1.-THE aim Is to combine with referendum
leagues and organized farmers to question
candidates for the establishment OF ma
tional system whereby the voters can In
struct by direct vote. The system is also
known the advisory initiative ana ao-
Ylsory referendum. Its establishment re-
quires the adoption of rules or procedure
In the Senate and House and the enactment
of statute law. An initiative petition Tor
legislative policy. when signed by Ioooo0
voters. is to be received in the Senate ana
House, committee hearings had, toge-her
with debate and recorded vote, where
upon the bill exactly 1t was initiated Is
to be referred to the voters accompanied
by competing bill if Congress so desires
The voters can take their choice Or reject
both. Preceding this vote each candidate,
while up for election, is to be pledged as
follows: IF elected, l will obey the Will or
my constituents when expressed by reter-
endum vote
such is the system proposed. To estab-
lish it in the House the candidates are to
be questioned, and such as refuse to pledge
are to be fought.
To Secure Majority Vote.
ITO secure majority vote in the Senate
the program is to pledge the candidates for
the legislatures. The pledge to be to vote
only for such senatorial candidates as
pledge to vote TO instruct the hold-over
senator's to vote to enact a statute where
by per cent of the voters of the state
may call special election for refer
endum vote on proposition TO instruct
United States Senators should one or both
of them fail to obey the legislatures in
structions, and to vote to enact a statute
that shall supply the machinery for verify
ing signatures to national politics, and the
taking of a referendum vote decided by
Congress.
'aThe piedging of majority in the legis-
latures of half the states is the aim of the
referendum organizations. That Is the JOB
they have before them.
IF the proposed advisory initiative sys-
TEN is assured at the election IN NoVem-
Der, then the trade unions and referendum
lea CUES are to begin to circulate initiative
petitions. 1t is said that organized labor
will presumably help to circulate for sigma
lures the bills for public ownership of rail
ways and al the same time viii circulate
the bill for termination of government by
Injunction The required 100 600 signatures
could readily be secured, doubtless, and the
bills. after being filed with Congress, would
go 10 a referendum campaign and ballot
of the voters Trades unionists express
confidence that when their measure gets
squarely before the people it will secure a
majority vote in a majority Of the dis
triCtS.