The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-12-08

AccOIQ> ~ Full Jusuce.
General Public Must Understand
That Labor is Not Embarking
on a Campaign for the Promo:
tion of Special Interests-Every
Measure Asked is for Good.
Many of the ultra capitalist papers
| are endeavoring to throw cold water
| on the campaign headed by President
Samuel Gompers Of the A. F. of L., in
politics. They have paid more atten-
tion, however. to labor's work, than
recent years.
In replying to the query: What
has labor achieved in the campaign
recently closed?" Mr.. Gompers ans
| wers: I'VE have achieved much more
than we had hoped. Were it possible
that not one trade unionist should
have been elected. one fact may be
written down beyond question or dis
pute, that in the coming session of
the present congress and infuture con-
crosses the demands Of labor and OF
the people would no longer be treated
with contempt"
We stated then that we did not de-
sire to indulge in prophecy. but we
might we'll have done so, for in this
one matter Of sending trade union
men to congress we can point to the
election Of enough to form the nucleus
around which will gather those-not
trade unionists-but who have pledged
themselves to advocate our measures
and to vote for them.
That comparatively small number
Of straight-out trade unionists were
elected is due to the fact that labor
pursued. the policy of urging such
nominations only in cases where the
nominees of both parties were hostile
to it's cause.
CampaiGn's Important Mission.
We said before election, "Our cam
pa1gn has already fulfilled one of it's
most important missions; it has in
stituted q great and nnuch-needed
edul lar1oii'al W0T - q work which wifi
not cease when the votes are cast"
We most emphatically affirm this
again.
Labor's policial work is just be-
gum The future Is ours Labor will
continue the work Of this campaign
until those who are hostile or neg
ligent toward it's demands are willing
to accord us justice.
The general public must under
stand that we are not embarking on
a campaign for the promotion Of spec
ial interests. Every labor measure
which We desire to have enacted is
for the good of all the people as we'll
as for the protection and advance
ment Of the workers.
Naturally the worst elements Of the
capitalist class and the hostile portion
of the press claimed that labors cam
paign of protest had no Influence.
II it had no influence why was
every hostile force at such pains to
make the claim. If labors political
activity was a negligible quantity in
the recent campaign nothing would
have been said about it.
The fact is that it exercised the
most salutary Influence Of any factor
that has entered into any political
campaign in many year.
1t changed the whole trend Of dis
cussion. 1t educated hundreds of
thousands Of voters to a higher per-
ception of good citizenship. This
means that those who arrive at this
perception understand that labor's de-
mands are in the interest of the whole
people.
Great Powers Opposed Labor.
1~1~<
defeating all Of it's most conspicuous
opponents only show how great were
the powers arrayed against any force
which dared to put itself in opposi-
tion to the money power and those
who represent 1t.
These interests engaged In defying
the constitution and filching from the
masses their rights and liberties are
naturally alarmed at anything like con-
certed opposition.
1t is more clear now than ever be-
fore how great are the resources at
the command Of the corporate in
terests of the country. Not only have
they unlimited money to be used.
wherever bribery and corruption will
be available, but they have still more
dangerous weapons.
There Is not the slightest doubt that
in some congressional districts the
votes were counted and the majorities
made up at the dictation of such in
terests. If an honest majority had
been cast against their tool, the more
strenuous the effort by those in con-
troll of the machinery Of voting to
elect him, no matter by what fraud ~or
trickery.
This kind Of fraud is extremely Diff
ficult Of proof as Its perpetrators we'll
know, but there Is not the slightest
doubt that it occurred in some cases.
Labor's forces and all good citizens
should spare no effort that in the
future the wishes Of the honest voters
may be- registered and counted. AS
special effort to despoil labor of
the fruition of It's splendid campaign.
hundreds of thousands Of wage-work-
ers We're denied the privilege OF fsvot-
Ing. Employers were even coerced