The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-01-27
THE NON-PARTIsAN PLAN
Recommended BY tho American Fed
GRAFTON Of Labor. How to Secure
thA RASarand,,na eva%a.o


Question the candidates Of all parties
and vote only for those who pledge
favorably. With the Referendum sys-
tenn secured legislation for labor and
other reforms will follow.
For the past ten years organized
labor has made no headway with ma
tional legislation and the difficulty lies
In the fact that the continued suprem-
acy Of the party has led the political
managers to no longer fear the labor
vote. The plan therefore of begging
arrogant party managers for mess Of
pottage is shown to be unsuccessful
To obtain an anti-injunction law, the
eight hour day, the curbinE of trusts
so that the increased cost of living may
be reduced and thus virtually advance
wages and other legislation that or
ganized labor stands for, a new pro-
gram is necessary. This new program
has been gradually developed by the
American Federation of Labor. 1t is
the systematic questioning Of political
candidates as to the establishment of
the peoples sovereignty through a
right to a direct vote on pubic question
the Initiative and Referendum. The
program is described in the report of
the executive council to the last annual
convention of the A. F. of L. held in
Pttsburg last November. The report
is signed by all the members of the
executive council and is published in
the proceedings of the convention, page
70. where 1t is said:
THE non-partisan movement for the
establishment Of the peoples sovereign
ty through the right of a direct " te
on public questions is making pro-
gress. During the past year this re-
form, the peo..es right to a direct vote
system has become assured in one form
or another, in Texas, Montana, Neva-
da and Delaware with success almost
attained in Missouri, Colorado, Illinois,
Massachusetts, and Maine, and with
growing strength in the remaining
states.
Nationally, too, our program for
Ing steadily. Twelve Of the sixteen
consl essmen Of Missouri are pledged
to the three measures on which they
were questioned last year by organized
labor. namely the National Antl-In-
junction bill, National Eight Hour bill
and the Advisory Initiative and Ad-
visory Referendum. Equally good re-
suits could doubtless have been attained
in tot stha other ssatess hsd ltheres
been an equally jealous questioning OF
candidates. Experience demonstrates
more and more the strength of the non
partisan questioning Of candidates. The
system was strengthened by our last
convention, through resolution 80, since
| which time the State Federation of La
Dor in Pennsylvania, New York, New
Jersey and Ohio have entered upon the
questioning Of candidates for the es-
tablishment Of the peoples sovereignty.
Other state federations had previously
engaged in the work. Activity for the
advisory system in cities is appearing
in many Of the central labor bodies and
should be encouraged.
THE systematic questioning Of cam
didates to which reference has been
made is gaining in Importance each
year. More and more our state branch
es, central bodies and local unions are
| realizing the systems usefulness. 1t
| enables our people to prevent the evas-
ion Of issues by party machines, and the
| self interests of candidates causes them
| to answer favorably in most cases.
| And the success Of organized labor's
political work without enga ging* in
party politics, strengthens the union
| sentiment of its members and increas-
es their number. Cooperation is also
advanced with other interests, such as
| organized farmers. In Pennsylvania,
Oklahoma, Indian Territory and Texas,
| the organized farmers with organized
! wage earners, are questioning can
didates as to the establishment Of the
peoples sovereignty in place Of ma
chine rule. This is accomplished with
out a formal alliance.
| I'VE recommend the general use Of
the questioning of candidates system.
An extra number Of the American Fed
erationist, July Is, 1904, described the
| system.
! Readers of this paper will not need
to send for the publication referred to
for we shall publish in later article
a description Of the questioning Of
candidates system